VOX Cinema opens a state-of-the-art 16-screen multiplex – the largest cinema in Sharjah, at City Centre Al Zahia in UAE.
VOX Cinemas opened its newest cinema location at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah on 9th March 2021.
City Centre Al Zahia is home to 16 state-of-the-art screens with a total of 1,485 seats, and features Gold, VIP, MAX and Kids experiences. The opening marks the second VOX cinema in Sharjah, following the launch of the 12-screen cinema at City Centre Sharjah in June 2018.
? VOX Cinemas is NOW OPEN at City Centre Al Zahia! Enjoy a FREE large Salt, Caramel, or Cheese popcorn with every ticket purchased. Get ready to experience movies like never before and book your tickets at https://t.co/QH7NeTo97J or the VOX app.
*Offer valid from 9-13 March pic.twitter.com/uMS3Jw26a7
— VOX Cinemas (@voxcinemas) March 9, 2021
City Centre Al Zahia – a Dhs 2.6bn project, is the twenty eighth mall in the region by the conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, and the largest mall in the Northern Emirates. The retail hub includes 136,200 sq m of gross leasable space, and offers visitors a mix of over 360 brands, including Carrefour Hypermarket, Steve Madden, Centrepoint and Damas to name a few. It is within walking distance to the one-million-square-metre residential community of Al Zahia, and has been envisioned as Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination – part of the strategic partnership between Majid Al Futtaim Properties and Sharjah Asset Management.
Speaking on the opening of City Centre Al Zahia, Shireen El Khatib, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – Shopping Malls said, “The only new super-regional mall to be launched in the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of Covid-19, City Centre Al Zahia is a testament to the resolve, commitment and optimistic spirit of Sharjah and the wider Northern Emirates.”
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas across the Middle East, we at Motivate Val Morgan congratulate VOX on the opening of this new cinema, and warmly welcome this location to our cinema circuit in the UAE.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah, UAE.
Sources: Gulf Business, VOX Cinemas and Gulf News
With a movie budget of USD 4.83 million, Roohi is Bollywood’s first big film this year
Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, last year witnessed a majority of Bollywood blockbusters either pushing their release dates, or releasing on OTT platforms. Indian blockbusters such as Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Dil Bechara and Shakuntala Devi opted for the later in 2020, with Laxmii featuring Akshay Kumar being the only Bollywood blockbuster to release in hybrid format – Disney+Hotstar release in India and a simultaneous theatrical release in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and UAE. The theatrical release of Laxmii was successful, especially in the UAE where it made a total of USD 200,000, but the latest horror comedy film Roohi – by director Hardik Mehta, which went straight to cinemas both locally and internationally, has taken the top spot at box office since the pandemic, with a collection of USD 345,000 on its first day in India – despite most theatres still operating between 50-75% occupancy. According to boxofficeindia.com, its total collection thus far has been USD 2.26 million domestically, and USD 150,000 internationally.
#Roohi is looking at approx ₹ 17.50 cr total in its *extended* Week 1… A respectable number, in view of the #Covid scenario… Thu 3.06 cr [#MahaShivratri], Fri 2.25 cr, Sat 3.42 cr, Sun 3.85 cr, Mon 1.35 cr, Tue 1.26 cr, Wed 1.22 cr. Total: ₹ 16.41 cr. #India biz.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 18, 2021
As stated by Chauhan, a local exhibitor from Bihar, India: “Before Roohi‘s release, we would have no idea how much a film would do in these pandemic times. We would look at each other’s faces wondering how much a film would earn at the box office. But now we have a benchmark. And Bollywood needed this dose of confidence.”
Girish Johar, film producer and trade business analyst, pointed out that Roohi has witnessed a good response at the box office despite being one of the first big Indian films to release post theaters being opened. With Roohi seeing strong footfalls, exhibitors in India are now hopeful for business to slowly get back on track.
Roohi‘s opening day numbers will set the stage for the extensive line up of highly anticipated Bollywood blockbusters set to hit the big screen in 2021, including Mumbai Saga (March), Bunty Aur Babli 2 (April), Sooryavanshi (April), Radhe (May), Bell Bottom (May), 83 (June), Maidaan (October) and Laal Singh Chaddha (December) among others.
Click here to access a list of Indian Movies set to release in 2021, and contact us to advertise your brand alongside these upcoming blockbusters
Sources: Business Today, Box Office India, Forbes, Times of India and ABP Live
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we at Motivate Val Morgan present you with seven female directors from across the globe who have garnered praise from audiences and critics alike!
