The report published by Cairo Film Connection during Cairo Industry Days (16-20 November) provides important data on recent developments in the Egyptian film industry, including the pivotal role played by Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning exhibition and production sector.
Egyptian cinema is the oldest and largest in the Arab world and has enjoyed variable export success for decades. These days, the foreign market has become more lucrative than the domestic market, especially for some Egyptian titles.
Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding exhibition sector is a major source of box office revenue for nine of Egypt’s top 10 film exports from 2021 to 2024. Approximately 27% of Saudi Arabia’s top 65 box office films of all time are Egyptian films.
A small number of Egyptian films earn much more money abroad than at home. The rom-com “Bahebek” (“I Love You”), starring Tamer Hosni, grossed $2.8 million domestically, but was a huge hit across West Asia, earning $22.9 million overseas.
Other international hits include Sons of Rizk 3: Knockout (2024), which grossed $6.1 million in Egypt and $22.3 million overseas, and A Stand Worthy of Men (2021), which grossed $1.7 million in Egypt and $18.3 million overseas.
In 2024, Egyptian films ranked third in Saudi market share after US and Indian titles. A total of 33 Egyptian films were released in Saudi Arabia that year, earning more than $53 million. This is more than double the total revenue earned by all Egyptian films in the domestic market ($23.5 million).
Egyptian-Saudi co-produced films are eligible for tax incentives on Saudi box office revenues. A recent example is Hani Khalifa’s thriller Flight 404, which Egypt officially submitted for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards.
The importance of foreign exports is further driven by the declining dollar value of Egypt’s box office revenues (projected to $36 million in 2025, from $59.6 million in 2019). This decline was caused by a significant exchange rate depreciation of the Egyptian pound. With double-digit inflation recorded since 2022, box office revenue in local currency has actually doubled from 2019.
Moviegoing in Egypt is still recovering from the pandemic-induced slump. Enrollment is expected to reach 12 million students in 2024 and 13.8 million by the end of 2025, near pre-pandemic levels.
The largest demographic of Egyptian movie audiences is between the ages of 18 and 29, accounting for 20% of the total population and 42.7% of the workforce.
Egyptian films account for about 20% of all films released, but capture almost 70% of the total box office revenue, with US films accounting for 28.5% in 2025. Big-budget Egyptian comedies and action/adventure films traditionally dominate the local box office. In 2025, two Hollywood movies, “F1” and “The Conjuring: The Last Rites,” made it into the top 10 at the box office, marking the first time in several years that two foreign titles had made it into the top 10.
Local audiences are no longer focused solely on high-budget productions. For example, Omar El Mohandes’ mid-budget comedy Shiko Shiko, starring Essam Omar and Taha Desouky, grossed approximately $4 million in Egypt and an additional $4.2 million in Saudi Arabia, making it the second-highest-grossing film in Egyptian history.
Interest in art house titles is also increasing. Seeking Heaven for Mr. Rimbaud (2024), directed by Khalid Mansour, opened in Venice in 2024 and grossed $341,000, ranking it among the biggest art-house productions in Egyptian history.
In recent years, Synergy has been at the top of the film distribution company, but in 2025 it will be overtaken by Mysuru International Films. In 2025, former Synergy manager Ahmed Badawy launches a new company, Film Square, to increase market share. The main distributor of foreign films, including Hollywood films, is United Motion Pictures, which has surpassed several Egyptian film distributors due to the recent success of blockbusters such as “F1.” One emerging company is UVF, a subsidiary of the Saudi media conglomerate Arab Radio and Television Network, which is focused on financing and distributing mid-budget Egyptian films for international release, particularly in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to the CFC report.
The CFC report also provides a comprehensive overview of the achievements of the first 10 editions of the Cairo Film Connection. Through its promotions, mentorship, financial and in-kind awards, Cairo Film Connection has played a key role in helping Arab filmmakers complete their films and reach national and international audiences, including at A-list festivals.
Recent successful films include “Four Daughters” (2023) directed by Kauser Ben Hania (Tunisia), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and “Inshallah a” directed by Amjad Al Rashid (Jordan), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Boy” (2023), and “Aïcha” (2024) directed by Mehdi Barsaoui (Morocco), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Festival.
