May 2024’s blockbuster season kicks off with a star-studded action-comedy featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt
As summer draws near, it signals the start of the blockbuster season for movie enthusiasts. Already, the season is heating up with major hits such as Dune: Part Two ($667.5M), Kung Fu Panda 4 ($419.5M), and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($367.5M), all making substantial gains at the box office. With these successes paving the way, the stage is set for the arrival of the year’s most anticipated releases.
Starting in May, the summer lineup promises an exciting cinematic journey with a diverse range of films to suit various preferences. From adrenaline-pumping action flicks and heartwarming family stories to spine-chilling thrillers, here’s a look at some of the upcoming blockbusters in May:
The Fall Guy – 02 May 2024
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama Cast: Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Aaron – Taylor Johnson
The Fall Guy follows Colt Seavers, an out-of-work stuntman, who is asked by his ex-girlfriend(movie director) to help with stunts for a troublesome action star. When the actor disappears, Colt sets out to rescue him, facing the darker side of Hollywood. Along the way, he hopes to win back his ex, rescue the film, and prove himself as the best stuntman.
The new rendition of the beloved horror fantasy franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire introduces a new villain and the Ghostbusters, old and new, as they unite to save the world from an ancient evil threatening a second ice age.
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 – 02 May 2024
Genre: Horror, Thriller Cast: Scott Chambers, Craig David Dowsett, Chris Cordell, Nikolai Leo
The sequel to the horror parody of A.A. Milne’s children’s story, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2, picks up shortly after the first film’s events. The new movie will continue the murderous rampage of the residents of the Hundred-Acre Wood.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – 09 May 2024
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Cast: Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, William H. Macy
Decades after Caesar’s sacrifice, a new ape society grapples with a power struggle. “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” rewrites the future in an epic clash for dominance. Will peace prevail, or will humanity rise again?
IF – 16 May 2024
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family Cast: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming
A young girl sees the forgotten imaginary friends of grown-ups! With Ryan Reynolds as her guide, she embarks on a heartwarming adventure to reunite lost friends and reignite the magic of childhood.
The Strangers: Chapter 1 – 16 May 2024
Genre: Horror Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Rachel Shenton
Is your home truly safe? “The Strangers: Chapter 1” rips open the idyllic facade of a quiet evening. Prepare for a night of bone-chilling terror as masked intruders turn a dream getaway into a desperate fight for survival.
War rages across the Wasteland. Before she became the Imperator, Furiosa clawed her way to freedom. Witness her origin story in “Mad Max: Furiosa.” Anya Taylor-Joy ignites the screen in a high-octane prequel filled with sand, fury, and the fight for a future.
The Garfield Movie – 23 May 2024
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Cast: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham
Garfield is about to go on a wild outdoor adventure. After an unexpected reunion with his long-lost father – the cat Vic – Garfield and Odie are forced to abandon their pampered life to join Vic in a hilarious, high-stakes heist.
Tarot – 30 May 2024
Genre: Horror Cast: Avantika, Olwen Fouéré, Jacob Batalon
Don’t peek into your future…it might stare back. “Tarot” unlocks a deck of nightmares. A group of friends dabble in forbidden rituals, unleashing a terrifying entity. Can they escape the chilling fate foretold in the cards?
For brands seeking to engage their target audience in a captivating and immersive setting, the summer season offers an unmatched opportunity to create lasting impressions and foster meaningful connections. Click here to start your cinema advertising journey.
Download our Screentalk Movie Planner to explore all the blockbuster releases coming in Q2 2024!
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:
Top Five Movies – By Country
UAE
Top Gun: Maverick
Doctor Strange: in the Multiverse of Madness
Avatar: The Way of Water
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
Thor: Love and Thunder
Saudi Arabia
Top Gun: Maverick
Bahebek (Egyptian)
3amohom (Egyptian)
Men Agl Zeko (Arabic)
The Batman
Egypt
Kera We El Gin (Egyptian)
Wahed Tany (Arabic)
3amohom (Egyptian)
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Al Gareema (Arabic)
Oman
Top Gun: Maverick
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
Avatar: The Way of Water
Jurassic World Dominion
Kuwait
Top Gun: Maverick
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
3amohom (Egyptian)
Bahrain
Top Gun: Maverick
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
Black Adam
The Batman
Qatar
Top Gun: Maverick
Minions 2: The Rise of Gru
Jurassic World Dominion
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Black Adam
Lebanon
Bahebek (Egyptian)
Al Hayba (Arabic)
Taraf Talet (Lebanese)
Top Gun: Maverick
Doctor Strange: in the Multiverse of Madness
Most Watched Genres – Regional
Top 15 Cinema Ads
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
Cinema Circuit Growth
2022 saw our cinema circuit expand with several new locations:
Muvi Cinemas (KSA): The View, Atelier La Vie, Mujan Park, Al-Yasmin Mall, Tala Mall (Boutique), Boulevard Riyadh and Park Avenue
AMC Cinemas (KSA) – Garden, Tabuk Boulevard and The Walk
Cinépolis Cinemas (KSA) – Al Hokair Time, Al Massarah
Cinépolis Cinemas (Bahrain) – Amwaj Islands
Reel Cinemas (KSA) – The Granada Mall
Milestone
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’sTop 10 Media Milestones of 2022.
