The new 6-screen cinema at Nakheel Plaza Buraydah is part of the latest initiative by Muvi Cinemas to launch multiple new locations across the Kingdom.
Muvi Cinemas opened its eleventh location at Nakheel Plaza Buraydah in the city of Qassim in Saudi Arabia on 15 June 2021. The 6-screen cinema with a total of 892 seats, which also includes an Xperience screen powered by CGS, is the first cinema to open in the central Saudi province of Al-Qassim (of which Buraydah is the capital).
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Nakheel Plaza Buraydah was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, and is based on a theme of urban downtown, with and aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 109 across 11 locations in 7 cities of Saudi Arabia, and plans to add an additional 30 sites with more than 300 screens over the 12 months ahead.
As the official cinema advertising partner of Muvi Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan congratulates the cinema exhibitor on its opening of Nakheel Plaza Buraydah, and warmly welcomes this location to our cinema circuit in KSA.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – Nakheel Plaza Buraydah.
Sources: Muvi Cinemas, Middle East Construction News, Broadcast Pro Middle East, and Campaign Middle East
VOX Cinemas continues to expand its footprint across Saudi Arabia with the opening of a new 7-screen multiplex at The Spot – Sheikh Jaber in Riyadh.
VOX Cinemas launched a state-of-the-art multiplex at The Spot – Sheikh Jaber in Riyadh on 19 May 2021. The 7-screen cinema with a total of 662 seats and VIP and KIDS experiences is the result of a partnership between Majid Al Futtaim and Rakaa Holding to bring five new integrated entertainment destinations to Riyadh and Jizan.
Providing entertainment for the entire family, the latest location features a modern eight-lane Yalla! Bowling alley and a games section furnished with billiards tables and air hockey.
Commenting on the opening, Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment, Cinemas and Lifestyle said, “VOX Cinemas is extremely proud to partner with Rakaa Holding to expand our footprint across Saudi Arabia, which is a key strategic market for us. This launch demonstrates our alignment with Vision 2030’s ambitions to increase the number of family entertainment centres and our commitment to making world-class entertainment accessible to communities throughout the Kingdom. We look forward to welcoming guests to our latest cinematic experience and creating even more great moments for them to enjoy.”
Hamad Al Malik, Board Member of Rakaa Holding added: “We are proud to collaborate with Majid Al Futtaim, which is synonymous with customer-focused and innovative experiences. Saudi Arabia has a thriving leisure and entertainment sector and, given Majid Al Futtaim’s market understanding and expertise, we are confident that these new developments will be hugely successful.”
VOX Cinemas presently operates 141 screens across 13 locations in 5 cities of Saudi Arabia, making it the largest exhibitor by screen count, and the largest independent distributor in the Kingdom. Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulates VOX Cinemas on the opening of The Spot – Sheikh Jaber and warmly welcomes this new location to our cinema circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities at VOX Cinemas The Spot – Sheikh Jaber.
Sources: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
As multiple cinema exhibitors around the world have started to reopen doors to patrons, and cinemas across the GCC having already welcomed more than 5 million moviegoers in 2021, the Saudi Arabia cinema market continues to grow, with the Kingdom well on track to realising the goal of Vision 2030 – open more than 350 cinemas with 2,600 screens.
Saudi Arabia officially opened its cinematic market in 2018 with the launch of its first cinema by AMC, post its 35-year ban. The initiative was a part of Saudi’s 2030 vision of development towards the economic and social sectors.
In promoting culture and entertainment, one of the goals of Vision 2030 is for the government to specifically attract local investors and create partnerships with international entertainment corporations to develop a market of SAR 30 billion in recreational services, with SAR 10 billion solely for the development of the cinema sector in Saudi Arabia, which is projected to directly contribute SAR 1 billion to the GDP.
Since the opening of the first cinema by AMC Cinemas at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in April 2018, followed by VOX Cinemas opening the second location at Riyadh Park Mall in May 2018, Saudi Arabia witnessed exponential growth in 2019, with a total of eleven 11 cinemas and 103 screens by the end of the year.
