Saudi Films Surpass SAR 100 Million at the Box Office for the Second Consecutive Year
Saudi cinema continued to strengthen its commercial presence in the Kingdom after revenues from Saudi films surpassed SAR 100 million at the box office in 2026, reaching this level for the second consecutive year, according to the latest data from the Film Commission.
The figure comes as the domestic cinema market expands in terms of the volume of films available and the diversity of Saudi productions, while audiences continue to show interest in local stories alongside Arab and international films.
Saudi Films Account for 12.7% of Market Revenues
According to data announced by the Film Commission and reported by Arab News, Saudi productions accounted for approximately 12.7% of total box-office revenues in the Kingdom through mid-September. The percentage is particularly significant given that local films represent a limited share of the total number of films screened, yet maintain a notable share of revenues.
During the period from September 13 to 19 alone, the Saudi box office generated nearly SAR 16 million, with more than 329,200 tickets sold for 59 films showing in cinemas.
Three Saudi Films in Cinemas
The figures indicate that three Saudi productions are currently among the films being screened: the action film “7 Dogs,” the action comedy “Aks Seir,” and the animated film “Azzam: Athar Al-Farasha.”
The figures reflect not so much the success of a single film as the expanding base of local production and its ability to compete in a market that has become more diverse since commercial cinemas returned to the Kingdom in April 2018.
2025 Paved the Way for the New Record
The year 2025 saw strong performance from Saudi productions, with 11 Saudi films generating SAR 122.6 million in revenues from approximately 2.8 million tickets. Although Saudi productions accounted for only around 3% of the 538 films shown during the year, they contributed approximately 13% of total box-office revenues.
Three local films also entered the list of the 10 highest-grossing films in 2025: “Al-Zorfa,” “Shabab Al Bomb 2” and “Hobal,” indicating a shift in Saudi production from a limited presence to a clear commercial competitor.
A Cinema Market Expanding Since 2018
A new phase for the sector began with the return of commercial cinemas to Saudi Arabia in 2018. The Film Commission was then established in 2020 to develop the sector, support filmmakers and build a more integrated production, distribution and exhibition ecosystem. Financing tools also later expanded, including the Film Sector Financing Program launched by the Cultural Development Fund with a budget of SAR 879 million to support production, distribution and infrastructure.
The new figures show that the next challenge is not limited to increasing the number of productions, but also involves sustaining film quality and their ability to attract audiences and achieve recurring commercial success, supporting the growth of a Saudi film industry capable of competing locally and regionally.
