Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – After being banned in several Arab countries, blockbuster film Barbie in Saudi Arabia is drawing huge crowds.
The unexpected success of the film Barbie in Saudi Arabia has become a symbol of the dramatic societal changes taking place in the Middle East. Despite calls for its ban in some neighboring countries for allegedly undermining traditional gender norms, the film has gained immense popularity in Saudi Arabia.
Some Saudi cinemas are scheduling up to 15 screenings of the movie in a single day. Just a mere eight years ago, the country had no movie theaters and was known for strict enforcement of gender-based segregation and dress codes. Women were not allowed to drive, and religious police had a presence on the streets.
The contrasting reactions to Barbie in other Middle Eastern countries highlight the relative openness in Saudi Arabia. However, not all Saudis are receptive to the film’s messages.
The film, which has achieved a remarkable milestone by grossing over $1 billion worldwide so far, made its debut in the United States on July 9 before releasing in other countries, including the Middle East and North Africa. The movie released in Morocco and Tunisia on July 19, followed by Algeria and Israel on July 20, Turkey on July 21, and in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on August 10.
In Lebanon and Kuwait, authorities banned the film. Algeria subsequently also banned it.
The rationale behind this decision was rooted in concerns over the movie’s perceived departure from conservative values prevalent in these societies. Now all eyes are on Egypt, where the film is set to grace screens on August 30, as confirmed by Safwat al-Helbawy, a prominent figure in the Egyptian movie distribution realm.