Saudi cinemas sold 35 million tickets. Local films took 12 percent of those admissions. Revenue, production volumes, and audience demographics fill out the remaining picture.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi cinema attendance 2023: 35 million tickets sold, 12% for local films
- Saudi box office revenue in 2023 reached SAR 1.2 billion (USD 320 million), up 25% from 2022
- Red Sea International Film Festival awards: 25 films won totaling SAR 20 million in prizes 2023
- Government investment in Saudi film industry 2023: SAR 1.5 billion
- In 2022, Saudi Arabia produced 44 feature films, a 100% increase from 21 in 2021
Saudi Arabia’s film industry is accelerating fast, with increasing production and audience engagement year on year.
Related reading
01 · Category
Audience Attendance28 stats
01
Saudi cinema attendance 2023: 35 million tickets sold, 12% for local films
02
Riyadh cinema-goers average 5.2 visits per year in 2023
03
Female audience share for Saudi films: 48% in 2022
04
Youth under 25: 55% of Saudi film attendees 2023
05
Average audience per Saudi film screening 2023: 120 viewers
06
Jeddah cinema attendance growth 2022: 40%
07
70% of Saudis aged 18-35 watched at least one local film in 2023
08
Family audience for animations: 65% of total animation viewership 2022
09
Horror films peak attendance nights: Fridays with 80% capacity 2023
10
VOD streams for Saudi films 2023: 25 million views
11
Expat audience share in Saudi cinemas: 22% in 2023
12
Repeat viewings for top Saudi films average 2.3 times per attendee 2022
13
Weekend cinema occupancy for local films: 75% in 2023
14
Social media buzz correlated with 30% higher attendance for promoted films 2023
15
Rural area cinema attendance grew 50% from 2021-2023
16
Premium seating attendance share: 35% for Saudi films 2023
17
3D format attendance for Saudi films: 18% of total tickets 2022
18
Late-night screenings average 90 attendees per show 2023
19
Student discounts led to 1.2 million extra attendees in 2023
20
Gulf region Saudi film viewers: 8 million in 2023
21
Online ticket purchases: 85% of total cinema sales 2023
22
Peak month attendance Dec 2023: 6 million tickets
23
Comedy genre highest attendance: 2.1 million for top 5 films 2023
24
Documentary festival attendees: 150,000 in 2023
25
VR film experiences attendees: 50,000 in Saudi 2023
26
Loyalty program members attending Saudi films: 2.5 million visits 2023
27
Saudi films international festival attendees: 500,000 cumulative 2022-2023
28
Total screens showing Saudi films daily average 2023: 450
Interpretation
Audience Attendance Interpretation
Saudi audiences are building a formidable local film industry with contagious enthusiasm, where nearly half the crowd is female, over half are under 25, and even horror films on a Friday night are a family-friendly 80% full—proving the kingdom's cinematic rebirth is being written, one repeat viewing at a time, by its own youth.