At the start of 2020 (prior to the COVID-19 lockdown), three more cinemas opened its doors to moviegoers in the city of Riyadh and Dammam, increasing the totals to 14 locations and 134 screens. When cinemas reopened post the lockdown in UAE and Saudi Arabia in June 2020 – with strict sanitisation and social distancing protocols in place, Saudi Arabia continued to expand its cinema landscape, adding 14 more locations and 130 screens across the country.
As of June 2021, Saudi Arabia has a total of 33 locations and 309 screens, proving to be GCC’s booming cinema market at present.
The latest Saudi issue by Campaign Middle East – Saudi Arabia Report 2021, has brought together the creative and marketing talent of Saudi Arabia to produce a catalogue of the media landscape in the Kingdom, and also shines light on Saudi’s post-COVID cinema landscape.
Access the complete cinema report and read what Avinash Udeshi, Chief Operating Officer, Motivate Val Morgan and representatives from leading cinema exhibitors in Saudi Arabia have to say about the unprecedented potential for growth in the country.
Sources: PWC, Arab news, The National and Arabian Business
VOX Cinemas opens its first ever 10-screen multiplex in Hail at Hail Square, Saudi Arabia
VOX Cinemas opened its first ever multiplex in Hail, Saudi Arabia on 14 April 2021. The launch of the 10-screen cinema with a total of 1,309 seats at Hail Square underpins VOX Cinemas’ commitment to expand its footprint to new cities and make its world-class leisure, entertainment and cinema experiences accessible to everyone across the Kingdom.
VOX Cinemas Hail Square boasts signature concepts including VIP, a luxurious offering for discerning movie lovers and KIDS, a colourful and dedicated auditorium catering to young film fans and their families, as well as cutting-edge audio-visual technology for an immersive and unrivalled cinematic experience.
Hail Square marks VOX’s twelfth cinema in the Kingdom and fourth opening since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state-of-the-art multiplex also features Yalla! Bowling, a family and kids entertainment centre with eight bowling lanes, as well as an array of arcade games such as foosball, billiard tables, air hockey and sub soccer to entertain the whole family.
Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment, Cinemas and Lifestyle, said, “We are extremely proud to be opening the first ever multiplex in Hail, which reiterates Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to enter new cities, support job creation and make our leisure and entertainment concepts accessible to families throughout the Kingdom. As part of our endless pursuit to create great moments for everyone, every day, we deliver innovative and integrated cinematic experiences that exceed the expectations of our valued guests.” Al Hashemi added, “VOX Cinemas is dedicated to realizing the goals of Vision 2030 and we will continue with our ambitious expansion plans by opening several new multiplexes throughout the Kingdom this year. Saudi Arabia was the top theatrical market in the Middle East in 2020 and we look forward to leveraging the opportunities of the nascent and rapidly evolving leisure and entertainment sector in this market. We remain incredibly appreciative of our partnership with His Highness Prince Bandar Al Saud and the Unified team and are committed to bringing world-class entertainment offerings to all of their new mall developments.”
Prince Bandar bin Khalid F. Al Saud, President of Unified Real Estate Development said, “In VOX Cinemas we have found a partner that shares the same principles of commitment, ethics and executional excellence that we have at Unified. We are truly delighted to be a part of this world class cinema in Hail which will offer our customers a unique experience and, importantly, will create over 200 job opportunities. We continue to grow our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim and VOX Cinemas, and we look forward to further creating more and more one of a kind entertainment venue through our partnership in line with the Kingdom’s vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program.”
VOX Cinemas presently operates 134 screens across 12 locations in 5 cities, making it the largest exhibitor by screen count, and the largest independent distributor in the Kingdom. Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulates VOX Cinemas on the opening of Hail Square and warmly welcomes this new location to our regional cinema circuit.
Contact a member of our team to advertise your brand on the screens of VOX Cinemas – Hail Square.
Sources: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
Over-taking the benchmark blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, F9 has zoomed its way to the top of Box Office within its first week of release!
