Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to expand across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown cinema brand Muvi Cinemas has announced the launch of its first standalone VIP Suites multiplex at Atelier La Vie. Located at the Al Shati District of Jeddah, the new cinema – which opened to the public on 15 December 2021, is part of a mixed-use leisure venue developed by Al-Anwa Holding Company for Investments.
The multiplex situated among exclusive retail stores, cafes and restaurants in an urban garden environment boasts 4 Muvi SUITES theaters with a total of 200 VIP seats, offering exceptional audiovisual experience and a luxurious lounge atmosphere unmatched in the kingdom.
The cinema also offers a distinguished and diverse à la carte menu that includes everything from light bites to a full meal, which can be enjoyed in both the lounge and the comfort of a cinema seat.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with a theme of urban downtown. The cutting-edge cinema venue aims to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, which includes timber, exposed steelwork, brickwork and a concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
“As MUVI expands rapidly across the kingdom, the VIP-focused location at Atelier LaVie will exemplify our brand’s ability to provide the most immersive and luxurious movie-viewing experience in the country,” said Adon Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at MUVI Cinemas. “It will be the first to feature MUVI Suites theatres exclusively—a natural decision borne of Al-Anwa’s commitment to providing the finest in retail, wellness, and dining at Atelier La Vie,” he added.
Together with the openings of muvi Boutique – Tala Mall and Boulevard Riyadh (which opened in December 2021) and Al-Yasmin Mall and Mujan Park (which opened in January 2022), Muvi Cinemas presently operates 174 screens across 20 locations in 9 cities across Saudi Arabia.
*More information on muvi Boutique – Tala Mall (Riyadh), Boulevard Riyadh (Riyadh), Al-Yasmin Mall (Jeddah) and Mujan Park (Khamis) to follow soon.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities at this standalone premium Muvi cinema location.
Sources: Muvi Cinemas
Saudi box office did a total of US$238 million in 2021, a 95% increase compared to the previous year.
Saudi Arabia in 2021 continued its exponential growth as a theatrical box office market with revenue totaling US$238 million for the year, a 95% increase compared with 2020 when the total intake had been $122 million, according to figures provided by Comscore.
Four years after the removal of the kingdom’s 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia has now achieved the status as the West Asian region’s top theatrical market in terms of gross box office, surpassing the UAE, which achieved a box office of US$130m for the year 2021.
Saudi cinemas witnessed the release of 340 new films in 2021, up from 222 films in 2020. The top-grossing 2021 title was Egyptian comedy Waafet Reggaala (A Stand Worthy of Men), which did US$15 million, making it the country’s top grosser ever since moviegoing was reinstated in January 2018.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the top-grossing Hollywood title in Saudi Arabia in 2021, earning US$11.2 million and continuing to do well in 2022, ranking the No. 2 spot on the chart. It was followed by Cruella, which grossed US$9.1 million, and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, which made US$8.3 million in Saudi cinemas.
Egyptian comedy, Mesh Ana (Not Me), featuring local megastar Tamer Hosny, weighed in at No. 5 on the 2021 Saudi box office chart with US$8.2 million, while another release from Egypt Mama Hamel (Mom Is Pregnant), about a 60+ woman who is somehow expecting a child, came in at No. 10, pulling US$5.9 million.
Saudi Arabia’s surge in box office grosses is clearly driven by the increase in multiplexes across the nation. The number of multi-screen movie theaters in Saudi Arabia grew from 33 locations at the start of 2021 to 53 locations by December 2021, an increase of 20 new locations, according to Comscore.
According to figures revealed in December during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah by Bahaa Abdulmajeed -an official from the Saudi Investment Ministry, Saudi Arabia now has 430 screens and counting, and has an ambitious target of reaching 2,600 screens by 2030. Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market in the next few years.
Currently, Saudi-owned Muvi Cinemas operates the highest number of local cinemas, with 21 locations (including its drive-in cinema) across the Kingdom. They are followed by VOX Cinemas with 15 locations. U.S. theater chain AMC Cinemas with 10 locations, Lebanon’s Empire Cinemas with 5 locations and Mexican-owned Cinépolis Cinemas which now operates 2 multiplexes in Saudi.
Top 10 Box Office Hits in Saudi Arabia in 2021
Source: Variety
Newly opened Muvi Cinemas – The View is part of the ongoing Muvi brand’s expansion strategy across Saudi Arabia.