02 · Category
Box Office and Revenue27 stats
01
Saudi box office revenue in 2023 reached SAR 1.2 billion (USD 320 million), up 25% from 2022
02
"Nor" was the highest-grossing Saudi film in 2023 with SAR 52 million
03
Total Saudi film revenue share of domestic box office 2022: 18%
04
Average ticket price for Saudi films in 2023: SAR 45
05
Hollywood films dominated Saudi BO with 65% share in 2022, Saudi locals 15%
06
"The Cello" grossed SAR 18.7 million domestically in 2023
07
Saudi film "Wad" earned SAR 12 million in first week 2022
08
Total BO admissions for Saudi films 2023: 4.2 million tickets
09
Revenue from VOD platforms for Saudi films 2022: SAR 150 million
10
"Sattar" Saudi film BO: SAR 22 million in 2023
11
Saudi cinemas generated SAR 800 million from local films 2021-2023 cumulative
12
Top 10 Saudi films accounted for 70% of local BO revenue in 2023
13
International distribution revenue for Saudi films 2023: SAR 45 million
14
Riyadh Season film screenings revenue: SAR 200 million in 2023
15
Saudi horror "The Ghost" BO: SAR 9.5 million
16
Female-directed films revenue share 2023: 12% of total Saudi BO
17
Animation "Mandoob" grossed SAR 15 million in 2022
18
Comedy "Washash" earned SAR 28 million domestically 2023
19
Total merchandise revenue from Saudi films 2023: SAR 30 million
20
UAE box office for Saudi films 2023: SAR 25 million
21
Netflix Saudi film licensing fees 2022: SAR 80 million
22
IMAX Saudi film revenue share 2023: SAR 50 million
23
Documentary "Hajj" BO: SAR 7 million
24
Saudi films BO growth rate 2019-2023: 300%
25
Per screen average for Saudi films 2023: SAR 12,000 weekly
26
"Qalb" romantic film revenue: SAR 19 million 2022
27
Total Saudi BO from festivals: SAR 10 million 2023
Interpretation
Box Office and Revenue Interpretation
While Saudi cinema has exploded with a 300% growth since 2019, its box office, led by the record-breaking "Nor," is still playing a spirited and lucrative supporting role to Hollywood's 65% dominance, proving the local industry is a rising star rather than an overnight sensation.
03 · Category
Festivals and Awards27 stats
01
Red Sea International Film Festival awards: 25 films won totaling SAR 20 million in prizes 2023
02
Number of Saudi films at Cannes 2023: 4 in various sections
03
Best Saudi Film at Red Sea FF 2023: "Nor" won Grand Prize
04
Total entries to Red Sea FF 2023: 450 films, 120 from MENA incl. 50 Saudi
05
Oscars submissions from Saudi 2023: 1 feature "The Cello"
06
Cairo International Film Festival Saudi wins: 2 awards in 2022
07
Dubai IFF Saudi section films: 15 screened 2023
08
Golden Globes recognition for Saudi films: 1 nomination 2023
09
Local Jeddah Film Festival attendees: 100,000 for 80 Saudi films 2023
10
Best Actress award at Haifa FF to Saudi performer 2022
11
Number of Saudi wins at Arab Cinema Festival 2023: 5
12
Venice FF Saudi premiere: "Sattar" competed 2023
13
Rotterdam IFF Saudi films: 6 in Tigers competition 2022
14
Emmy nominations for Saudi series with film tie-ins: 2 in 2023
15
Busan FF audience award to Saudi doc 2023
16
Total awards won by Saudi films internationally 2022-2023: 45
17
Women directors awards at Red Sea FF: 3 in 2023
18
Sundance Saudi shorts program: 10 films selected 2023
19
Locarno FF Golden Leopard nominee Saudi film 2022
20
Marrakech FF jury prize to Saudi entry 2023
21
Toronto IFF Saudi world premiere: 2 films 2023
22
Berlin FF Forum section Saudi films: 3 in 2023
23
Local awards at Riyadh Season FF: SAR 5 million prizes 2023
24
Best Animation at Doha Tribeca: Saudi "Mandoob" 2022
25
Carthage FF best Arab film to Saudi 2023
26
Total festival screenings for Saudi films 2023: 1,200 worldwide
27
BAFTA longlist Saudi short film 2023
Interpretation
Festivals and Awards Interpretation
The kingdom’s cinematic ambition is no longer a mirage, with a desert bloom of films from Jeddah to Cannes capturing awards, audiences, and a serious share of glittering prize money.