Blockbusters to Look Forward to in 2023
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:
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania – February
Creed III – March
65 – March
Shazam! Fury of the Gods – March
John Wick: Chapter 4 – March
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – March
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – May
Fast X – May
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – June
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – June
The Flash – June
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – June
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One – July
Oppenheimer – July
The Marvels – July
Barbie – July
Dune: Part Two – November
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – November
Wonka – December
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – December
For more on the movies coming out in 2023, be sure to check out our sizzle reel
Movies to Watch for Every Cinematic Yearning
Like it or not, we are all stuck inside the house these days as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and whether working from home or just chilling, it’s good to take a cinematic break
With cinemas closed and blockbusters-in-waiting – postponed for later this year or all the way through to next year, thankfully, there are many movies offering some form of escape during this time of distress.
Here’s a list of 100 amazing movies to watch in the comfort of your home:
When you need something out of this world
Aliens (1986):Our queen Sigourney Weaver vs. a cosmic queen is a sci-fi all-timer.
Arrival (2016):Amy Adams communicates with aliens and at this point we’re envying her hazmat suit.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982):Honestly, hanging out with E.T. sounds cool until the little guy eats all your Reese’s Pieces.
Independence Day (1996):Will Smith clocks an outer-space creature in the face, more for invading Earth than eating his Reese’s Pieces.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014):I am Groot, obviously.
Galaxy Quest (1999):Like “Star Trek” if it was funny.
Star Trek (2009):Like “Star Trek” if it was “Star Wars.”
The Martian (2015):It’s nice to know that Matt Damon’s recipe for Martian poop potatoes is right there if ever needed.
Moon (2009):You get two Sam Rockwells for the price of one awesomely intriguing lunar mission. What a deal!
Star Wars (1977):Because who doesn’t want to learn the ways of the Force with Han, Luke, Leia and John Williams’ blasting score?
When you need a change in scenery
Blade Runner (1982): Is Harrison Ford a robot or not? Feel free to think about that as you immerse yourself in neon noir.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998): Going on a Vegas acid binge with Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro is indeed a trip.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): Kids going off to a magical school and dealing with seriously dark stuff is somehow not child endangerment.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010): A Viking boy having a scaly best friend is totally OK, though.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001): A three-movie, 11-hour trudge through Middle-earth to drop a ring into a volcano needs to start somewhere.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015):Ride eternal, shiny and chrome into a splendiferous post-apocalyptic wasteland with Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.
The Matrix (1999):You’ll want to choose the red pill because Keanu Reeves’ cyberpunk kung fu is top notch.
The NeverEnding Story (1984):Come for the flying dragon dog, stay for that cult tune the “Stranger Things” kids sang.
The Princess Bride (1987):Head to Florin, save Princess Buttercup and, most importantly, have fun storming the castle!
The Wizard of Oz (1939):Good friends, cool shoes and Midwestern chutzpah are a must along the Yellow Brick Road. (Which has more flying monkeys than Fury Road.)
When you need family bonding time
Back to the Future (1985):Teenage kid travels back to the 1950s to make sure his parents fall in love and Mom hits on him. That’s some future therapy bills right there.
Father of the Bride (1991):Steve Martin’s overprotective patriarch is a must-see for the dads with daughters out there.
Frozen (2013):From wanting to build a snowman to letting it go, Anna and Elsa are a sister act for the ages. (All ages, in fact.)
The Incredibles (2004):With a bevy of superpowers and dinner-table issues, the Parr clan’s tale is the best Fantastic Four movie ever.
The Godfather (1972):But don’t forget about the Corleone family, whose business involves betrayal, crime and murder. So that’s less than fantastic, in terms of the law.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006):The Hoover family is crazy dysfunctional – and just plain crazy – but man, can they bust up a pretentious kid beauty pageant.
Mary Poppins (1964):The Banks family is a hot mess when Julie Andrews thankfully flies in on her umbrella.
