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Saudi-produced propaganda film “Desert Warrior” grosses just 472k on $150m budget
Posted on 5/3/26 at 11:42 pm
Posted on 5/3/26 at 11:42 pm
LINK
quote:
Amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, the Saudis have signaled that their investment process is shifting. Uncertainties in the Middle East have seemingly led to looking for better return on their money. One of the strategies guiding the country’s trillion-dollar Public Investment Fund has been to invest in entertainment and sports properties in order to diversify their economy and future development. The PIF has made heavy financial investments into Formula 1, backed the creation of the Qiddiya City region and associated theme park, and of course, funded LIV Golf. And created major movies.
quote:
The film had a production budget of an estimated $150 million, no wonder given the scale and scope of the story and a cast with established stars like Anthony Mackie and Ben Kingsley.
quote:
It’s opening weekend brought in an astonishing $472,111. Not $400 million. Not $40 million. Not $4 million. $472,111. Playing in 1,010 theaters in North America, that corresponds to a per-theater average of $467. Assuming tickets cost an average of $17.50, that’s roughly 26-27 total tickets sold per theater. For an entire day’s worth of showings. But that’s just North America. Perhaps it’s found better success internationally. Well, bad news there too. Worldwide box office thus far is $517,508. On a $150 million budget, it’s grossed $517,508 in almost a week. Disastrous.
This post was edited on 5/3/26 at 11:43 pm
3
Posted on 5/3/26 at 11:51 pm to JasonDBlaha
About as well as Animal Farm
Posted on 5/3/26 at 11:55 pm to Kafka
Let’s call it for what it really is: a money-laundering scheme by MBS to whitewash the outside views of foreign allies and divert attention away from the fact that the KSA is a complete shithole where human rights violations occur on a regular basis.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 12:01 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 1:00 am to Kafka
Angel Films sold out years of good will from Conservatives to push Communist slop. Leftists must think that the right is filled with a bunch of dumb hicks. This Animal Farm film is pro-socialsm. They thought if they paid a bunch of Right leaning socials media influencers to go see this movie that we flock to it.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 1:02 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 1:03 am to JasonDBlaha
quote:
Let’s call it for what it really is: a money-laundering scheme by MBS
What source is the money coming from to require it to be laundered?
Oil money sold via the US system does not need laundering
Posted on 5/4/26 at 2:33 am to Neutral Underground
Companies have found the winning formula. Start grass roots as a company for conservative Christians. That's what they like is smaller companies not beholden to large corporations. Once the foothold is there, turn your back on the conservatives, start producing cheap garbage jist for money and ride the wave.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 2:56 am to joshnorris14
quote:
What source is the money coming from to require it to be laundered?
Oil money sold via the US system does not need laundering
I believe he is confusing it with the term "white washing", both terms involve cleaning.....
Posted on 5/4/26 at 3:00 am to JasonDBlaha
I saw a documentary on another country who invested heavily in "the arts" in hopes this branding would carry over to the products the country sells and improve their overall economy. That country was south Korea.
They gave us Kpop, a lot of content on Netflix etc. And now Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai are very popular brands worldwide.
They gave us Kpop, a lot of content on Netflix etc. And now Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai are very popular brands worldwide.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 4:43 am to trinidadtiger
quote:
Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai are very popular brands worldwide.
I had never heard of these bands before K-pop was introduced. So glad this boy band introduced the world to these unknown billion dollar companies.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 5:29 am to jscrims
quote:
I had never heard of these bands before K-pop was introduced. So glad this boy band introduced the world to these unknown billion dollar companies.
I love people who know absolutely nothing about a marketing concept and want to let the world know how ignorant they are.....here enjoy...
quote:
Country branding (or nation branding) is the strategic process of managing a country’s reputation to influence global perceptions, attract tourism, foreign investment, and boost exports. It is a long-term approach that aligns a nation's culture, governance, and identity with a cohesive image, moving beyond mere logos to foster authentic recognition.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 7:58 am to JasonDBlaha
Did anyone castigate Mackie for taking "blood money"?
Posted on 5/4/26 at 8:13 am to JasonDBlaha
quote:
Let’s call it for what it really is: a money-laundering scheme by MBS to whitewash the outside views of foreign allies and divert attention away from the fact that the KSA is a complete shithole where human rights violations occur on a regular basis.
I get all of this, except how is it money laundering? That implies that he came by the $150 million illegally or that he is spending it illegally. Was he bribing the actors? Directors?
quote:
I believe he is confusing it with the term "white washing", both terms involve cleaning....
You’re probably right.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 8:16 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 8:39 am to Penrod
Some of the film’s budget that came from the MBC, which is directly under the control of the House of Saud, may have come from the modern day slave labor system that they have when it comes to paying foreign contractors.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 8:41 am to JasonDBlaha
quote:
Some of the film’s budget that came from the MBC, which is directly under the control of the House of Saud, may have come from the modern day slave labor system that they have when it comes to paying foreign contractors.
Their “modern day slave labor system” of foreign contractors is well known and voluntary, so hardly slavery. They have had that in place for decades, with no need to launder money.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:09 am to Penrod
quote:
They have had that in place for decades
That doesn’t make it ok though. And they routinely kill migrants at the Yemen/KSA border
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:30 am to JasonDBlaha
quote:
That doesn’t make it ok though.
Why not? It is a voluntary exchange of money for labor. The migrants needn’t migrate.
Also, this debate was not over whether it was okay, it was about whether the Saudis needed to launder the money made from it, which is obviously a preposterous notion. A Saudi company, working their oilfields using Pakistani labor, has no need to launder their profits.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:36 am to Kafka
quote:
About as well as Animal Farm
I don't know why anyone would have ever thought Animal Farm was a good choice to adapt a screenplay for. It is not an entertaining read whatsoever.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:37 am to Penrod
The Kafala system gives the employer complete control over migrant workers. Most of the time, these Pakistani/South Asian workers are too poor to even afford to go back to their own country. Due to this, they often die inside the KSA while working brutal 80-hour work weeks for absolute shite pay. It’s a fricked up system.
Those South Asian workers come to the KSA because they’re poor and desperate, and the KSA government takes complete advantage of that.
Those South Asian workers come to the KSA because they’re poor and desperate, and the KSA government takes complete advantage of that.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 9:39 am
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:52 am to JasonDBlaha
quote:
Those South Asian workers come to the KSA because they’re poor and desperate, and the KSA government takes complete advantage of that.
Then stay in South Asia and fix that!
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