The ninth installment in Universal’s Fast and Furious franchise – F9, clocked in the biggest international debut for a Hollywood title since the pandemic, garnering a total of $162.4 million across eight overseas markets in its first weekend of release – nearly doubling Godzilla vs. Kong‘s debut in those markets.
Here’s a detailed look at how successful the blockbuster has been in its opening weekend thus far:
F9 is set to release in a total of 62 markets throughout the rest of the summer, but won’t be releasing until it reaches Australia on June 17, followed by UK and US on June 24 and 25 respectively, and a host of key European markets in July.
Unlike most other blockbusters that have committed to a hybrid release format due to the pandemic – cinema and streaming platforms, F9 will solely release in cinemas.
Owing to the record-breaking collections of Godzilla vs. Kong and F9, upcoming blockbusters are anticipated to follow similar patterns and garner similar attention from audiences and shine at Box Office. Contact us to plan ahead and place your brand alongside upcoming blockbusters to reach your optimal audience.
Sources: Box Office Pro, Deadline,Variety, Screenrant and First Post
The recent release of the fashion spectacle – Cruella, on the BIG screen will be followed by a few other female-centric movie over Q3 and Q4 of 2021.
As history has witnessed, numerous female-centric films have performed well at box office and have been acknowledged and appreciated by audiences and critics alike:
Captain Marvel
Worldwide BO – Over $1.12M
UAE Admissions – Over 425k
Padmaavat (Hindi)
Worldwide BO – $741,630,951
UAE Admissions – Over 357K
Ocean’s 8
Worldwide BO – $741,630,951
UAE Admissions – Over 236k
Wonder Woman 1984
UAE BO – $3,171,866
This year’s Academy Awards also witnessed females bag awards across a range of categories – the Oscar for Best Director was won by Chloé Zhao for her movie Nomadland, Frances McDormand won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Nomadland. and Yuh-Jung Youn took home the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Minari. Here are the female-centric movies that are a must-watch on the big screen over the rest of 2021:
A Quiet Place II
Real life couple and reel life iconic pairing of director-actress duo John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are back with the sequel to their 2018 thriller. In The Quiet Place II, the Abbott family face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path. Catch the eerie blockbuster in cinemas on 10 June 2021.
Black Widow
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller, Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her life when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. This blockbuster resales on 9 July 2021.
Respect
Directed by Liesl Tommy, Respect is the biography of iconic singer, Aretha Franklin. Aretha sings in her father’s church choir as a child and grows up to become an international musical superstar and legend. Catch the highly anticipated musical delight in cinemas on 19 August 2021.
Other blockbusters starring a female(s) in a lead role include:
The Suicide Squad
The sequel to the 2016 Suicide Squad, is set to release across cinemas on 5 August 2021. The movie revolves around super-villains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of cons at Belle Reve prison who join the super-secret Force X. Heavily armed, they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese where they must fight to live.
Eternals
The Marvel debut of award-winning Director Chloé Zhao witnesses the Eternals be a part of various historic changes throughout the centuries during their time at Earth, however they have never interfered….until now. The visual spectacle releases in cinemas on 4 November 2021.
Is your brand looking to target female audiences? Be part of the BIG Ticket female-centric event on the BIG Screen in 2021 and reach your ideal audience.
Contact us to make cinema an integral part of your media plan.
Sources: IMDB, Aviation Analysis, Whip Media and Zoella
VOX Cinemas 15-screen cinema at Wafi City in Dubai features a Samsung Onyx screen and signature concepts including KIDS, MAX, as well as a reimagined VIP experience.
Majid Al Futtaim – the leading shopping mall, communities, retail, and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, launched its first hybrid cinema and family entertainment centre at Wafi City in Dubai, UAE on 9 May 2021.
The state-of-the-art entertainment hub spans two floors and comprises VOX Cinemas – the Middle East’s most innovative and fastest growing exhibitor, integrated with Magic Planet – the regionally award-winning family entertainment centre.