It’s no secret that the number of female directors in the global film industry remains abysmally low. However, great strides are being taken – ‘behind the scenes’, to resolve this issue, with females progressively leading the way in this new decade.
In light of International Women’s Day, we present you with seven phenomenal female directors who have delivered award winning blockbusters, that not only ruled the BIG screen, but also garnered praise from audiences and critics alike!
Lulu Wang
Lulu is an American Director who is well known for writing and directing the comedy-drama films Posthumous (2014) and The Farewell (2019). The Farewell, especially, is about a Chinese family who discover their grandmother is in her last days and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies. The movie went on to win Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
Chinonye Chukwu
A Nigerian-American by nationality, Chinonye Chukwu is the first woman of color to win the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her movie Clemency – a story that revolves around a prison warden who strikes up an unique bond with a death-row inmate.
Chloé Zhao
Chloé is a Chinese filmmaker popularly known for her directorial masterpiece, Nomadland. The movie is about a woman who loses everything in the great Recession and embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling, modern-day nomad. Chloé worked magic with Frances McDormand and a cast of real-life nomads to deliver a highly acclaimed film that was nominated across various award categories at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Venice Film Festival amongst many others.
Greta Gerwig
Greta is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director. She earned a Golden Globe award nomination for her role in Frances Ha (2012). Greta made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), however, it was Little Women (2019) that secured her nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards to name a few.
Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn – an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, is known for covering a wide range of genres. She is well known for the movie Zero Dark Thirty, which is based on the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks. Run-and-gun filmmaking has a precision only Bigelow can bring to life, as that feeling of endless pursuit is captured so beautifully through action and characters-in-motion. Zero Dark Thirty was nominated for an array of awards namely the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes and the BAFTA Awards.
Li Yu
Li, a Chinese film director and screenwriter began her career in entertainment at a young age, serving as a presenter at a local TV station. Her first film, Fish and Elephant, billed as the first mainland Chinese feature scooped up awards at the Venice and Berlin Film Festivals, while Buddha Mountain (2010) took on the subject of China’s one-child policy and earned a respectable $11.7 million at the Chinese box office.
Nadine Labaki
Nadine is a Lebanese actress, director and activist who first came to the spotlight as an actress in the early 2000s. With her universally acclaimed drama Capernaum (2018), she became the first Arab woman to ever be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Her directorial debut, Caramel (2007), premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival and became an essential feminist film. Undoubtedly one of the most accomplished filmmakers to ever emerge from the Middle East and North Africa, Nadine has paved the way for many Arab women in film.
As the theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, we commend these female directors of diverse backgrounds for going above and beyond, within the typically male dominated field of filmmaking, to deliver some of the most exceptional movies the BIG screen has ever witnessed!
Sources: IndieWire, Wikipedia, IMDB, BBC, LA Times, Egyptian Streets and SCMP.
How many action movies would you say had that one one well choreographed and epic fight scene? Here are our top five picks of the best action scenes from Hollywood!
At the core of any action film should be that one truly impressive action-sequence… one which isn’t just about the action, but so much more. The sequence itself should have a story, with elements such as timing, level of impact and how the characters embody that scene.
But what are the key ingredients at play beneath all the punches, kicks, and bloodshed?
Here are five of our favourite action sequences from Hollywood that bowl us over and leave us in awe, even today!
1. Opening Freeway Attack – Deadpool
Deadpool’s hilarious opening battle on the freeway sets the tone of the film. It works on its own as an independent action scene, but with the wit and fourth-wall shattering wisdom of Deadpool overlaying the action, it gives a fitting introduction of the movie to its audience. Deadpool also makes creative use of the vehicle’s cigarette lighter as he counts down his bullets with manic glee.
2. Superheroes Face Off – Civil War
The superhero battle at the airport in Civil War is the realization of every comic book fan’s lifelong dream. Complimented by exceptional CGI and character performances, this scene is one of the most entertaining fights ever put on film. Civil War offers a thrilling fight, where one finds themselves rooting for both sides.
3. The Bank Vault – Fast and Furious Five
The scene where Dom and Brian pull the bank vault through the streets, while using it as a weapon against crooked cops is fun, destructive, unique and thrilling – all at the same time! What makes this installment of the Fast & Furious franchise a cut above the rest is the filmmaker’s ability to successfully craft the scene in a manner where each character knows exactly how to own specific moments of that scene.
