Saudi Arabian cinemas witnessed fierce and unexpected competition this week, with Arab cinema asserting its dominance over Hollywood blockbusters. In a first reflecting the Saudi audience's taste for social comedies, the Egyptian film "Talaqni" (Divorce Me) topped the Saudi box office , surpassing one of the biggest science fiction franchises in history.
Egyptian comedy is superior in terms of numbers
The film "Talaqni" (Divorce Me) achieved remarkable box office success, grossing 3.5 million Saudi Riyals in its first week, thus securing the top spot. This success continues the trend of Egyptian comedy films dominating the Saudi market, which has become the largest source of cinema revenue in the Arab region since the reopening of theaters in 2018. This popularity reflects the preference of Saudi families for content that resonates with their social realities in a humorous format, especially when featuring stars with immense popularity.
The story of the film “Divorce Me” and its cast
The film, a comedy-adventure, revolves around a couple whose relationship has deteriorated to the point of divorce. However, circumstances force the husband (facing a severe financial crisis that threatens him with imprisonment) to turn to his ex-wife for help. The pair embark on a journey filled with humorous situations and challenging situations, leading them to rediscover their true feelings for each other.
The work is directed by the distinguished director Khaled Marei, written by the writer Ayman Bahgat Qamar, and stars a selection of stars:
- Karim Mahmoud Abdel Aziz
- Dina El Sherbiny
- Hatem Salah
- Yasmine Rahmi
- Mahmoud Hafez
Avatar's decline and fierce competition
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 usual visual spectacle from acclaimed director James Cameron, the local competition proved fiercer this week.
The new installment of the Avatar series unfolds in the aftermath of Nitiam's tragic death, leaving Jake and Niti's family in mourning. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges: the Na'vi tribe, known as the Ash people, led by the fiery warrior Varang. The film takes viewers on a new moral dilemma, revealing dark and previously unseen aspects of the world of Pandora.
Order of the remaining films
The competition was not limited to these two works only, but the list witnessed a remarkable diversity to satisfy all tastes:
- Third place: The horror and thriller film Anaconda , indicating the presence of a large segment of thriller movie fans.
- Fourth place: The family animated film The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants , confirming the status of family and children's films at the box office.
This ranking demonstrates the great diversity of the Saudi film market and its ability to accommodate different film genres, with the balance tipping this week in favor of heartfelt Arabic comedy.