More related reading
04 · Category
Investment and Funding27 stats
01
Government investment in Saudi film industry 2023: SAR 1.5 billion
02
Red Sea Film Foundation budget 2023: SAR 500 million
03
Private sector funding for Saudi films 2022: SAR 800 million
04
Vision 2030 allocated SAR 3 billion for entertainment incl. film by 2023
05
Number of film production grants awarded 2023: 120, total SAR 300 million
06
Foreign investment in Saudi films 2023: SAR 200 million from UAE/Qatar
07
Crowdfunding success for indie Saudi films 2022: SAR 15 million raised
08
SBC (Saudi Broadcast Corp) film fund: SAR 250 million annually since 2021
09
Cinema infrastructure investment 2018-2023: SAR 5 billion for 750 screens
10
Women-focused film funds 2023: SAR 100 million
11
Animation studio investments: SAR 400 million in 2023
12
Tax incentives for film production: 40% rebate on qualified spend 2023
13
Number of VC firms investing in Saudi film tech 2023: 12
14
Festival prize pools total 2023: SAR 50 million
15
Public-private partnerships for films: 25 projects funded SAR 450 million 2022
16
Streaming platforms investment in originals: Shahid SAR 300 million 2023
17
Equipment rental subsidies: SAR 20 million to 50 companies 2023
18
Training programs funded: SAR 75 million for 5,000 trainees 2023
19
International co-production treaties signed: 8 in 2023, unlocking SAR 150 million
20
Real estate for studios: SAR 1 billion invested 2022-2023
21
Marketing fund for Saudi films: SAR 100 million annually
22
Blockchain for film financing pilots: SAR 10 million 2023
23
Export fund for Saudi films abroad: SAR 40 million 2023
24
Sustainability grants for green productions: SAR 15 million 2023
25
Post-production facilities funded: 10 new labs SAR 200 million 2023
26
Talent agency seed funding: SAR 30 million to 20 agencies 2022
27
Digital distribution platforms grants: SAR 50 million 2023
Interpretation
Investment and Funding Interpretation
While the numbers reveal an industry being built from the ground up with serious capital—from monumental screen investments to blockchain pilots—the true plot twist is watching Saudi Arabia meticulously finance every possible line item, from the popcorn to the post-production, in its blockbuster bid to write itself into the global cinematic narrative.
05 · Category
Production Statistics29 stats
01
In 2022, Saudi Arabia produced 44 feature films, a 100% increase from 21 in 2021
02
Between 2018 and 2023, the total number of Saudi feature films released exceeded 150
03
In 2023, 58 Saudi films were produced, including 12 directed by women
04
The average production budget for Saudi feature films in 2022 was SAR 5 million (USD 1.33 million)
05
From 2020 to 2023, short films produced in Saudi Arabia numbered over 500
06
In 2021, 25 documentaries were produced by Saudi filmmakers
07
Saudi animation films produced in 2023 reached 8, up from 3 in 2022
08
The number of Saudi films submitted to international festivals in 2023 was 35
09
In 2022, 15 Saudi films were co-productions with UAE studios
10
Saudi horror genre films produced in 2023 totaled 7
11
Comedy films accounted for 40% of Saudi productions in 2022 (18 out of 44)
12
In 2023, female-led Saudi films numbered 20
13
Saudi films using local talent exclusively reached 30 in 2022
14
The longest Saudi film runtime in 2023 was 145 minutes for "The Journey"
15
Number of Saudi films shot in Riyadh in 2022: 28
16
Jeddah hosted production of 12 films in 2023
17
Dammam produced 9 industrial-themed films in 2022
18
Saudi films with international co-directors: 5 in 2023
19
Experimental films from Saudi indie scene: 42 in 2022
20
Saudi films certified by GEA in 2021: 37
21
2023 saw 14 Saudi films using VFX extensively
22
Number of Saudi films with scripts by AI assistance in 2023: 3
23
Saudi period dramas produced: 6 in 2022
24
Youth-oriented Saudi films: 22 in 2023
25
Saudi films dubbed in multiple languages: 11 in 2022
26
Films produced by Red Sea Film Foundation: 18 in 2023
27
Saudi sci-fi films: 4 produced in 2023
28
Saudi films with 4K production: 25 in 2023
29
Total crew members employed in Saudi film productions 2022: 12,500
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Hollywood should start watching its back because Saudi Arabia isn't just dipping a toe into filmmaking anymore—it's built a whole new pool, complete with a 100% growth spurt in feature films, a swarm of shorts, and a small army of 12,500 crew members, all while comedies, horrors, and female-led stories are proving the kingdom's creative boom is as diverse as it is determined.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Saudi Film Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-film-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Saudi Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/saudi-film-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Saudi Film Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/saudi-film-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level