From desert to theaters: Saudi cinema's struggles, triumphs in new era

Financial Times reveals in a new article that since Saudi Arabia lifted its cinema ban in 2018, the country's film industry has been slowly taking shape. 

A film about Bedouins set against the backdrop of the first Gulf War, Hobal, is now seen as a potential turning point for the sector.

Released earlier this year, Hobal tells the story of a mother’s struggle to get medical treatment for her daughter while dealing with her conservative family’s opposition to modernity. The film has already grossed over $6 million and is expected to break the domestic box office record of $10.8 million, according to Saudi Arabia’s media regulator.

The lifting of the 35-year cinema ban, as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reforms, marked a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s cultural evolution. The global film industry quickly recognized the potential of the country’s 33 million people as a valuable, untapped market. AMC Entertainment Holdings opened the kingdom’s first theater, with its CEO projecting up to $1 billion in annual box office sales.

However, despite a promising start, Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry faced a downturn in 2023, with box office revenue dropping from $249 million in 2022 to $200 million. AMC, under pressure from streaming services, sold its shares in Saudi Arabia in the same year.

The industry hopes that films like Hobal, which resonate with the everyday lives of Saudis, will help boost audience interest. “We need a string of true box office hits to gain the faith of Saudi audiences,” said Wael Abumansour, head of Telfaz11 Studios.

With a lineup of local films set for release, there’s renewed optimism for growth, as filmmakers strive to capture the attention of domestic viewers, especially with new projects like Unidentified by Haifaa al-Mansour.

By Naila Huseynova