Saudi Drama Against The Patriarchy ‘Hobal’ Beats Hollywood Titles Becoming Standout Local Hit

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Abdulaziz Alshlahei’s movie “Hobal” about traditional versus modern issues in a Saudi family during the early 1990s is doing incredibly well at the Saudi box office, outperforming films like “Mufasa,” “Flight Risk,” and “Den of Thieves 2.”)

The powerful movie titled “Hobal” has resonated deeply with Saudi viewers since its January 2 release. This film depicts a Saudi family being forced by their grandfather to live in seclusion in the desert during the onset of the Gulf War in 1990. When a young girl in the family falls ill, her mother bravely challenges the patriarchy to save her child. The movie has garnered over half a million admissions so far and earned approximately $5.7 million through its distributor Qanwat Group, according to data from the Saudi Film Commission that tracks box office figures in Saudi Arabia.

In contrast to Disney’s “Mufasa,” the film has attracted approximately 328,000 viewers and made around $4.4 million within the local market since it was premiered in Saudi cinemas on December 19, 2024.

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Since its debut on December 19, 2024, in Saudi cinemas, Disney’s “Mufasa” has garnered around 328,000 admissions and generated roughly $4.4 million locally.

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In the local market, Disney’s “Mufasa” has been seen by about 328,000 people and has earned approximately $4.4 million since its release in Saudi cinemas on December 19, 2024.

In simple terms, the movie “Hobal” has been making headlines as it’s showing rapid growth in ticket sales at Saudi cinemas, marking the quickest expansion for a locally produced independent film since the ban on running commercial movie theaters in Saudi Arabia was lifted in December 2017.

The film titled “Hobal,” which debuted at the Red Sea Film Festival in December, has been continuing its robust initial success with screenings across Saudi Arabia that have sold out. Remarkably, this includes even remote regions where the audience participation accounted for more than 20% of total ticket sales, as stated by the distributor.

Due to lifting its restrictions on religious content in films, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the leading film market within the Middle East-North Africa region. Cinema-goers are swarming to theaters, attracted not only by popular Hollywood movies but also an increasing number of successful local productions.

However, one of Saudi Arabia’s most potent advantages lies in its local content. As Nathan Gilligan, Senior Operations Manager at Comscore, recently stated to EbMaster: “The local product is remarkably robust in Saudi. It remains popular, even as you venture deeper into the rural areas.

In regions surrounding Saudi Arabia, specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, “Hobal” has been impressing audiences significantly. It has amassed over 87,000 viewings in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain.

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Beyond Saudi Arabia, “Hobal” has been well-received in neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council countries, racking up over 87,000 screenings in Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Bahrain.

The movie titled “Hobal” was predominantly filmed at the modern Bajdah Studios situated close to the advanced city of NEOM and in the deserts and mountain ranges along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, specifically Tabuk. This is director Alshlahei’s third feature film, following his critically acclaimed drama “The Tambour of Retribution.” This film explored the taboo love story between a son of an executioner and a daughter of a wedding drummer in early 20th-century Riyadh. “Tambour” was initially screened on Netflix, marking Saudi Arabia’s entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2022.

Hobal” is created by Shaf Studios. The Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzi’s Film Clinic and Peninsula Pictures Group are also co-producers. Sharif Almajali produces it, while Abdulaziz Alshlahei, Mofarij Almujfel, Mohamed Al Turki, and Riyadh Alzamil serve as executive producers. It is backed by the Daw’ Film Competition, the Saudi Film Commission, the Quality of Life Program, and NEOM. Several partners from the private sector also contribute to its production.

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2025-02-10 16:17