‘Desert Warrior’ Deserted? Why Anthony Mackie’s Troubled Saudi Epic Failed To Rally Cinemagoers In U.S. & Middle East
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- Desert Warrior opened on 1,010 U.S. screens, earning $596,000 in its opening weekend, far below its $150 million budget.
- MBC partnered with Vertical to produce the film, but the Saudi media giant has not commented on the box‑office results.
- Vertical is pivoting to premium video‑on‑demand, using Mackie’s image in artwork to boost post‑theatrical revenue.
- Saudi Arabia box office recorded $87,000 from 6,100 admissions, making the film the eighth‑biggest title that weekend.
- Empire Entertainment handled Saudi distribution, where recent releases like Project Hail Mary opened with $700,000, highlighting Desert Warrior’s weaker performance.
Why it matters: Vertical stands to recoup part of the $150 M outlay via PVOD, while MBC absorbs the theatrical loss of $596 K U.S. and $225 K Middle East, potentially dampening future Saudi‑backed Hollywood co‑productions.
