Saudi Arabia’s cinema sector generated SR845.6 million ($225.42 million) in 2024, according to the Saudi Film Commission. The industry screened 504 films, including 17 Saudi productions. Revenues dipped slightly from 2022 (SR937 million) and 2023 (SR922 million), showcasing market resilience. Over 17.5 million tickets sold at an average price of SR48.2, following an April 2024 price reduction from SR64 to SR53.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die dominated 2024, earning SR88.1 million from 1.7 million tickets. Egyptian action film Welad Rizk 3 followed with SR39.9 million, while Toxic Marriage and Inside Out 2 claimed third and fourth places. Saudi dark comedy Mandoob El Leil broke records, ranking fifth with SR28.6 million and 620,000 tickets.
Local Films Capture 7.8% Market Share
Saudi productions earned SR76.6 million, selling 1.8 million tickets. Mandoob El Leil set a historic opening day record with $1.6 million. Comedy Shabab Al-Bomb secured second place locally (SR26.6 million), outperforming Egypt’s Bahebek (SR23.2 million).
Riyadh contributed SR391.1 million (7.4 million tickets), while Makkah ranked second with SR224.5 million. The Eastern Province, Madinah, and Asir followed, with Hail trailing at SR7.6 million. Cinemas spanned 64 locations and 630 screens across 10 regions.
Action Films Dominate Audience Preferences
Action genres claimed 39.5% of revenue (SR334 million), followed by comedy (SR190.7 million) and animation (SR116.3 million). Films rated R18 (adults-only) led earnings at SR315.7 million, while family-friendly (G) films generated just SR4.4 million.
American films captured 58.5% of revenue (180 titles), while Egyptian productions claimed 25.1%. Saudi, Indian, and European films split the remainder. This diversity underscores growing audience demand for varied storytelling.
The Saudi cinema sector continues to thrive, showcasing a diverse range of films and maintaining stability in revenue generation. With a strong focus on local productions and a robust network of cinemas across the Kingdom, the future looks promising for the industry.