The 15-screen cinema at VOX Cinemas Wafi City offers moviegoers an exceptional cinematic experience and boasts the first Samsung Onyx screen in the UAE. Backed by brilliant LED picture quality and an infinite contrast ratio, Samsung Onyx delivers a powerful, captivating and memorable experience through HDR (High Dynamic Range) graphics and clear sounds. The cinema also features cutting-edge audio-visual technology and a variety of VOX signature concepts including KIDS, MAX, as well as a reimagined VIP experience with luxury seating and in-seat dining.
Families and fun seekers of all ages can also enjoy a wide variety of the latest video games, amusement rides, attractions and redemption games at Magic Planet, which features Bumper Cars, Drop ‘N Twist and Highway 66 – the ultimate mini-bowling experience.
The all-encompassing entertainment destination also features an array of F&B outlets to complement the experience including new concepts Candy Corner, where guests can indulge in a wide variety of sweet treats, and The Spotlight at Wafi City, which serves gourmet cuisine directly to guests’ seats. The décor in the thoughtfully appointed new culinary offering is imaginative and intriguing and truly immerses discerning film fans in a unique atmosphere that redefines luxury and the cinematic experience.
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment said, “We’re proud to collaborate with Wafi Group, which shares our vision for creating remarkable destinations and passion for excellence, to open our first hybrid cinema and family entertainment centre in the United Arab Emirates. Today’s customers are looking for more engaging and immersive ways to spend time with family and friends and, at Majid Al Futtaim, we are committed to staying ahead of the curve and finding innovative new ways to exceed evolving
expectations. VOX Cinemas and Magic Planet at Wafi City have been designed as a holistic concept seamlessly integrating two recreational functions into one enriched experience and we’re very excited to welcome new guests and create great moments together.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mana bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Wafi Group added, “Majid Al Futtaim is synonymous with customer-focused and innovative experiences and, we are excited to partner with them to launch this world-class entertainment destination, which offers an exciting selection of immersive attractions for the whole family to enjoy. VOX Cinemas Wafi City takes the cinematic experience to the next level with a unique offering that goes beyond customers’ expectations and features the ultimate VIP experience.”
VOX Cinemas presently operates 22 cinemas and 267 screens across the UAE. In March 2021, the cinema exhibitor opened at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah, with the launch marking the fifth cinema opening across the region in the wake of COVID-19. Later this month, VOX Cinemas is set to launch three multiplexes across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as part of its ambitious expansion plans across the region.
We at Motivate Val Morgan congratulate VOX Cinemas on the opening of the new the 15-screen cinema at Wafi City, and warmly welcome this location to our cinema circuit in the UAE.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens at Wafi City in Dubai, UAE.
Sources: Vox Cinemas Press Release
Here are the commercials that dominated the big screen over Eid al-Fitr 2021!
Due to cinemas being closed across the Middle East and the rest of the world over the first half of 2020, brands missed out on the opportunity to advertise on the BIG screen last Eid. This Eid al-Fitr however witnessed not only the release of Indian MEGA blockbuster Radhe, but also Kuwait and Bahrain – two countries that remained closed for 15 months, re-opening its doors to patrons.
Here are the commercials booked through Motivate Val Morgan, that lit up the BIG screen over Eid al-Fitr 2021:
Barakat
Ad Duration: 72 sec.
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 27th May 2021
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – City Centre Ajman, City Centre Al Zahia, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, Al Jimi Mall, Al Maryah Island, Yas Mall. Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall. Cinema City – Zero 6 mall.
Toshiba Kioxia
Ad Duration: 30 sec. (each)
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 10th June 2021
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates and Cineplex Grand Hyatt
Al Hokail Medical Group
Ad Duration: 20 sec. (each)
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 22nd July 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Dharan
DUR Hospitality (Holiday Inn)
Ad Duration: 15 sec.
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 17th June 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: Muvi Cinemas – Mall of Dharan, Nakheel Mall, Jubail Mall. VOX Cinemas – West Avenue Mall.
Boubyan Bank
Ad Duration: 41 sec.
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 3rd June 2021
Country: Kuwait
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – The Avenues
Al Rawabi Private School
Ad Duration: 70 sec.