4. Jack Sparrow vs. Will Turner Sword Fight – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
There is a finesse to the sword fight scene between Jack and Will. The amalgamation of the witty banter and commendable choreography – the use of loose floorboards, improvised weapons and emphasis on every twist and reversal, complements each other and keeps audiences hooked from start to end.
5. Zero G Hallway Scene – Inception
The rotating hallway dream fight in Inception is pure creative choreography by Christopher Nolan and the team., for it is one of the few modern action sequences to rely solely on camera effects. The intense sequence which sees the actors fighting against time and gravity has us sitting on the edge of our seats, wanting more.
Action scenes might be the most exciting to watch , but they are also some of the most complicated to shoot. Capturing a fight on film requires carefully executed techniques in order to make it exhilarating, realistic, and safe for all involved. Below is a list of action films slated for release in 2021, which we believe have epic action sequences to offer:
Godzilla vs. Kong (March), Mortal Kombat (April) , Sooryavanshi (April), Fast and Furious 9 (June), Top Gun: Maverick (July), K.G.F: Chapter 2 (July), No Time To Die (October), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (November) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (December)
Contact a member of our sales team for advertising opportunities alongside these upcoming action blockbusters!
Sources: Wikipedia, YouTube, IMDB, Amex Essentials and Screen Rant
Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, Roohi is Bollywood’s ha-ha horror movie that promises to take the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Set to be Bollywood’s official return to the BIG screen after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the trailer of the much-awaited horror-comedy film – Roohi, is finally out!
Starring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles and, Varun Sharma in a supporting yet pivotal role, Roohi marks the directorial debut of Hardik Mehta, and is set to release across cinemas in the Middle East on 11 March, 2021. The film depicts the story of two small-town boys – Hitesh and Lakiresh, who meet a girl named Roohi, and the twist in the tale takes place when they realize that Roohi is possed by a ghost. The movie follows a similar format to Stree, the horror-comedy released in 2018 by the same production house – Maddock Films.
The trailer begins and ends with a comic scene, accommodating plenty of jump scares and curiosity inducing moments, making it look promising. Since none of the theatrical releases in Bollywood have so far inspired audiences to return to cinema at large, Roohi could be the first bonafide box-office success since COVID-19 struck.
Bucking the idea of releasing on an OTT platform, Producer Dinesh Vijan said, “The biggest win of this trailer is that everyone, right from the film industry to true blue cinephiles are looking forward to catching Roohi on the big screen.” The trailer successfully crossed over 14 million YouTube views within 24 hours, and its has also received support from numerous movie critics and Bollywood celebrities including Taran Adarsh, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor.
#ROOHI TRAILER ARRIVES TODAY… #FirstLook posters of #Roohi… Stars #RajkummarRao, #JanhviKapoor and #VarunSharma… Directed by Hardik Mehta… Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba… #Jio Studios presentation… 11 March 2021 release. pic.twitter.com/cbBsXNRt0A
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 16, 2021
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities alongside this Bollywood blockbuster.
Sources: Koi Moi, Wikipedia, India Today, Times of India, GQ India and IMDB.
Thought-leaders, authors and coaches join a roster of creative leaders to deliver an impactful learning experience at LIONS Live in March 2021
LIONS has published the agenda for its March edition of LIONS Live. Designed as a toolkit for the creators of tomorrow, the interactive digital experience has been created to drive measurable gains in both personal and professional development.
About LIONS Live, Charlotte Williams, VP Content, LIONS, said, “When we launched LIONS Live last June, it was always with the intention that its format and purpose would evolve. This edition – ‘The New Creators Toolkit’ – is about providing a purposeful learning resource to our community and supporting those in pursuit of creative excellence. The programme will equip individuals with a host of skills by delivering insider training, expert guides and resources, all designed to propel development.”
Offering advice for the year, creative legends – including Madonna Badger, God-is Rivera, Tiffany R. Warren and Jim Stengel – will share their vision for the future as they reflect on the past. While in the popular ‘What I’ve Learnt’ series Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein will speak separately about their individual journeys to becoming one of the greatest creative duos.
As part of the programme, leading practitioners and innovators will teach future-proof skills. Experts include: London Business School’s Greg Orme, author of the 2020 Business Book of the Year – The Human Edge – on how to grow the human superpower of curiosity; Alison Chadwick, a host of Made Not Born podcast and a leadership coach with thirty years’ experience working with world-class creative companies on how you can transform yourself into a leader for tomorrow; and Todd Henry, author of five books (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, Herding Tigers, and The Motivation Code) and host of The Accidental Creative podcast on new ways to unleash your best work.