Muvi Cinemas opened its Fifteenth location Muvi Cinemas – The View at The View Mall in Riyadh on 15th December 2021. The cinema offers 9 screens with a capacity of 977 seats.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – The View was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern, and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork, and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
The View Mall spanning 52,200 square meters is an excellent hangout spot which boasts more than 170 international and local brand names, covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. A comprehensive list of shops features sportswear from Adidas, kidswear from Ziddy, Scandinavian brand L*TT LIV, jeans from Levi’s, casual wear from Aéropostale, and more.
Muvi Cinemas now operates 144 screens across 15 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – The View.
Sources: Chapman and Taylor and MUVI
Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah in Qassim is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to grow to 307 screens across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the 12 months ahead.
Muvi Cinemas opened its fourteenth location, The Boulevard Unaizah, on 14th December 2021 in the city of Unaizah, located in the Al Qassim province, Saudi Arabia.
Spanning 3,200-meter square, Unaizah Boulevard venue, is an eight-screen cinema complex capable of accommodating 1,127 moviegoers and includes the Premium Large Format Auditorium Xperience powered by CGS.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 135 screens across 14 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah.
Source: Chapman and Taylor, Muvi Cinemas
Muvi Cinemas – Salaam Mall in Riyadh is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to grow to 307 screens across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the 12 months ahead.
Muvi Cinemas opened its thirteenth location at Salaam Mall in Riyadh on 1st December, 2021. The cinema features 8 standard screens with a total of 1,056 seats.
Similar to other Muvi locations, Salaam Mall – spanning 3,274 sqms, was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor and has a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the cinema exhibitor.
Located in Riyadh’s suburban Alawali area, Salaam Mall offers a great stop for shopping dining and entertainment.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 127 screens across 13 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas –Salaam Mall.
Sources: Zawya and MUVI
VOX Cinemas wins the Highest Grossing Exhibitor in The Middle East 2020-21 award for generating revenue amounting to US$171.7 million in the Middle East from October 2020 to October 2021 at the META Cinema Forum Awards 2021.
VOX Cinema’s US$171.7 million box office revenue represents more than 21 percent of the US$800 million box office revenue expected in the Middle East in 2021, according to research by Omdia.
The 4th edition of the META Cinema Forum – the largest cinema convention, covering Middle East and African markets, powered by Yummz Hot Chips Cafe, took place between 26th and 28th October 2021 at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.
Eight winners were honoured with the highest industry accolades at the META Cinema Forum Awards for their achievements – based on the numbers collated from industry sources – making it the most authentic industry awards based on performance. Two of the awards were presented by META Cinema Forum while the rest 6 were presented by Comscore.
VOX Cinemas won the Highest Grossing Exhibitor in The Middle East 2020-21 award for generated revenue amounting to US$171.7 million in the Middle East from October 2020 to October 2021.
Cinemarine Cinemas won the Exhibitor of the Pandemic Period of Turkey. Cenk Sezgin, Chief Executive Officer, Cinemarine Cinemas, received the award for his organisation.
Murat Cemcir, Enterprising investor, Producer, Artist, was adjudged the Fastest Box Office Success in a Very Short Seasonal Period in Turkey. His organisation saw 21 million in admission and TL226 million Turkish Lira box office revenue in 10 movies.
Four Star Films won the Highest-grossing English Title in the Middle East 2020-21 for Fast & Furious 9 with box office revenue reaching US$16.98 million in the Middle East.
Empire Entertainment and Orient Films won the Highest-Grossing Arabic Title in the Middle East 2020-21–for Waafet Reggaala, which generated US$15.08 million box office revenue in the Middle East.
Film One won the award in the Highest-Grossing Title in Africa 2020-21 category for Omo Ghetto: The Saga, with box office revenue reaching US$1.66 million in West Africa.
Muvi Cinemas won the Exhibitor of the Year 2020-21 award for its recent accomplishments in growth and development during a period of great uncertainty having established 121 screens over 13 locations across Saudi Arabia.
Eagle Films won the Distributor of the Year 2020-21 in recognition of the support and dedication to deliver a pipeline of quality films during a period of risk and instability having more than 46 most films released during October 2020 – to October 2021 – including Wrath of Man and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
Unlike other industry awards that are based on either corporate marketing presentations, public perception or jury nominations, META Cinema Forum Awards is based on pure numbers that puts them at the top of the ranking in each category where the names were chosen from.
Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management, said, “This is a true reflection of the best performance in each category in the film industry and we are pleased to honour them with their well-deserved awards.
