Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift its 35-year ban on cinemas sparked a wave of satire on Twitter, with users creating hilarious Saudi-themed movie titles that quickly went viral.
#SaudiMovieTitles Takes Over Twitter
Under the hashtag #SaudiMovieTitles, tweeps reimagined Hollywood films with a Saudi twist—blending pop culture with politics, religion, and daily life in the Kingdom.
One user posted “Prison Break” over a photo of Riyadh’s Ritz Carlton—referencing the luxury hotel turned detention center for royals and officials accused of corruption. Others leaned into religious humor with gems like “Eat, Pray Five Times, Love,” “I Know What You Did Last Ramadan,” and “The Fasting and the Furious.”
Background: A Cultural Shift in the Kingdom
The Saudi government lifted the cinema ban on December 11, 2017, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s broader push for modernization under Vision 2030. Cinemas had been shuttered since the early 1980s under pressure from religious hardliners who opposed public entertainment and the arts.
While the move was widely applauded as a step toward liberalization, it also provided Saudi citizens with the perfect setup for cultural comedy on social media.
A Social Media Masterclass in Satire
This viral trend highlights how humor and cultural commentary thrive online, especially when tied to major policy shifts. While cinemas return to Saudi Arabia, it’s Twitter that continues to be the country’s sharpest screenwriter.