Campaign Duration: 13th May 2021 to 8th July 2021
Country: Bahrain
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – The Avenues
Make cinema an integral part of your media plan! Contact us to advertise alongside an exciting line-up of upcoming blockbusters.
AMC Cinemas Dawadmi 3 at Al Makan Mall is the first cinema in the city of Al Dawadmi in KSA, featuring 3 screens – two regular screens and one PRIME at AMC screen, and AMC Cinema Souq – a reimagined and fully customizable food and beverage concept.
AMC Cinemas opened its eighth location – Dawadmi 3, at Al Makan Mall in Al Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia on 20 April 2021.
The 3-screen cinema with a total of 320 seats, featuring a PRIME at AMC screen, is the first cinema to open in the city of Al Dawadmi, and is located in the central region of Saudi Arabia (200KM west of Riyadh) with a population of 53,000.
Greeting guests on arrival at the cinema is AMC Cinema Souq, a reimagined and fully customizable food & beverage concept offering restaurant quality hot foods, one-of-a-kind deserts, and creative handcrafted beverages.
Al Makan Mall is the only shopping mall in Al Dawadmi, attracting consumers from nearby cities such as ‘Sager city’, thus considered the main shopping destination in and around the area.
Together with the two new locations Dawadmi 3 and Star Avenue – which opened on 12 April 2021, AMC Cinemas presently operates 57 screens across 9 locations in 5 cities of Saudi Arabia, with a goal in line with the government’s plan to diversify entertainment content as well as provide new experiences to a range of audiences in several cities across the Kingdom.
*More information on Star Avenue to follow in the coming weeks.
Motivate Val Morgan congratulates AMC Cinemas on the opening of Dawadmi 3, and warmly welcomes this location to our cinema circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities across AMC locations.
Source: AMC Cinemas and Swicorp Wabel Reit
Hollywood’s biggest night, the 93rd annual Academy Awards, also popularly known as the Oscars, took place on April 25 2021, at Union Station, Los Angeles.
The awards ceremony made history when the shortlist was announced owing to the diverse list of talent nominated this year. From glitz and glamour on the red carpet, to a diverse list of nominees, the 93rd Academy Awards (Oscars 2021), preserved the scale of the event while maintaining social distancing as well as following all safety measures. The Oscars also paid a tribute to fallen heroes of the industry – Chadwick Boseman, Christopher Plummer and Sean Conner to name a few.
Nomadland won best picture as well as well as bagged Chloé Zhao the award for the best director, making her the first Asian and second female director to win in the category. The film also seized awards for best actress.
Seasoned actor Anthony Hopkins won the best actor award for his work as the aging father in The Father, his second Oscar win post the one in 1994 for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, while Frances McDormand won best actress for her performance in Nomadland. Meanwhile, Daniel Kaluuya and Yuh-Jung Youn picked up supporting actor and actress honors for their performance in Judas and the Black Messiah and Minari respectively.
Here’s the full list of all the winners:
Actor in a leading role: Anthony Hopkins in The Father
Actor in a supporting role: Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and The Black Messiah
Actress in a leading role: Frances Mcdormand in Nomadland
Actress in a supporting role: Yuh-Jung Youn in Minari
Animated feature film: Soul
Cinematography: Mank
Best Director: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland
Music (original score): Soul
Music (Original song): Fight For You
Best Picture: Nomadland
Visual Effects: Tenet
Documentary (feature): My Octopus Teacher
Documentary (short subject): Colette
International Feature Film: Another Round
Short Film (Animated): If Anything Happens I Love You
Short Film (Live action): Two Distant Strangers
One of the highlights of the award ceremony was the stellar acceptance speech delivered by Frances McDormand upon winning the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Nomadland. She says that she is at a loss for words upon receiving the award and further continues to compare her work to a sword – one that pierces through to the audience. As we witness audiences returning to the cinema and an extensive line-up of movies scheduled for a theatrical release, one may conclude that cinema is back with a bang!
Source: Oscars