Meet the Parents (2000):No one’s in-law circle of trust can compare to Robert De Niro whipping out a lie detector or discussing his nipples.
The Sound of Music (1965):Even though there are Nazis, there’s plenty to sing about for the tuneful Von Trapps.
Step Brothers (2008): Sorry, Anna and Elsa, as a sibling duo Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are much more fun in that nunchucking, boat-crashing, man-child way.
When you need a belly laugh
Animal House (1978):It would never be made in the #MeToo era, but the Deathmobile, the food fight and John Belushi in a toga destroying a guitar still have no college-comedy equal.
The Blues Brothers (1980):While the guys in the suits and shades get the title love, praise the gods of country andWestern for a scene-stealing Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.
Booksmart (2019):The female-centric standout proves teen travails are just as relatable now as they were when “The Breakfast Club” was in session.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986):Save Ferris! That’s it, that’s all you need to know.
Ghostbusters (1984):A reminder that things can always be worse – in this case, full torso apparitions, a Sumerian god of destruction and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Groundhog Day (1993):Bill Murray refuses to let a bucktoothed critter upstage him. Respect.
The Hangover (2009):Mike Tyson singing Phil Collins isn’t even in the top five nuttiest moments in this bachelor-party-gone-wrong classic.
Old School (2003):Indefinite self-isolation might make one ponder founding their own fraternity in their house. Just don’t go streaking, please.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984):It’s the rock mockumentary that goes to 11, and the sting remains from “Big Bottom” not snagging an original song Oscar nod.
Young Frankenstein (1974):A Mel Brooks marathon is guaranteed to lift all spirits but do start with the one starring Gene Wilder as a lovably kooky mad scientist.
When you need a good scare
Evil Dead II (1987):The splatter-fest teaches you the essential lesson that if your hand gets hacked off, attach a chainsaw.
The Exorcist (1973):The dreadful thought of the devil possessing a young girl is even more unnerving seeing it unfold in front of you.
Get Out (2017):Good luck ever forgetting the image of Daniel Kaluuya’s teary horror upon realizing he’s in the Sunken Place.
It (2017):A coming-of-age story first, a clown-laden fright fest second.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984):Slasher villain math: Freddy Krueger > Michael Myers > Jason Voorhees.
Psycho (1960):Still an effective deterrent to showering, six decades later.
Se7en (1995):A splendid smashup of genres (detective, noir, horror) and an eerie exploration of the seven deadly sins, but don’t look in the box, Brad Pitt!
Shaun of the Dead (2004):If you’re going to watch a freaky outbreak movie in the time of coronavirus, at least make it a seriously funny British joint.
The Shining (1980):OK, maaaaaaybe not the greatest film to watch in a time of self-isolation.
The Witch (2015):If a goat named Black Phillip asks you, “Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?” just say no. (You might want to avoid talking goats in general.)
When you need a super-duper hero
Big Trouble in Little China (1986):Only Kurt Russell could sell being the two-fisted, macho-talking, truck-driving sidekick in his own movie.
Black Panther (2018):Wakanda – and Chadwick Boseman’s phenomenal royal warrior – forever!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014):A well-crafted, outstanding political thriller in which Chris Evans just happens to be wearing star-spangled tights.
The Dark Knight (2008):Heath Ledger’s Joker for the absolute win. (Christian Bale’s Batman is all right, too.)
Flash Gordon (1980):He’ll save every one of us. It’s right there in the song.
The Goonies (1985):Let’s see Batman or Captain America try to do the Truffle Shuffle.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003):Clad in a Bruce Lee jumpsuit, Uma Thurman’s The Bride marries the look of a fashion icon with supreme sword-swinging vengeance taking out umpteen goons.
Rocky IV (1985):Sure, Sylvester Stallone’s first “Rocky” was “the good one.” He pretty much has to take on the whole Soviet Union in this one, though!
Superman (1978):Nobody has ever worn superhero threads – especially those of the iconic big blue boy scout – the same way as Christopher Reeve.
Wonder Woman (2017):Gal Gadot’s ridiculously powerful Amazon princess learns that humanity is a bunch of warring jerks and helps out anyway.
When you need a history lesson
All the President’s Men (1976):Whether you see shades of the past now or not, crusading journalists taking on a corrupt administration is simply riveting.
Amadeus (1984):Mozart could write a mean classical tune, and his rivalry with Salieri here is a symphony of hedonism and drama.
Ed Wood (1994):Tim Burton turns in a fascinating retro ode to the B-movie filmmaker and angora sweater aficionado.
