Seven films shown in Saudi cinemas during 2026 have each broken the half-million ticket barrier, according to Al-Eqtisadiah’s monitoring of Saudi Film Commission data from the start of the holiday season until mid-July.

The seven films are divided between two Saudi productions, two Egyptian films, and three American films belonging to the biographical, animated, and horror genres.

Saudi films lead:

The Saudi film "Al Kelab Al Sabaa" (The Seven Dogs) topped the list, selling over 811,000 tickets in eight weeks. Its success did not stop at the Saudi market, as it continued expanding into external markets, grossing over $22 million in 44 days and selling 2.86 million tickets across the Arab world, making it, according to announced figures, the highest-grossing film in Arab cinema history.

The film "Shabab Al Boom" (Boom Youth), the third installment of the first commercial Saudi film series, came in second, selling about 770,500 tickets over 17 weeks, making it one of the most enduring films of the year in theaters, benefiting from the broad fan base the series built on television and its ability to attract youth and families.

"Shabab Al Boom" began as a Saudi comedy series in Ramadan 2012, targeting young people, especially teenagers, and continued for over a decade before the series expanded to 14 seasons, supported by digital momentum that, according to announced figures, exceeded 40 billion cumulative views across social media platforms.

Thus, the series' transition to cinema was not merely a change in exhibition medium, but a natural step for a Saudi product that has a ready audience, growing commercial value, and the ability to convert television and digital viewership into actual box office sales.

Biographical films invest in nostalgia:

The American biographical film "Michael" secured its place among the highest-grossing works this year, achieving about 729,000 tickets over ten weeks, benefiting from the global popularity of one of pop music's legends and the public's curiosity about the story of his rise from a gifted child to one of the most influential artists in music and entertainment history.

Commercially, the film does not rely on the story alone but builds on the pre-existing audience value carried by the name Michael Jackson; the viewer enters the theater knowing the songs, dances, and major milestones of his career, turning the work into an exceptional musical experience for multiple generations.

Egyptian comedy maintains its presence:

The Egyptian film "Barshama" is considered one of the standout comedy films of 2026, so it was no surprise that it sold about 710,000 tickets over 13 weeks. The film's plot unfolds over a single day inside an Arabic language exam committee for high school students in the "home system," before the committee supervisor suddenly dies during the test, turning the committee from a place supposed to be disciplined into a scene of chaos and mass cheating, launching a series of escalating comedic situations.

The film drew its strength from the simplicity of the setting and unity of time, the diversity of characters and their social backgrounds, along with comedy arising from events and situations, not from one-liners detached from the story as is the case with some Arab films.

The Egyptian comedy film "Al Kalam Ala Eh" (What's the Talk About?) also saw a large audience presence during the holiday season, albeit with a lower artistic level compared to "Barshama," selling about 570,700 tickets over 9 weeks. The film deals with four stories of couples from different ages and social backgrounds, brought together by the wedding night that turns from an expected romantic start into a series of crises and embarrassing situations.

The strength of the idea lies in using the 'first night of marriage' to reveal fear, misunderstanding, and the gap between marriage expectations and reality. However, the disparity between the stories and the level of comedy among them limited the coherence of the narrative compared to the fundamental idea from which the film started.

Animation bets on generations:

In the animation category, the American film "Toy Story 5" sold more than 600,000 tickets in just four weeks, benefiting from the extended popularity of the series since its first installment and the availability of Arabic-dubbed versions in theaters. The fifth installment reintroduces the basic idea on which the series was founded: the toys' fear of being replaced.

In the first part in 1995, the character Woody faced a threat represented by the arrival of the newer toy Buzz Lightyear, while the danger in the new installment evolves into a more impactful competitor: tablets and smart screens that capture children's attention. This shift reflects the change in the children's entertainment market over three decades; traditional toys no longer compete only with other toys but now face an integrated digital system.

Through this conflict, the film raises a question about the ability of physical toys to retain their emotional value in the face of technology's allure and the speed of digital content, while simultaneously benefiting from the attachment of different generations to the series' characters.

Horror retains its audience:

The American horror film "Obsession" completed the list of seven films, selling about 504,600 tickets over seven weeks, confirming the continued existence of a fan base for horror films in the Saudi market. The film revolves around a young man named Bear who resorts to a mysterious charm wishing for his girlfriend Nicki to fall in love with him, but he discovers that the fulfillment of his wish turns love into pathological attachment and escalating danger.

The film combines horror and psychological drama, based on the idea of 'be careful what you wish for,' but uses it to discuss controlling others' feelings, lack of freedom of choice, and the transformation of emotional desire into destructive obsession.