Saudi box office data released by the Saudi Film Commission for 2025 showed a clear shift in revenue trends, culminating in the exceptional performance of the second quarter, which topped the year with a total of 311.9 million riyals ($83m).
This surge was driven by the momentum of Eid Al Fitr films, most notably the second instalment of the Shabab Al-Bomb series. April sales reached 94.7m riyals, rising to 98.7m riyals in May before closing June at 118.5m riyals – the highest monthly total of the year.
In comparison, the third quarter delivered a solid performance with revenues reaching 296.5m riyals, according to Al Eqtisadiah’s analysis of Film Commission data from June 29 to September 27.
This was driven by the peak of the summer season, particularly the film Formula 1: The Rise of the Rising Stars starring Brad Pitt. July’s screenings, the longest in the month, generated 137m riyals, followed by a decline in August to 90.9m riyals. The decline continued in September (Aug. 31 to Sept. 27) to 68.6m riyals, coinciding with the start of the school year.
The first quarter was the weakest, totalling 136.2m riyals, despite a strong start supported by the continued screenings of the Saudi film Hobal and the Egyptian title El Hana Elly Ana Fih. January alone recorded 82.9m riyals before revenues fell to 38.3m riyals in February and then to a low of 15m in March.
During the first half of 2025, Saudi box office revenues reached 448.1m riyals, with 9.1m tickets sold across various cities. Growth was supported by the expansion of cinemas, which by midyear reached 65 theatres with 635 screens across 20 cities, alongside the strong performance of local productions. Shabab Al-Bomb 2 topped the box office for the period, followed by Hobal, Is’af, and Fakhr Al-Suwaidi.
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