The film "Divorce Me" tops the Saudi box office, surpassing "Avatar"
The Saudi box office witnessed fierce competition and some surprising results this week, as Arab cinema, particularly Egyptian films, once again proved their popular dominance. The Egyptian comedy "Talaqni" (Divorce Me) the box office charts, dethroning major international productions, including the latest installment in the popular science fiction series "Avatar." This reflects the diverse tastes of the Saudi audience and their preference for films that resonate with their social realities through comedy.
Egyptian comedy dominance: "Divorce Me" takes the lead
The film "Divorce Me" achieved remarkable success, topping the box office with revenues reaching 3.5 million Saudi Riyals . Featuring a stellar cast including Karim Mahmoud Abdel Aziz and Dina El Sherbiny, the film offers a cinematic blend of social drama and situational comedy.
The film revolves around a couple whose relationship reaches a dead end, culminating in divorce. However, fate has a different scenario in store for them; the husband finds himself in a dire financial crisis that threatens him with imprisonment, forcing him to seek help from his ex-wife. The pair embark on a journey filled with dangers and humorous situations that reshape their understanding of their feelings and the relationship they once shared. The film is written by Ayman Bahgat Qamar and directed by Khaled Marei, and stars Hatem Salah and Yasmine Rahmy.
Cultural context: Why are Egyptian films at the forefront?
The dominance of Egyptian films at the Saudi box office is not a fleeting phenomenon, but rather a continuation of a strong cultural and artistic relationship. Egyptian comedy has long been a favorite form of entertainment for Saudi and Gulf families, given the similarities in dialects and social customs. This success reflects the ability of Arab filmmakers to produce high-quality, competitive content that appeals to local audiences, thus strengthening the position of regional cinema in the face of the influx of Hollywood films.
Avatar's decline and competition positions
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated science fiction adventure film Avatar: Fire and Ash to second place, earning 1.8 million riyals in its opening week. Despite the visual spectacle delivered by acclaimed director James Cameron, the story, which unfolds after the death of Nityam and the struggle of Jake and Nityri's family against the fiery Ash tribe led by the warrior Farang, faced stiff competition from the family comedy.
In the rest of the rankings, the thriller Anaconda in third place, while the beloved animated film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants in fourth, demonstrating the variety of options available to moviegoers in the Kingdom.
The impact of the Saudi film industry regionally and internationally
This weekly ranking demonstrates the phenomenal growth of the Saudi Arabian film industry since cinemas reopened in 2018 as part of Vision 2030. The Kingdom has transformed itself in record time into the largest and most influential market in the Middle East, making it a focal point for global and regional producers. The presence of an Arabic film at the top of the list sends a positive message about the dynamism of the local market and its ability to support Arab productions, encouraging further investment in the joint Arab entertainment industry.