“The numbers dictate who wins the awards. For example, Four Star Films won the Highest-grossing English Title in the Middle East 2020-21 for Fast & Furious 9 that is based on the box office revenue figure, reaching US$16.98 million in the Middle East. No one can dispute its rank as top-grossing film in the region.
“As MENA Cinema Forum matures as the largest cinema convention in the Middle East and Africa, we want to make thing more transparent to ensure authenticity of the awards that are based on third-party research.”
Box office revenue in the Middle East is set to cross US$800 million in 2021, US$1 billion in 2022 and US$1.3 billion in 2024, recovering from US$250 million in 2020 – marking the fastest recovery in the world, according to research by Omdia.
More than 500 industry delegates, experts and participants discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry stakeholders at this year’s META Cinema Forum. The three-day mega film industry conference took place just a few weeks into Dubai Expo 2020 – the largest event in the Middle East and Africa region.
The Middle East and Africa region has one of the fastest growing entertainment industries in the world and governments are investing heavily to diversify economies and reduce dependency on a single economic sector
Motivate Val Morgan was a media partner for this year’s META Cinema Forum.
Sources: Press Release (Great Mind Events Management)
Saudi Arabia celebrated its 91st National Day (also known as Al-Yaom-ul-Watany) on 23rd September 2021, commemorating the birth of the modern Saudi nation.
This year’s theme and slogan was ‘Heya Lana Dar’, which means ‘A Home for Us’ – appreciating the spirit of the country’s cultural diversity that makes everyone (Saudis and foreigners) feel at home.
To honour and celebrate the transformative journey the country has embarked on over the past 91 years, leading brands in Saudi Arabia launched cinema campaigns across the country:
Saudia
The national airline of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched its national day cinema campaign emphasizing the spirit of being a Saudi national and its prosperity through generations.
Commercial Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 21 – 24 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Front and Red Sea Mall), Muvi Cinemas (Nakheel Mall and Mall of Dhahran), AMC Cinemas – Stars Avenue and Cinépolis Cinemas – Lulu Mall
STC
Saudi Telecom Company launched its cinema campaign that parades the evolution of digital life in the kingdom.
Commercial Duration: 90 sec.
Campaign Duration: 23 – 25 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Park Mall and Red Sea Mall), AMC Cinemas – Panorama, Muvi Cinemas (Mall of Arabia and Nakheel Mall) and Cinépolis Cinemas – Lulu Mall
Banque Saudi Fransi
The Saudi based banking group’s national day campaign celebrates the vision and achievement of Saudi Arabia as a nation in various sectors.
Commercial Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 21 – 27 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Park Mall, Kingdom Tower, Riyadh Front and Red Sea Mall), AMC Cinemas (Panorama and Riyadh Gallery) and Muvi Cinemas (Nakheel Mall Riyadh, U Walk, Mall of Arabia, Nakheel Mall Dammam and Mall of Dhahran)
Tamimi Markets
One of the fastest-growing supermarket chains in Saudi Arabia booked an ad to commemorate the Kingdom’s prosperity and greatness.
Commercial Duration: 15 sec.
Campaign Duration: 22 – 28 September 2021
Locations: 25 locations covering multiple VOX, Muvi, AMC and Cinépolis cinema locations
The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque
The government agency launched its campaign welcoming pilgrims and aiming to facilitate worshipers to perform the religious worship at the grand mosques with a prompt for being dutiful and generous in the times of the pandemic.
Commercial Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 23 – 25 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas – Town Square, Muvi Cinemas – Nakheel Mall in Dammam and AMC Cinemas – Azizia Plaza
With National Days of Oman (18th November), UAE (2nd December), Bahrain (16th December) and Qatar (18th December) around the corner, contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities to mark these special days!
Muvi Cinemas City Walk Taif is the 12th location launched by the cinema exhibitor in the Kingdom.
Muvi Cinemas opened its twelfth location at City Walk in Taif on 19 August 2021. The cinema features 10 standard screens with a total of 791 seats.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas City Walk Taif was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
Spanning 4,196-meter square, the designs for the cutting-edge cinema have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern, and innovative cinema experience. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
City Walk Taif is located in the Mecca Province of southwest Saudi Arabia, and provides one of the best family entertainment experiences in the city, with our great selection of shops, incredible dining options, and fun activities for the whole family.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 119 screen across 12 locations in 8 cities of Saudi Arabia, and will soon be opening an 8-screen cinema at Salaam Mall in Riyadh.
