Going to the cinema was unheard of in Saudi Arabia until a few years ago.
With applauding fans, movie landmarks, and international celebrities like Gerard Butler taking centre stage, it’s a red carpet reality today.
Known for his parts in 300 and Olympus Has Fallen, the Scottish actor was recently in Riyadh for the regional premiere of his most recent movie, the trilogy How to Train Your Dragon. His visit seemed meaningful, personal, and full of appreciation for an area rewriting its own cinematic narrative; it was more than a PR stopover.
Butler stated in an exclusive video interview with Gulf News, “I’d always wanted to visit Saudi Arabia. It had always been an enigmatic and magical place, and I believe it is now becoming more accessible to the general public.
In 2018, as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ‘Vision 2030’ cultural and economic reform agenda, Saudi Arabia overturned its 35-year ban on movie theatres. With the hosting of red carpets, festivals, and big multinational projects, the nation has swiftly evolved from a film-free zone to a burgeoning entertainment hub.
When Butler filmed his action thriller Kandahar in AlUla, one of the most physically stunning areas in the Kingdom, he witnessed that change firsthand.
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