The Saudi film 'A Matter of Life or Death' was considered by some critics as one of the best romantic films in the history of Saudi cinema and one of the most prominent works of 2026, yet this acclaim was not reflected to the same extent at the box office.

It recorded cumulative revenues of 1.7 million riyals during its weeks of release, from selling 33,600 tickets. According to its director Anas Batahef speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah, this result is acceptable given that it is a romantic comedy with a medium budget, but it remains below the level of critical acclaim the film received.

Monday, June 2026

Batahef explained that he made this film to express human relationships and ideas that personally occupy him, with a strong belief in the importance of presenting a different story on a narrative level before a visual one; a story that represents those like him from his generation, and their daily psychological struggles that capture their moments of silence before sleep. The film raises a question about the importance of love amidst the absurdity of life, and tests obsession and the love of control in the face of abandonment and surrender, a dilemma that 'troubles me personally.'

Monday, August 2026

He mentioned that he tried to present a sarcastic romantic comedy loaded with drama and a little fantasy, without straying from human emotions. The city of Jeddah was present in the film, not as a filming location, but as a spirit, memory, and environment he loves. The city appears with its small details as a third character in the film, in the alleys and personal spaces that harbor his solitude and rejoice in his joy, in the rhythm of speech, the musicality of the dialect, and the way people express love. Romance does not live in a vacuum; it needs a place that gives it features, and magical Jeddah with its beautiful fountain was the closest place to his heart and to this story.

Regarding the director's view of the film's box office trajectory, he said that usually, after the opening in the first two weeks, the film begins its natural course of discussion on social media, and here comes the power of what is known as 'word of mouth.' We are betting that the audience's interaction with the film will give it a longer life at the box office, especially if the talk turns into recommendations among viewers, and this makes us believe that it will remain present for a long time in theaters.

Batahef explained that the film received material and moral support from producers and investors who fully believed in the project, its 'whimsical' story, and his 'different' directorial vision, led by Professor and friend Mohamed Hefzy, and he is immensely grateful to them. This generous support gave him greater creative space and kept him away from any pressures that might affect the quality of the experience. On the contrary, it was an enriching experience with their expertise and advice, which they never withheld. Having this faith in him, the film, and the team helped him focus on the story and execute it in the best possible way, without losing his balance between artistic ambition and production calculations while being both director and producer of the work.

Tuesday, July 2026

The film's director mentioned that he tried through this work to present a Saudi cinematic experience close to the audience with its characters and themes, combining artistic quality, enjoyment, and entertainment. It is the type of films he personally likes to watch... films that carry high artistic value but within an audience-friendly framework that is easy to receive, without entering into huge budgets that might pressure profitability opportunities. Hoping to open a wider space for more diverse Saudi films in the market.