ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
3 / B1
Published
Title
Two Big Movies, One Weekend
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-09-12-two-big-movies-one-weekend/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice

Language: Words That Go Together, New Sentences

Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: Two big movies will open on the same weekend. What do you think cinema fans will do?

a) Many people will choose one movie and see the other movie later.

b) Many fans will try to see both movies during the holiday period.

c) One of the movie companies may decide to change its opening date.

A crowded, Christmas-decorated cinema lobby with giant contrasting sci-fi and superhero movie displays above the entrances.
Two blockbusters, one weekend.

Vocab List

be scheduled to (v. phrase) — be planned to happen at a particular time
fan base (n. phrase) — the group of people who strongly like a person, team, or product
theater (n.) — a building where people watch films
appeal to (phr. v.) — be interesting or attractive to someone
attract (v.) — make people want to come or be interested
worldwide (adv.) — in all parts of the world
trilogy (n.) — a set of three books, films, or plays with connected stories
exclusive (adj.) — available only in one place or to one group
Reading

Two major movies, “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three,” are scheduled to open in theaters on the same weekend, Dec. 18. The decision could create a major competition for cinema fans, because both films are expected to attract many of the same viewers.

“Avengers: Doomsday” is a Marvel superhero movie, while “Dune: Part Three” is the final film in Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction trilogy. Both are large productions with famous actors and strong fan bases. Unlike the 2023 “Barbenheimer” event, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” appealed to very different audiences, these two films may compete more directly.

Marvel’s film is widely expected to be one of the year’s biggest releases. However, the “Dune” series has also become more successful: “Dune: Part Two” earned $714 million worldwide. The new “Dune” movie will also have exclusive IMAX screenings for three weeks.

Some people in the movie industry think one film should move to another date. Still, there are few good choices before Christmas, and theater owners believe holiday audiences may have time to see both movies. If the films stay on the same date, the December weekend could become one of the busiest of the year for cinemas.

Two Big Movies, One Weekend

Level 3 Article Source: variety.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A crowded, Christmas-decorated cinema lobby with giant contrasting sci-fi and superhero movie displays above the entrances.
Two blockbusters, one weekend.

Two major movies, “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three,” are scheduled to open in theaters on the same weekend, Dec. 18. The decision could create a major competition for cinema fans, because both films are expected to attract many of the same viewers.

“Avengers: Doomsday” is a Marvel superhero movie, while “Dune: Part Three” is the final film in Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction trilogy. Both are large productions with famous actors and strong fan bases. Unlike the 2023 “Barbenheimer” event, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” appealed to very different audiences, these two films may compete more directly.

Marvel’s film is widely expected to be one of the year’s biggest releases. However, the “Dune” series has also become more successful: “Dune: Part Two” earned $714 million worldwide. The new “Dune” movie will also have exclusive IMAX screenings for three weeks.

Some people in the movie industry think one film should move to another date. Still, there are few good choices before Christmas, and theater owners believe holiday audiences may have time to see both movies. If the films stay on the same date, the December weekend could become one of the busiest of the year for cinemas.

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:36  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Two major movies, “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three,” are (1) to open in theaters on the same weekend, Dec. 18. The decision could create a major competition for cinema fans, because both films are expected to attract many of the same viewers.

“Avengers: Doomsday” is a Marvel superhero movie, while “Dune: Part Three” is the (2) film in Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction trilogy. Both are large productions with famous actors and strong fan bases. Unlike the 2023 “Barbenheimer” event, when “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” appealed to very (3) audiences, these two films may compete more directly.

Marvel’s film is widely expected to be one of the year’s biggest releases. However, the “Dune” series has also become more successful: “Dune: Part Two” earned $714 million (4) . The new “Dune” movie will also have (5) IMAX screenings for three weeks.

Some people in the movie industry think one film should move to another date. Still, there are few good choices before Christmas, and theater owners believe holiday audiences may have time to see both movies. If the films stay on the same date, the December weekend could become one of the (6) of the year for cinemas.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Do you think many people would watch both movies during the holiday season? Why or why not?

    A:

  2. Q: Imagine you own a small theater. How would you decide which movie to show more often during that weekend?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Do you think many people would watch both movies during the holiday season? Why or why not?

    A: I think many people would watch both movies during the holidays because they have more free time. theaters could be very busy that weekend.

    For that reason, / However, / For example,

    I think many people would watch both movies during the holidays because they have more free time. For that reason, theaters could be very busy that weekend.

  2. Q: Imagine you own a small theater. How would you decide which movie to show more often during that weekend?

    A: I would compare ticket sales for both movies every day. I would give more showtimes to the movie that sells better.

    Based on that, / In contrast, / For example,

    I would compare ticket sales for both movies every day. Based on that, I would give more showtimes to the movie that sells better.

Discussion Questions
  1. If you could see only one of these movies, which would you choose? Why?
  2. Do you think many people would watch both movies during the holiday season? Why or why not?
  3. Why might a theater be happy when two popular movies open on the same weekend?
  4. Would you prefer to watch these movies in a theater or at home? What makes that experience better for you?
  5. Have you ever watched the final film in a trilogy or series? Did you feel excited, sad, or disappointed when the story ended?
  6. Which films, shows, games, or sports teams have the strongest fan bases in your country? What do fans do to show their support?
  7. Imagine you own a small theater. How would you decide which movie to show more often during that weekend?
  8. What kinds of movies attract you most: action, comedy, romance, science fiction, animation, or something else?
  9. Do you think big movies are more enjoyable when everyone is talking about them at the same time? Why or why not?
  10. Barbie + Oppenheimer became Barbenheimer. What should we call Doomsday + Dune?

Discussion Questions

  1. If you could see only one of these movies, which would you choose? Why?
  2. Do you think many people would watch both movies during the holiday season? Why or why not?
  3. Why might a theater be happy when two popular movies open on the same weekend?
  4. Would you prefer to watch these movies in a theater or at home? What makes that experience better for you?
  5. Have you ever watched the final film in a trilogy or series? Did you feel excited, sad, or disappointed when the story ended?
  6. Which films, shows, games, or sports teams have the strongest fan bases in your country? What do fans do to show their support?
  7. Imagine you own a small theater. How would you decide which movie to show more often during that weekend?
  8. What kinds of movies attract you most: action, comedy, romance, science fiction, animation, or something else?
  9. Do you think big movies are more enjoyable when everyone is talking about them at the same time? Why or why not?
  10. Barbie + Oppenheimer became Barbenheimer. What should we call Doomsday + Dune?

Answers Two Big Movies, One Weekend / Level 3

Listening: (1) scheduled, (2) final, (3) different, (4) worldwide, (5) exclusive, (6) busiest

Main Idea: Two major films may compete, but holiday audiences could make the weekend successful for both.

True or False:

  1. True. The story describes both films as large productions with famous actors and strong fan bases.
  2. False. It is the final movie in the trilogy.
  3. True. The story says that “Dune: Part Three” will have exclusive IMAX screenings for three weeks.
  4. False. The story says only that some people in the movie industry think one film should move.

Multiple Choice: a, c, a

Vocabulary:

  1. attract: many of the same viewers
  2. strong: fan bases
  3. compete: more directly
  1. exclusive: IMAX screenings
  2. move: to another date

New Sentences: 1. scheduled to; 2. attract; 3. trilogy; 4. fan base; 5. appeal to; 6. exclusive

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Result. 2) Result.

  1. For that reason,
  2. Based on that,

eslnewsstories.com