In his 2006 documentary “Cinema 500km,” Saudi filmmaker Abdullah Al Eyaf highlighted the challenges Saudi residents faced when they wanted to watch a film in a cinema. He followed a man from Riyadh as he embarked on a 500km journey to Bahrain just to watch one film. The head of a cinema in Bahrain revealed that 90 percent of his customers were from Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the strong demand for cinema experiences among Saudis.
This phenomenon wasn’t limited to Bahrain alone. In 2012, the mayor of Riyadh stated that around 230,000 Saudi tourists had flown to the United Arab Emirates in the summer of 2010 solely to watch movies. The lack of cinemas in Saudi Arabia prompted residents to travel abroad just to enjoy the big screen experience.
However, in a major reversal of cultural trends, Saudi Arabia has now lifted the 35-year ban on cinemas that was in place until late 2017. As a result, the country’s cinema industry is experiencing significant growth, and multiplexes are opening up across the country. Saudis no longer need to travel overseas to satisfy their movie cravings.
But this new development has created a reverse situation. Neighboring countries now face the need to journey to Saudi Arabia if they want to bypass strict cinema restrictions in their own countries. Recently, Warner Bros.’ blockbuster film “Barbie,” which cost over $1 billion, was banned in Kuwait for promoting ideas and beliefs that were deemed alien to Kuwaiti society and public order. The chairman of Kuwait’s film censorship committee stated that the film encouraged unacceptable behavior and distorted society’s values. Similarly, Lebanon’s culture minister claimed that the film promoted homosexuality and contradicted faith and morality values by diminishing the importance of the family unit.
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However, “Barbie” has been released in Saudi Arabia, where it is enjoying wide screenings with numerous daily showings. Faced with the bans, a Kuwaiti blogger shared information on social media for fellow residents willing to cross the border to Saudi Arabia to watch the film. The blog provided details of the closest cinemas in Saudi cities such as Al-Jubail, Dammam, and Al Khobar. The post assured Kuwaiti residents that obtaining a visa would not be a concern since any resident of Kuwait could easily obtain one. Despite the lengthy journey of over two hours to the nearest cinema, it is difficult to determine the number of people who have taken up the challenge to watch “Barbie.”
The contrasting fates of “Barbie” in the Gulf region reflect the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia has made in just a few short years. Prior to 2018, public cinemas and a real film industry did not exist in the country. Today, Saudi Arabia boasts one of the fastest-growing box offices globally and a flourishing cinema industry. Abdullah Al Eyaf, the director of “Cinema 500km,” is now the head of the Saudi Film Commission, further highlighting the significant advancements made in the country’s film sector.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s lifting of the ban on cinemas has resulted in the rapid growth of its cinema industry. Saudi residents no longer have to travel overseas to watch films. However, neighboring countries facing cinema restrictions find themselves in the reverse situation of journeying to Saudi Arabia to enjoy cinematic experiences. The banning of “Barbie” in Kuwait and the potential ban in Lebanon highlight the cultural and moral debates surrounding films and their impact on society. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia’s progress in the film sector demonstrates the country’s commitment to cultural development and its desire to provide its residents with diverse entertainment options.