As the official cinema advertising partner of Muvi Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan congratulates the cinema exhibitor on its opening of City Walk Taif, and warmly welcomes this location to our regional cinema circuit.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas –City Walk Taif.
Sources: Chapman and Taylor
The META Cinema Forum 2021 will be discussing how the MENA cinema industry has witnessed growth in the past year and is expected to be a billion-dollar market by 2024.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety protocols, the cinema industry in the MENA region has grown against the backdrop of a steep decline in the global cinema industry. Although the global Box Office is slowly making a comeback with pandemic-era record breaking opening weekends for F9 and Black Widow, the cinema box office revenues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are expected to grow by 4 percent to US$ 1 billion (Dh3.7 billion) by 2024, compared to a 2.4 percent decline worldwide, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global auditing consultancy.
Research data analysed by finance website Finaria also showed that globally the combined revenues in the box office industry plummeted by 71.5 percent from $42.5 billion in 2019 to approximately $31 billion last year. Expansion throughout the Arab world and Middle East, specifically in Saudi Arabia, has unlocked a lucrative economic opportunity and Saudi Arabia has now become a major contributor to the growth of the global cinema industry.
The news comes as organisers, GM Events, released the dates for the fourth edition of the META Cinema Forum – the largest cinema convention in the Middle East and Africa – from October 26-28, 2021 at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai. It also follows shortly after Dubai government announced the lifting of restrictions on public entertainment events as part of a gradual opening up of the country’s borders to select countries that have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
META Cinema Forum 2021, which takes place amid the World Expo 2020 – one of the largest global events which is taking place for the first time in the Middle East – will host a conference, awards, seminars, workshops, masterclasses, special screenings, premieres, product presentations, slates, exhibitions and live demonstrations. The conference will tackle industry issues as well as regional industry-specific discussions on the film industry across Africa, Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.
“Back for its 4th edition, the META Cinema Forum, now expanding to cover markets across including Levant, Turkey and Indian subcontinent, is sure to be the hottest cinema event in year 2021.” Said Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management. “The event is unique in that it highlights the only region with an expanding cinema sector, with participants actively attending to source new design ideas, F&B concepts, technological innovation and alternative content.”
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment added “VOX Cinemas is proud to be the strategic partner of the META Cinema Forum once again, given our shared commitment to the cinematic experience. Now in its fourth year, the META Cinema Forum provides an important platform and inspires dialogues amongst leading players so that we can continuously innovate and enhance the cinema experience and industry. With the META region becoming an increasingly important market to the global box office, events such as this are essential to the continued success of the industry and, we look forward to this year’s event which boasts a stellar line-up.”
Cinemas in many markets are still closed and few countries have opened cinema halls while many have permanently closed as a result of being significantly financially impacted by Covid-19. However, unlike many other markets, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) box office was up 3 percent to US$115 million in 2020, the PwC report says. By 2030, one of the governing authorities to regulate and operate cinemas, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), expects there to be around 350 cinemas and 2,500 movie screens in the country, and the industry will be worth around US$1 billion.
META Cinema Forum, the largest industry convention, will focus on the challenges faced by the cinema industry, changing trends as well as focusing on the new cinema projects that will drive the growth of the industry.
The continued participation and support of the African continent, backed by Pan African Film Consortium, will bring the leading African film industry movers and shakers into the conversation.
Mykel Parish Ajaere, President, Pan-African Film Consortium, says, “In 2020, the corona virus heralded a new economy for the creative industry with the global film industry alone suffering a revenue loss of over ten billion U.S. dollars due to the impact of the virus outbreak around the world.”
“There must be a way to balance commercial returns and I believe that the META Cinema Forum 2021 will provide sustainable solutions to Middle East and African cinema, at this difficult time. As president of the Pan-African Film Consortium and as an influencer in the African film industry, I’m excited about our partnership with the META Cinema Forum 2021. This is the time for Africa to strengthen its film economy and harness the enormous benefits the forum will provide.”
META Cinema Forum 2021 is backed by all the leading industry players. The event is supported by Pan-African Film Consortium while VOX Cinemas is once again Strategic Partner. Other leading exhibitors including MUVI Cinemas, Cinépolis Gulf, Novo Cinema, Cinemarine, StarzPlay, FimHouse Cinemas, Cinepax, ROXY Cinemas, Carnival Cinemas, Empire Cinemas and Women in Exhibition have also come on board as Cinema and Event Partners.
Click here to register for this year’s forum or contact Great Minds Event Management for more information.
Source: META Cinema Forum (Press Release)
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