Uncovering trends and insights from 65+ years’ worth of awards data, three unique LIONS Intelligence Guides will be released – Navigating Market Disruption, Emotional Storytelling and Unconventional Creativity – to accelerate personal creative development and raise benchmarks.
LIONS Live will conclude with the release of a unique LIONS insight report unveiling the big creative topics for 2021 and launching the key themes that will set the framework for discussion, debate and insight at Cannes Lions and beyond. The report is the result of LIONS’ biggest research study to date, with 1,500 members of the global creative community taking part.
The agenda for LIONS Live: The New Creator’s Toolkit is now available online. Over 80,000 people have registered to be a part of the LIONS Live community and anybody wishing to join them can do so here. All content is streamed live through official streaming partner YouTube and is available on-demand, for free, to all registered users.
LIONS Live will take place from 1-5 March 2021.
Source: Cannes Lions (Press Release)
‘Tis the season for love and romance… check out our comprehensive list of movies to watch in the lead up to Valentine’s Day!
As the season of love approaches, it’s time to start planning for Valentine’s Day. Will you be making reservations at a fancy restaurant to celebrate with your significant other? Or are you more inclined towards buying your Valentine a box of mouth-watering chocolates or the freshest bouquet of roses in town? Or maybe you are one to go all out and do all of the above? But one thing is for sure…. Valentine’s Day 2021 will not be the same as every other you’ve previously celebrated.
Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, and in an effort to help curb the spread, it’s safe to presume that a majority will be planning a more low profile Valentine’s Day with their loved one this year. So we’ve got a brilliant idea for you to consider… why not binge watch romantic movies with your significant other in the lead up to the day Cupid is at his busiest? There’s an array of movies to choose from the list we’ve compiled below… take your pick, or watch them all!
Romantic Comedies:
Love with a side of well-timed jokes! Whether the story line revolves around two lifelong friends finally confessing their love to each other, or two strangers who fall in love at first sight, everyone loves a good rom-com!
The Proposal
Isn’t It Romantic
Mamma Mia!
Accidental Love
Love Actually
Love, Guaranteed
The Five Year Engagement
Period Romances:
Into historical and costume romance movies? Wooing a girl in the olden days was nothing short of going to battle, as the women most often called the shots! Watch any of the movies listed below and you’ll agree!
Pride and Prejudice
Anna Kerenina
Becoming Jane
Les Misérables
Chick Flicks:
Valentine’s Day does not have to be about spending it with a romantic partner, it can be well celebrated with your best friend, too! Grab a tub of fresh popcorn and set up a movie night with BFF or BFFs – the more the merrier!
Pretty Woman
Pitch Perfect
Bride Wars
Two Weeks Notice
You’ve Got Mail
27 Dresses
50 First Dates
Action Romance:
Do you consider romantic comedies to be a tad ‘over the top’? If so, we recommend a refreshing combination of love and action that will keep you at the edge of your seat, while leaving you love-struck.
Game Night
This Means War
Baby Driver
Speed
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
The Bounty Hunter
Paranormal Romance:
Movies featuring immortals falling in love with mortals and protecting them from harm appeal to not just teenagers and adolescents, but also to many adults – we all like to believe in the concept of a mythical world!
The Twilight Saga
Dead Again
I am Number Four
Beautiful Creatures
Beastly
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Romantic Thrillers:
For those with a sense of curiosity, romantic thrillers are a must watch! Movies that keep you in suspense till the end, with a hint of romance brewing between the main characters. This sub genre will bring about a rollercoaster of emotions that will keep you hooked till the very end!
Passenger
The Invisible Guardian
Focus
Widows
With an array of sub-genres and movies to choose from, sit back and unwind with your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Team Motivate Val Morgan wishes you a mushy and romance filled Valentine’s Day!
Sources: Medium, Premium Beat, YouTube, Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes
Having experienced huge losses due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown in 2020, the Indian cinema industry is relatively back on track, with 2021 looking hopeful for Indian movie fans across the world. Here’s a comprehensive list of Indian language blockbusters, confirmed to release in cinema, that will set the BIG screen ablaze this year!
Among most things we didn’t get to do in 2020, was the joy of visiting a cinema to enjoy the experience of watching a blockbuster on the BIG screen. While the cinematic release for numerous Hollywood blockbusters remain delayed in 2021, the Indian cinema industry is relatively back on track, offering cinemagoers an extensive line-up of blockbusters across an array of genres.
