The Saudi Box Office in November 2024 featured a mix of international and regional hits, appealing to the diverse tastes of moviegoers.
The global box office enjoyed a stellar November, with total figures hitting record highs. Domestic (North America) revenue surged to US$1.19 billion, while international revenue soared to US$1.36 billion. This impressive growth culminated in a total global revenue of US$2.55 billion, reflecting a significant 21.4% boost.
This increase is 38% above the same month last year and the highest-grossing November since 2019! Compared to the average of the last three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), the gap was just -13%. The sub-regions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Latin America even returned to pre-pandemic levels. After 11 months, the total global box office is estimated to have reached US$27.3 billion in 2024.
The driving force behind these numbers was Venom: The Last Dance, which, despite debuting in October, continued its strong performance into November. The film’s total take stands at a whopping US$468 million. Among the top global releases were Gladiator II (US$338.3 million), Wicked Part 1 (US$392.34 million), and Moana 2 (US$465.01 million).
Regionally, in Saudi Arabia, November 2024 witnessed a remarkable increase in total admissions, with figures reaching SAR 64.3 million, up 14% from October. Reflecting the global trend, the surge in the November Saudi box office was led by Venom: The Last Dance, which garnered SAR 3.6 million in its third week and first week of November. The Sony superhero film accumulated a total of SAR 8.5 million in November alone, bringing its cumulative earnings to SAR 17.7 million.
Other standout blockbusters included Gladiator II, raking in SAR 14.5 million over three weeks, Wicked, which conjured up SAR 3.1 million in two weeks, and Moana 2, opening with a record-breaking SAR 5.6 million, surpassing Gladiator’s SAR 5.4 million opening.
Notably, the Arabic film El Hawa Sultan collected SAR 8.9 million over three weeks, highlighting the diverse appeal at the Saudi box office.
As the largest cinema advertising representative in the Kingdom, Motivate Val Morgan reports staggering growth in their circuit’s admissions. The total number of admissions for November 2024 is reported at 1.32 million, a 28.7% increase from October.
Looking ahead, the regional box office, especially in Saudi Arabia and UAE, is poised for an exciting lineup of releases in December, including highly anticipated titles such as Kraven the Hunter, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Mufasa: The Lion King. With this promising slate, the momentum from November’s robust performance is set to continue, creating a thrilling cinematic journey for audiences and a prime opportunity for advertisers to engage with moviegoers.
Source: MVM CineMeasure, The Saudi Film Commission, The Box Office Mojo, Gower Street
The Saudi Box Office in October featured a mix of international and regional hits, appealing to the diverse tastes of moviegoers.
October marked a pivotal moment for the global box office, raking in $2.1 billion in worldwide earnings and securing its place as the 8th highest-grossing month of the year.
For Saudi cinemas, October proved to be particularly vibrant, fueled by a strong enthusiasm for the big screen and a varied lineup of new releases. In the first week alone, 53 films collectively garnered 222,100 admissions, laying a solid foundation for sustained growth throughout the month. The Saudi box office saw an impressive $2.06 million in earnings during the first weekend of October, reflecting a remarkable 201.9% increase from the previous week, according to Box Office Mojo. Building on September’s exceptional growth, driven by World Cinema Day and Saudi National Day celebrations, October continued to maintain this positive momentum. By the end of the month, total admissions had reached 1.2 million, based on data from MVM’s CineMeasure dashboard (covering September 26 to October 31), underscoring the continued excitement and engagement of Saudi audiences with cinema.
October’s top performers showcased a mix of international blockbusters and beloved local films, catering to the diverse preferences of moviegoers. Joker: Folie à Deux stood out as one of the month’s most successful titles, earning SAR 6.0 million in its debut week with 96,700 tickets sold. Its second-week performance added SAR 3.0 million and 52,100 tickets.
Local production Pension Dalal rounded out the list of successes, earning SAR 993,000 and 18,500 tickets in its opening week, before climbing further in week two with SAR 1.1 million and 21,400 tickets sold.
Another significant highlight was The Wild Robot, a testament to the enduring popularity of animated films in Saudi Arabia. It remained a consistent presence in the top two movies throughout the month, delivering strong weekly performances. The fourth week of its release marked its peak, with SAR 4.7 million in revenue and 104,700 tickets sold—the highest weekly admissions of the month, cementing its status as a major draw for families and animation enthusiasts alike.
Venom: The Last Dance also made an impactful debut in the final week of October, grossing SAR 4.4 million and selling 77,600 tickets. Meanwhile, thrillers like Smile 2 performed admirably, generating SAR 1.9 million in its first week with 35,100 tickets sold.
This diverse range of genres captivated the Saudi audience, making it a prime market for varied cinematic experiences.
Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and the much-anticipated Indian regional film Pushpa 2: The Rule are set to hit the screens, promising to draw even larger crowds and offering unique opportunities for brands to align themselves with these highly anticipated movies.
October’s performance, driven by diverse stories and audience engagement, highlights the Kingdom’s ever-evolving cinema landscape. As Saudi Arabia continues to embrace its cinematic journey, there’s no better time to be part of this cultural transformation. Stay tuned for the excitement to come as the year closes with more unforgettable moments on the big screen!
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Source: MVM CineMeasure, The Saudi Film Commission, The Box Office Mojo, Gower Street
