Disney and Marvel Studios’ latest superhero movie has managed to do something no other Hollywood project has done in 35 years: break Saudi Arabia’s 35-year cinema ban.
“Black Panther” has generated nearly $1.3 billion in revenue since its February release, but the Ryan Coogler-directed film will make history April 18 by raking in cash in Riyadh. Movie theaters were banned in the kingdom in the early 1980s.
AMC Entertainment plans to open up to “40 cinemas in Saudi Arabia within five years and up to 100 theaters in Saudi Arabia by the year 2030,” Variety reported Thursday.
The decision is part of a broader cultural initiative spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“With a population of 32 million, 70 percent of whom are under the age of 30, and a relatively affluent citizenry, some analysts expect that Saudi Arabia could eventually produce $1 billion in revenues and be among the top 10 markets for theatrical revenues,” the entertainment magazine added. “AMC and the Development and Investment Entertainment Company, which issued the license for AMC to operate, have said their goal is to achieve approximately a 50 percent market share of the Saudi Arabian movie theater industry.”
“Black Panther,” which stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o is the 18th film in the superhero movie franchise dubbed the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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