Here’s a comprehensive list of all the Indian movies, confirmed to release in cinema, and worth experiencing on the BIG screen:
‘83
Directed by Kabir Khan and starring the real-life pair, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone lead roles, ’83 is a movie based on India’s historic first World Cup win in 1983. The movie is a combination of two things Indians love the most – Bollywood and Cricket!
Laal Singh Chaddha
Starring Aamir Khan in the lead and directed by Advait Chandan, Laal Singh Chaddha is an official adaptation of Tom Hanks’ Forrest Gump. The movie will be Aamir Khan’s return to the big screen after a three year hiatus, post Thugs of Hindostan.
Radhe
The actor-director duo, Salman Khan and Prabhu Deva, are set to return to the big screen this year with Radhe – a movie inspired by the South Korean hit The Outlaws. The Bollywood action-drama is set to release later this year.
Shabaash Mithu
Based on the Indian Women’s Cricket team captain, Mithali Raj, the biopic stars is directed by Rahul Dholakia and stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead role. The movie is said to highlight the achievements and struggles of the skipper and her journey to realize her childhood dream.
Sooryavanshi
An addition to director Rohit Shetty’s own Cop Universe, this installment features Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif and Ajay Devgn. The action packed movie is based on the anti-terrorist squad lead by DCP Veer Sooryavanshi who joins forces with the Mumbai Police, headed by Inspector Sangram Bhalerao and DCP Bajirao Singham, to stop a terrorist group planning an attack on Mumbai.
K.G.F: Chapter 2
In the follow-up to the 2018 blockbuster directed by Prashanth Neel, South Indian star Yash resumes his role as Rocky, while Bollywood star Sunjay Dutt makes his Kannada acting debut as Rocky’s nemesis. Raveena Tandon will also feature in the movie as a political leader named Ramika Sen. This blockbuster is also set to release in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.
RRR
Directed by S. S Rajamouli, the movie stars Jr. NTR, Ram Charan and Alia Bhatt in lead roles. The action-drama is a fictitious story about two legendary revolutionaries and their journey away from home before they started fighting for their country in 1920’s.
Radhe Shyam
The upcoming romantic-drama stars Prabhas and Pooja Hegde in lead roles, and is directed by K.K. Radha Krishna Kumar. The film also stars Satyaraj, Bhagyashree, Kunal Roy Kapoor, Jagapati Babu, Jayaram, Sachin Khedekar and Veteran actor Krishnam Raju – who is said to play a significant role in the blockbuster.
Jathi Ratnalu
Billed as a political satire, the film is written and directed by Anudeep K V. Jathi Ratnalu stars Naveen Polishetty, Priyadarshi Pulikonda and Rahul Ramakrishna in the lead roles. The movie is set to release in cinema on March 11.
Sreekaram
Starring Sharwanand and Priyanka Arul Mohan in lead roles, the movie is set in a rural backdrop is written and directed by Kishore Reddy. The film will release on March 11.
Vakeel Saab
The Telugu remake of Bollywood hit Pink is helmed by Venu Sriram. In the remake, Pawan Kalyan steps into the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan. Vakeel Saab also stars Anjali, Nivetha Thomas, Ananya Nagalla and Prakash Raj and is slated for release on April 9.
Other Indian movies releasing in 2021 include:
Antim, Phone Bhoot, Dhamaka, Sardar Udham, Kaagaz, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Big Bull, Bhoot Police, Atrangi Re, Jersey, GanguBai Kathiawadi,Kabhi Eid, Kabhi Diwali, Thalavi, Marakkar: Lion of The Arabian Sea, Minnal Murali, Kurup, Radhe Shyam, Mosagallu, Aranya, Seetimaarr, Love story, Viraataparvam, Acharya, Naarappa, Khiladi, Republic, Most Eligible Bachelor, Major, Pushpa, Maha Samudram, Fun – F3, and The Priest.
Sources: Koi Moi, Wikipedia, India Today, Times of India, The Indian Express, GQ India and IMDB.
In a world with chaos all around, comedy is a saviour for all!
Scientifically, when we laugh, our body releases the chemical Endorphins – the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ chemical, and there’s truly nothing better than a hearty laugh to get these hormones activated.
Everyone enjoys a good comedy film from time to time, and here are four reasons why this genre is loved by all:
Stress-buster:
Be it a long day at work or school, the best way to unwind is by watching something light and funny. There is something about the punch lines, witty sense of humour and the extremely important timing and style of delivery by the actor/actors in question. There are so many facets to comedy, which makes us laugh and relax our nerves.
