#1 of 368 Highest-grossing Arabic-language movie ever
2018 · Drama
$64.4M worldwide
$1.7M US & Canada · 3% $62.8M elsewhere · 97%
Arabic box office · All time
Highest-Grossing Arabic Movies of All Time
Capernaum (2018) is the highest-grossing Arabic-language movie in our database, with $64.4M worldwide, ahead of Buried Secrets (2009) at $25.5M and Lyd (2024) at $20.6M. 368 Arabic-language films in our database report a worldwide gross, $368.8M in all, 7% of it from the US & Canada. By genre, Drama leads with $256.8M across 217 Arabic releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 368
- combined worldwide
- $368.8M
- Capernaum (2018), the #1
- $64.4M
- earned in the US & Canada
- 7%
#1 of 368 Top 5
What Are the Highest-Grossing Arabic Movies Ever?
Capernaum (2018) leads with $64.4M, $38.9M ahead of Buried Secrets (2009). The top 5 were released between 2008 and 2024 and took $141.7M together; 2 earned more than half of their gross outside the US & Canada.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
All 368 Arabic Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 368. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1 Dec 14, 2018 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $62.8M Worldwide: $64.4M
- 2 Sep 4, 2009 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $25.5M
- 3 Apr 26, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $20.6M
- 4 Apr 20, 2010 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $16.6M
- 5 Feb 8, 2008 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $14.6M
- 6
Feb 1, 2008 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $14.2M - 7
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $532K Rest of the world: $7M Worldwide: $7.5M - 8
Apr 17, 2009 US and Canada: $569.7K Rest of the world: $6.8M Worldwide: $7.4M - 9
Sep 13, 2013 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $5.2M Worldwide: $6.5M - 10
Dec 17, 2025 US and Canada: $955.7K Rest of the world: $4.8M Worldwide: $5.8M - 11
Oct 28, 2021 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.2M - 12
Jan 27, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $4.9M - 13
Aug 11, 2017 US and Canada: $81.1K Rest of the world: $3.9M Worldwide: $4M - 14
Aug 19, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.9M - 15
Jan 12, 2018 US and Canada: $1M Rest of the world: $2.7M Worldwide: $3.7M - 16
Oct 28, 2005 US and Canada: $1.5M Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $3.6M - 17
Jul 19, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M - 18
Dec 31, 2025 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: $983.9K Worldwide: $3M - 19
Feb 6, 2026 US and Canada: $256.5K Rest of the world: $2.6M Worldwide: $2.9M - 20
Feb 13, 2026 US and Canada: $688.8K Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $2.8M - 21
Jul 7, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.8M - 22
Jul 24, 2002 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 23
Sep 21, 2011 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.7M - 24
May 21, 2004 US and Canada: $2.6M Rest of the world: $135.2K Worldwide: $2.7M - 25
Jun 4, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 26
Jun 11, 2024 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M - 27
Jun 14, 2007 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.5M - 28
Dec 18, 2014 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 29
Jun 1, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 30
Feb 10, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 31
Dec 11, 2013 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.4M - 32
Sep 4, 2009 US and Canada: $627.4K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $2.2M - 33
Jun 21, 2013 US and Canada: $1.7M Rest of the world: $419.2K Worldwide: $2.1M - 34
May 29, 2020 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.1M - 35
Jan 2, 2019 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 36
Jan 10, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 37
Nov 15, 2012 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 38
Aug 2, 2019 US and Canada: $504.4K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $1.8M - 39
May 4, 2005 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 40
Jan 6, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 41
Jun 25, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 42
Jan 17, 2003 US and Canada: $421.3K Rest of the world: $1.3M Worldwide: $1.7M - 43
Aug 8, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 44
Jun 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 45
Dec 7, 2017 US and Canada: $90.9K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $1.6M - 46
Aug 1, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 47
Jan 3, 2006 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 48
Jan 5, 2022 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 49
Jun 23, 2004 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 50
Nov 16, 2005 US and Canada: $380.5K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.5M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Biggest Arabic Movies Make Their Money?