Hidden Figures (2016):One way to honor NASA pioneer Katherine Johnson, who died death last month at 101, is to watch Taraji P. Henson in this rousing civil-rights tale.
Lincoln (2012):Man of many hats Daniel Day Lewis rocks the stovepipe headwear of the 16th president especially well.
RBG (2018):Worried about the health of 87-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg? This documentary shows the notorious Supreme Court justice is made of the sternest stuff.
The Right Stuff (1983):More than three wondrous hours detailing the backstory – in epic Hollywood fashion – of our first trip to space.
1776 (1972):Just think of it as the prequel to “Hamilton.”
Spartacus (1960):Fun fact: Kirk Douglas was leading slave revolts when “Gladiator” Russell Crowe was a preschooler.
Straight Outta Compton (2015):O’Shea Jackson Jr. plays dad Ice Cube in the N.W.A. biopic that’s a delight even if you aren’t into hip-hop.
When you need a great movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969):Find yourself a ride-or-die BFF like Paul Newman and Robert Redford as infamous Old West outlaws. (But don’t do all the robbing.)
Casablanca (1942):Hey, kids! If you ever wondered why Humphrey Bogart was a thing, watch this.
Chinatown (1974):Jack Nicholson’s busted face is a signature look for a sublime L.A. film noir.
Citizen Kane (1941):The greatest film ever made is actually pretty good. The hype is real!
The Departed (2006):Leo, Jack and Damon in a Boston-set Scorsese mob movie? That’s wicked smaht casting.
Die Hard (1988):It should be everyone’s goal to have the self-confidence to trudge across broken glass, take on a snarling Eurotrash supervillain and save the day, all on Christmas Eve.
Jaws (1975):The first summer blockbuster is the mack daddy of man-eating shark flicks.
North by Northwest (1959):Getting embroiled in a case of mistaken identity and getting chased by a crop-dusting plane equals a very bad, no-good day for Cary Grant.
Parasite (2019):The South Korean movie just won best picture so maybe getting stuck at home is the best time to catch up? (Warning: It might cause paranoia about your basement.)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981):The perfect action film with an imperfectly flawed, square-jawed protagonist.
When you need a not-so-great movie
Armageddon (1998):Let the record state that Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck were Space Force before it was cool.
Cobra (1986):Crime is a disease, Stallone is the cure and this violent extravaganza is a transfusion of guilty pleasure.
Con Air (1997):Much of Nicolas Cage’s whole career could fill this space, however, only one flick has characters named Diamond Dog, Swamp Thing and Cyrus the Virus.
Highlander (1986):Ridiculous cheeseball plot, immortal warriors and killer Queen songs strangely go together.
The Last Dragon (1985):We dare you not be earwormed by DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night,” the infectious tune that reflects the overall cult-movie mix of kung fu, romance and ‘80s style.
Mommie Dearest (1981):Yes, it’s the one with “No more wire hangers!” But there’s much more melodrama throughout the bonkers Joan Crawford biopic as Faye Dunaway gives a masterclass in overacting.
Over the Top (1987):The underdog plot centered on arm wrestling is nonsensical and yet completely rousing. It’s also proof positive that turning your trucker hat around always means business.
Road House (1989):The one where Patrick Swayze rips a dude’s throat out.
So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993):Forget “Wayne’s World” and “Austin Powers.” This is Mike Myers’ greatest hit, as a beat poet afraid of commitment and even more fearful of his maybe-a-killer new love.
Xanadu (1980):The splashy, post-disco pop musical was made to be played on repeat constantly at roller rinks.
When you need your heart warmed
About Time (2013):Domhnall Gleeson is a time-traveling dude, Rachel McAdams is his soulmate, and all the feels will be had.
Field of Dreams (1989):The magnificent baseball film embraces the power of faith, belief and having one last catch with your dad.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946):Not just for Christmas anymore!
Jojo Rabbit (2019):Taika Waititi plays Hitler in a satire focusing on human love over learned hate.
Notting Hill (1999):You, too, will believe a regular schmo could date Julia Roberts.
Rudy (1993):The best football movie’s most impressive trick is making you believe Sean Astin would survive two seconds on the gridiron.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012):Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence together are an A-list romantic pairing – he plays a bipolar Eagle fan, she’s an acerbic widow – as well as a sizzling dance couple.
Sing Street (2016):An Irish teen in the ‘80s forms a band to win over his crush and discovers no woman can truly love a man who listens to Phil Collins. (Sorry, Mike Tyson.)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994):A memorable jailbird bromance from the mind of Stephen King.
You’ve Got Mail (1998):The swoon-worthy Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan jam that feels ancient with the AOL email chime yet is oh-so-timeless.
