It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively and directed by Justin Baldoni, has also made significant waves in the region’s cinema landscape, marking a cultural moment for female audiences in theaters.
Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, It Ends With Us, has not only captivated readers worldwide but has also created a significant cultural moment in the cinema landscape of the region—especially in the UAE and KSA. The Blake Lively-led adaptation has broken box office records, drawing an unprecedented number of female viewers to theaters.
Opening in second place behind the action-packed Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us has consistently remained in the top five films – in the region – for an impressive 20-day streak. This surge in female viewership is especially notable in markets typically dominated by action blockbusters and family-friendly films.
Achieving a major milestone for its genre in the UAE and KSA, the film has attracted over 540,000 viewers, with a large portion being women, underscoring the growing demand for female-driven narratives in the region. Globally, It Ends With Us has grossed an impressive US$285 million, with the UAE and KSA contributing a combined US$5.6 million in just three weeks.
A key factor in the film’s success has been the vibrant social media buzz, particularly on platforms like TikTok. Colleen Hoover’s dedicated following, primarily among young women, fueled anticipation for the adaptation. This phenomenon follows the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer last year, highlighting the increasing influence of online communities in shaping box office trends, even in diverse markets like the UAE and KSA.
@sarahislamm casual #itendswithus #besties #fyp #crybaby @Salma Ezzat @Zeina Islam ♬ cardigan – Taylor Swift
@z4kiaaa اللي تبا تصيح تروح تشوف الفلم #itendswithus @ميثـا ♬ original sound – zakia
@hotgrlscry atlas energy #girlinher20s #inyour20s #datingadvice #girladvice #itendswithus #itendswithusbook #itendswithusmovie ♬ It Ends With Us is in Theaters August 9 – It Ends With Us
The success of It Ends With Us in the UAE and KSA underscores the unparalleled opportunity that cinema advertising offers brands. Unlike the fragmented digital landscape, cinema presents a captive audience deeply engaged with visual storytelling, providing advertisers with the chance to connect during their most attentive moments. As the film industry continues to deliver compelling content for diverse audiences, cinema advertising bridges the gap between these targeted groups and brands seeking impactful connections. Movies like It Ends With Us illustrate how brands can harness cinema’s power to reach precise demographics—be it female audiences, teens, or families—through a dynamic mix of focused attention, emotional engagement, and precise demographic targeting.
Looking ahead, several highly anticipated films offer brands further chances to engage with their target audiences:
Transformers One – Kids, Teens, Families, and 18+
The Wild Robot – Kids and Families
Gladiator II – Two Generations/ Male Audience
Moana 2 – Kids/Families
Smile 2 – 18+ Male and Female
Kraven the Hunter – 18+ Male and Female
Mufasa: The Lion King – Kids/Families, Male and Female
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 – Kids/Families, Male and Female
Want to learn more? Let’s talk.
Source: MVM CinePlan & CineMeasure, Box Office Mojo, TikTok
The CinemaCon 2024, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) in the US, wrapped up successfully after four days brimming with thrilling announcements, captivating presentations, dynamic demonstrations, and insightful discussions. Hosted at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, this event provided an unparalleled platform for industry leaders to convene and delve into the ever-changing landscape of cinema.
Movie enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement over the forthcoming slate of movie announcements from industry giants such as Disney, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Universal & Focus Features, and Paramount, all featuring a surprising array of star power during their presentations.
While some studios chose a more reserved approach, others went all out, unveiling explosive action sequences, beloved characters, and intriguing new projects. Here’s a glimpse at some of the hottest trailers and announcements that have us eagerly anticipating a trip to the cinema:
Walt Disney Studios kicked off their presentation at CinemaCon 2024 with a captivating 13-minute exclusive footage reel from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, showcasing the film’s expansive and visually stunning world. This was followed by an exciting 9-minute preview of Deadpool & Wolverine and an extended 35-minute sneak peek of Pixar’s highly anticipated Inside Out 2. Attendees were also treated to two exclusive clips from Fede Álvarez’s upcoming film, Alien: Romulus.
In addition to these sneak peeks of previously announced tentpole films, Disney Studios unveiled a lineup of top titles slated for release from late 2024 to early 2025. Among these announcements are Moana 2 set to debut on November 26, 2024, Mufasa: The Lion King premiering on December 19, 2024, and Captain America: Brave New World hitting theaters on February 13, 2025.
Warner Bros. electrified CinemaCon 2024 with an extended sneak peek at Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, setting the stage for an epic cinematic experience. Following this, the panel reached its pinnacle with the debut of the highly anticipated first official trailer for Joker 2: Folie à Deux. As expected, the film promises to delve deep into the toxic yet captivating relationship between Arthur and Harley, interspersed with dreamy dance and song sequences.
The audience was also treated to further revelations, including insights into Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, set to premiere on September 5,2024, and The Watchers, directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and releasing on June 13, 2024. Additionally, attendees were thrilled by the unveiling of the first trailer for Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi adventure Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson, slated to hit theaters on January 30, 2025.
Lionsgate made waves at CinemaCon this year with a plethora of exciting announcements. Among them was the confirmation of the sequel Now You See Me 3, featuring the original cast, and a thrilling remake of the horror classic The Blair Witch Project, helmed by Jason Blum. Additionally, they unveiled plans for a live-action adaptation of ‘Naruto’, a film based on the classic board game ‘Monopoly’, and an adaptation of the beloved video game ‘The Sims’.
The presentation also provided a sneak peek into this year’s upcoming blockbusters, including The Crow, Borderlands, The Strangers: Chapter 1, and Never Let Go.
Looking ahead to the first half of the 2025 slate, Lionsgate teased audiences with Guy Ritchie’s next film, In the Grey, slated for release on January 16, 2025. The film stars Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal as two extraction specialists tasked with rescuing a negotiator from a perilous situation. Also on the horizon are John Wick Presents: Ballerina, hitting theaters on June 5, 2025, and the eagerly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael, scheduled for release on April 16, 2025.
Universal made a splash at CinemaCon with several exciting announcements. They revealed that the sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s is set for release in fall 2025, following the mixed yet highly successful reception of the first installment, which grossed nearly 300 million dollars worldwide. This success naturally paves the way for the studio to expand on this franchise.
Furthermore, Universal showcased new projects such as Despicable Me 4, The Wolf Man, the disaster film Twisters, and Wicked, featuring Ariana Grande. The audience was also treated to a glimpse of Robert Egger’s adaptation of Nosferatu, which left a lasting impression with its initial images. Additionally, attendees were captivated by the debut trailer for the remake Speak No Evil, starring James McAvoy.
Paramount Pictures started with a major announcement: a crossover event featuring Transformers meeting G.I. Joe in an upcoming film. Additionally, the audience was treated to the first trailer for Transformers One.
The studio also unveiled plans for two new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2 and an R-rated live-action adaptation titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin. A new ‘Star Trek’ film is on the horizon for release next year, and Glen Powell is set to star in Edgar Wright’s remake of ‘The Running Man.’ Additionally, fans can anticipate a new installment in the ‘Scary Movie’ franchise currently in development. A final trailer for IF starring Ryan Reynolds was also showcased.
Fans of the blue hedgehog were delighted with the unveiling of the first teaser trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 during the event. However, the teaser for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, featuring Paul Mescal facing off against attacking wildlife like a rhino and vicious baboons, along with Pedro Pascal, was exclusively presented at the colosseum stage in Caesars Palace, according to Variety.
Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Kino Check, discussingfilm.com, Variety
