Saudi Arabia Lifts 35 Year Cinema Ban with Showing of ‘Black Panther’

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud introduced some liberal changes in the economic and social order of the orthodox Muslim community in Saudi Arabia.

On April 18th, the first cinema in 35 years is set to open in Riyadh; with a showing of the hit Marvel movie Black Panther. This theater will not be segregated by gender, like many places in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is hoping will be an economic reform, to try and gain revenue from other sources and be less dependent on oil, Reuters reported.

Saudi Arabians like Hollywood productions, but powerful clerics ended their right to watch them, reflecting rising Islamist influences. Since there are bans from watching Hollywood films in public, they are widely watched at home and discussed.

The report from Reuters also stated “AMC Chief Executive Adam Aron said in an interview: ‘The main theater will have about 500 leather seats, orchestra and balcony levels and marble bathrooms,’ he said. ‘Three more screens will be added by mid-summer.’ “