Freestyle wrestling comedy ‘Sattar’ sets domestic box office record in Saudi Arabia, ousting ‘Avatar’ from top spot

Saudi Arabian family comedy Sattarabout a depressed man who decides to pursue his dream of becoming a freestyle wrestling champion that set a new box office record for a local film back home.

According to distributor Front Row Arabia, the joint distribution label of pan-Arab distributor Front Row Filmed and local exhibitor Muvi Cinema.

The dealer said that opening weekend Sattar achieved first place from James Cameron Avatar: the way of waterthen in its third week of release, outperformed the blockbuster by over 40% in attendance and 32% gross.

Front Row Arabia said strong word of mouth meant the film’s title dropped just 11% over its second weekend, despite widespread thunderstorms across the country, which is rare in a market where films typically collapse after their first week of release takes place.

The record for a local picture was previously held by the historical drama born a king recounts a coming-of-age episode in the life of the late legendary leader King Faisal, which generated 151,000 visitors in 2020.

Sattar is produced by AlShimaisi Films, the new production company for emerging content group Telfaz11, and Muvi Studios, the production arm of Muvi Cinemas.

Directed by Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdullah Al Arak, the film will be directed by popular Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, best known for the hit action series. Result and that of Netflix Six windows in the desert.

Al Hajjaj plays the freestyle wrestling champion whose dreams come true after a famous wrestling manager (Abdulaziz Al Shehri) and a Pakistani coach (Ibrahim Al Khairallah) take the unfortunate young man under their wing.

The film had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah in early December and was released in Saudi Arabia at the end of the same month.

After lifting its 35-year ban on cinema at the end of 2017, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the largest and most dynamic talking point in the Middle East and North Africa. So far, US studio titles have dominated the charts.

“We are more than happy to see the historic results Sattar achieved,” said Ibraheem Alkhairallah, CEO of AlShimaisi Films. “It shows how powerful Saudi cinema can be and that there is a huge appetite for Saudi-led stories.”

Muvi Studio CEO Faisal Baltyuor said about the success Sattar meet the incorporation requirements of the company.

“Our goal was to build trust in Saudi films and attract more Saudi audiences to cinemas, and that’s exactly what happened with our new hit Sattar started a breakthrough and dominated the Saudi box office avatar 2 and other international films,” he said.

The film takes advantage of the popularity of the international freestyle wrestling scene in Saudi Arabia and interweaves it with local characters and elements such as a Sheilat or a Saudi folk music soundtrack.

Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Front Row, commented on the success Sattar was an important moment for local cinema in Saudi Arabia.

“Until now, Saudi cinema has struggled to attract viewers. Sattar managed to break the mold because it reflects the true culture of Saudi Arabia, something that AlShimaisi Films, Telfaz11 and Muvi Studios clearly understand,” said the MENA region sales veteran.

“This is a groundbreaking result that clearly shows that Saudi films are more than capable of competing with the biggest blockbusters out there.”

Sattar is slated for a theatrical release in the rest of the Gulf on January 19.