The cinema industry successfully ushered global audiences back into theatre in 2022 largely owing to the steadier flow of blockbusters in comparison to 2021, with Top Gun: Maverick, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Avatar: The Way of Water leading the long list of successful titles this year.
While 2021 was a dress rehearsal for the future of cinemas, 2022 has proved that cinema is back for real. This was especially evident in Saudi Arabia, when the country overtook Italy in annual box office revenue (in US$ terms), highlighting the prominence of cinema in the region.
Box office in 2022 had its first test with Scream which grossed nearly US$1M in the UAE alone and marked the successful return of the horror genre in the region since the pandemic. This was followed by the chartbuster performance of Matt Reeve’s The Batman, which earned a combined US$12M in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which earned US$6.7M in the UAE.
Summer blockbusters highly contributed to the recovery of the global box office in 2022, with Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick grossing a combined US$21.2M in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and over US$1.5 billion globally. Jurassic World: Dominion and Minions: The Rise of Gru also performed well, grossing over US$1.7M and US$1.64M in UAE and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
August to October was a challenging phase for cinemas in the region due to a weaker movie release schedule owing to pandemic-related delays. The year however ended on a high note with the release of James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, which earned close to US$10M in the UAE in its opening weeks. Arabic titles such as Bahebek, 3amohom, and Men Agl Zeko also topped the 2022 charts across GCC.
Here’s our 2022 wrap-up featuring the top movie releases in the eight countries we cover, the most watched genres across the region, the top 15 cinema ads booked through us that lit up the big screen, and last but not least, the new cinema locations added to our circuit and our milestones:
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Oman
Kuwait
Bahrain
Qatar
Lebanon
The 15 blockbuster ads (in no particular order) – booked through Motivate Val Morgan, that lit up the big screen in 2022 (also featured in Campaign Middle East):
Brand: Mercedes-Benz Burmester
Title: Innovations by Mercedes-Benz: Dolby Atmos
Media Agency: OMD
Brand: NEOM
Title: Trojena – Journey To New Heights
Media Agency: Starcom
Brand: Emirates
Title: Gerry the Goose Flies Better
Media Agency: UM MENA
Brand: Rolex
Title: Rolex & Cinema – The Path
Media Agency: Mindshare
Brand: Sephora
Title: Amna Al Qubaisi – Emirati F3 Driver – Redefining Beauty with Sephora
Media Agency: Spark Foundry – Publicis Media
Brand: Malabar Gold
Title: Brides of India
Brand: Hermès
Title: Terre d’Hermès
Media Agency: Havas Media
Brand: Thailand Tourism
Title: Amazing Thailand
Media Agency: Media Republic
Brand: Hayatna
Title: Grow Your World With Hayatna
Media Agency: Hearts & Science
Brand: Riyadh Book Fair
Media Agency: Blue Horizon
Brand: Infiniti QX60
Title: Take the Wheel
Media Agency: OMD
Brand: Jindal Shadeed
Media Agency: United Media Services
Brand: Theeb
Brand: Yas Island
Title: Yas Yas Baby
Media Agency: Initiative Media
Brand: Al Nahdi Pharmacies
2022 saw our cinema circuit expand with several new locations:
Our dedicated cinema buying platform – CinePlan and CineMeasure, was launched, which enables data-driven, audience-based buying across our network of cinemas in the Middle East. The platform was also recognized as one of Campaign Middle East’s Top 10 Media Milestones of 2022.
Get ready for an exciting year at the movies in 2023! Here are the top 20 movies to look forward to over the year ahead:
For more on the movies coming out in 2023, be sure to check out our sizzle reel
A comprehensive list of animation movies releasing in 2021.
As the idea of a bright new year dawns upon us, cinema offers you a refreshing line-up of blockbusters!
One can’t predict as to how much more damage COVID-19 is planning to wreak on the release schedule, nevertheless, from action movies, to thrillers and rom-coms, there’s much entertainment ahead on the BIG Screen in 2021.
What’s interesting though is the array of animation movies set to release now, more than ever before.
Here’s a comprehensive list of animation movies set to release this year:
Tom & Jerry
Warner Bros. is bringing the beloved franchise back to the big screen (for the first time in almost three decades) in hybrid format.
Releasing in cinemas – 25 February
Raya and The Last Dragon
Walt Disney Animation Studios has committed itself to a number of original films after releasing back-to-back sequels, and first up is this fantasy epic set in the magical realm of Kumandra, a land inhabited by an ancient civilization — and dragons — which draws on the cultures of Southeast Asia.
Releasing in cinemas – 4 March
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
The lovable rogue is back! Will Gluck directs this Peter Rabbit sequel based on the characters created by Beatrix Potter. The cast includes Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Debicki, Margot Robbie, and James Corden in the lead role.
Releasing in cinemas – 11 March
Rumble
Paramount’s latest has gone through multiple titles, directors, and release dates, but the premise has stayed the same throughout. Based on Rob Harrell’s graphic novel Monster on a Hill, the film is set in a world where humans train monsters to fight in professional wrestling tournaments.
Releasing in cinemas – 10 June
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
The Rise of Gru is both a prequel and sequel within the highest-grossing animation franchise of all time. Narrative chronology places it between 2015’s Minions and the Despicable Me trilogy (2010, 2013, 2017); if Minions revealed where the gibbering yellow henchmen came from, this film provides an origin story for the villain who becomes their commander.
Releasing in cinemas – 3 July
Boss Baby: Family Business
McGrath returns to direct his sixth feature at Dreamworks. Family Business is a sequel to The Boss Baby, the 2017 comedy that became a surprise box-office smash and spawned a franchise.
Releasing in cinemas – 16 September
Other animated movies that are scheduled to release in 2021 include:
Kung Fu Mulan (January), Maya The Bee 3: The Golden Orb (February), Dragon Rider (February), Even Mice Belong in Heaven (April), Bob’s Burgers (April), Ron’s Gone Wrong (April), Troll: The Tale of Tail (May), Vivo (June), Rumble (June), Luca (June), Space Jam: A New Legacy (July) Hotel Transylvania 4 (August), Paw Patrol (August), My Little Pony Movie (September), The Bad Guys (September), The Addams Family 2 (October), Clifford: The Big Red Dog (November), Encanto (November) and Sing 2 (December).
Please Note: release months/dates are subject to change.
Despite the pandemic roadblocks and setbacks, the animated movie industry is determined to continue entertaining us in 2021 .. in a year we are bound to feel the ripple effects of 2020, and will need it the most.
Advertisers, here’s your chance to advertise alongside an array of wholesome family entertainment packed with fun for all age groups.
Contact us to advertise your brand alongside these movies.
Sources: IMDB, Wikipedia, Cartoon Brew, Lopper and Collider (more…)