Develops a sense of humour:
Watching a comedy not only helps us feel relaxed and rejuvenated, but also supports in developing a sense of humour as our surroundings influence us and play a major role in our day-to-day interactions. Having a sense of humour is an essential life skill. Not only does it help us cope during difficult times in life, especially now with the outbreak of COVID-19, but also helps us increase productivity, leadership skills and even improve cardiovascular health!
Studies show that watching a movie of this genre can improve your blood pressure and keep it at an ideal level for up to 24 hours. In 2011, Oxford University conducted an experimental research with a sample set of candidates and concluded that those who watched comedy movies after experiencing painful stimuli had better pain tolerance as compared to those who did not watch comedy movies.
Makes us better people:
Comedy helps us keep our health in check, contributes to our personality and plays a big role in our day-to-day lives. Humour is a form of coping mechanism for many, while doing so it also adds to our wit, spontaneity and leadership skills. In a survey conducted by Robert Half International, 91% of executives believed that having a good sense of humor is important for one’s career advancement, while a majority of the respondents said that a good sense of humour and work ethic are two vital qualities they look for in a good leader.
A Great Pass Time:
One of the main reasons we watch movies of this genre is because it is a great way to pass time. They are highly entertaining but they also keep us occupied! As per research on Statista – Most popular movie genres in North America from 1995 to 2020, by total box office revenue, comedy is the fourth highest revenue-generating genre (34.38 billion dollars) in the US, behind Adventure, Action and Drama. Additionally, as per research conducted by Motivate Val Morgan in 2017 – Cinema 360, comedy is one of the highest watched genres in the UAE, with 82.5% inclined towards watching comedy at the cinema.
Below are the comedy titles set to release in 2021:
Tom & Jerry – February 2021, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – February 2021, Coming 2 America – March, 2021, Marry Me – May 2021, Rumble – May 2021, Free Guy – May 2021, Minions: The Rise of Gru – June 2021 and Boss Baby: Family Business – September 2021.
Please Note – Movie release dates are subject to change.
Contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities alongside these comedy blockbusters.
Sources: Scientific American, Motivate Val Morgan, Maps of India, Statista, IMDB, Movieweb, WeForum, QZ, Forbes, Seat42f and Moviefone.
Saudi Arabia’s homegrown cinema brand – Muvi Cinemas, has launched the Kingdom’s first Drive-in cinema in the city of Riyadh.
The Drive-in cinema that opened on Thursday 21st January 2021, is the first of its kind in the country, and can accommodate up to 150 vehicles while maintaining social distancing measures.
Guests will be required to wear face masks and have their temperature checked in accordance with recommended measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, while food and drinks are allowed to be consumed inside cars.
In a statement to Arab News, Mahmoud Mirza, Marketing Director of Muvi Cinemas said: “MUVI Cinemas is strictly applying all the precautionary measures to ensure a safe environment for our employees and customers.” However, no decision has yet been made on how long the Drive-in cinema would remain open.
According to Mirza, the initial response from the public suggests that the Drive-in cinema concept will prove as popular in the Kingdom as it has in recent times in other parts of the Middle East, including Dubai and Beirut, as a way to allow cinemagoers to watch movies on the big screen while protecting themselves from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Mirza further stated that now is the ideal time to visit a Drive-in cinema in the Kingdom. “Drive-in cinemas require many aspects to succeed. One important factor is the weather, and with Riyadh’s weather nowadays, it is a perfect fit to complete an outstanding experience,” he explained, adding that Muvi Cinemas is considering opening similar temporary venues across the Kingdom.
“Having pop-up cinemas isn’t new to MUVI Cinemas, and we shall continue offering such experiences to expand our reach and create happy moments for our audience, be it inside our sites and theaters or outside.”
Mirza also revealed that Muvi Cinemas plans to open 15 new cinemas in Saudi Arabia in 2021, adding more than 150 screens to its current cinema circuit. “New sites will be added to those in current cities, and introduced to new cities, such as Taif, Buraidah and Onaizah,” he said.
As the official cinema advertising partner of Muvi Cinemas in Saudi Arabia, we at Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulate the cinema exhibitor on the opening of the new Drive-in cinema.
Click here for more information of the first Drive-in cinema in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and for session times.
Sources: Muvi Cinemas, Arab News and Gulf News