Of the top 10, The Band's Visit (2008) earned the biggest share at home (21% in the US & Canada), while Capernaum (2018) made 97% of its gross abroad. Across all 368 films, $27.3M (7%) came from the US & Canada. 3 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 Capernaum (2018) $64.4M $1.7M US & Canada · 3% $62.8M elsewhere · 97%
- 2 Buried Secrets (2009) $25.5M No US & Canada figure reported
- 3 Lyd (2024) $20.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Safari (2010) $16.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 The Band's Visit (2008) $14.6M $3.1M US & Canada · 21% $11.5M elsewhere · 79%
- 6 Caramel (2008) $14.2M $1.1M US & Canada · 7% $13.2M elsewhere · 93%
- 7 Where Do We Go Now? (2012) $7.5M $532K US & Canada · 7% $7M elsewhere · 93%
- 8 Lemon Tree (2009) $7.4M $569.7K US & Canada · 8% $6.8M elsewhere · 92%
- 9 Wadjda (2013) $6.5M $1.3M US & Canada · 21% $5.2M elsewhere · 79%
- 10 The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025) $5.8M $955.7K US & Canada · 17% $4.8M elsewhere · 83%
Gross bands
How Many Arabic Movies Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 368 films reached $100M. 362 films, 98% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $368.8M total.
42% 58%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $10M to $100M 6 films, 2% of the list $156M · 42% of the gross
- Under $10M 362 films, 98% of the list $212.8M · 58% of the gross
By decade
Which Decade's Arabic Movies Earned the Most?
Films released in the 2010s lead with $160.9M from 141 titles, led by Capernaum (2018). Each column links to the decade's biggest year.
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing Arabic Movies?
2018 releases earned the most: $70.6M from 21 films, led by Capernaum (2018). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 21 films | 21 | $70.6M | Capernaum (2018) $64.4M |
| 2009 18 films | 18 | $39.6M | Buried Secrets (2009) $25.5M |
| 2008 10 films | 10 | $34.7M | The Band's Visit (2008) $14.6M |
| 2024 19 films | 19 | $27.1M | Lyd (2024) $20.6M |
| 2010 6 films | 6 | $19.3M | Safari (2010) $16.6M |
| 2012 12 films | 12 | $16.4M | Where Do We Go Now? (2012) $7.5M |
| 2023 25 films | 25 | $15.2M | Cairo Conspiracy (2023) $4.9M |
| 2019 24 films | 24 | $14.4M | The Passage (2019) $2.6M |
| 2025 13 films | 13 | $14.3M | The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025) $5.8M |
| 2013 11 films | 11 | $13.8M | Wadjda (2013) $6.5M |
By genre
Which Arabic Genres Earned the Most?
Drama took $256.8M across 217 films, 70% of the total, ahead of Comedy ($114.6M) and Romance ($47.7M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
All-Time Arabic Box Office by Genre
-
Drama $256.8M217 films · #1 Capernaum (2018) -
Comedy $114.6M132 films · #1 The Band's Visit (2008) -
Romance $47.7M46 films · #1 Caramel (2008) -
Mystery $29.5M11 films · #1 Buried Secrets (2009) -
Thriller $29.2M41 films · #1 Cairo Conspiracy (2023) -
Documentary $29.1M44 films · #1 Lyd (2024) -
Action $25.2M32 films · #1 The Ambush (2021) -
Sci-Fi $22M4 films · #1 Lyd (2024) -
Crime $18.5M30 films · #1 The Nile Hilton Incident (2017) -
Music $18.1M14 films · #1 The Band's Visit (2008)
Archive
Arabic Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1965 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $70.6M, led by Capernaum (2018).
2020s 7 years · $84.4M
2010s 10 years · $160.9M
- 2019 $14.4M #1 The Passage (2019)
- 2018 $70.6M #1 Capernaum (2018)
- 2017 $6.6M #1 The Nile Hilton Incident (2017)
- 2016 $4.4M #1 Under Table (2016)
- 2015 $3.9M #1 Much Loved (2015)
- 2014 $7.3M #1 Vitamin (2014)
- 2013 $13.8M #1 Wadjda (2013)
- 2012 $16.4M #1 Where Do We Go Now? (2012)
- 2011 $4.1M #1 When Pigs Have Wings (2011)
- 2010 $19.3M #1 Safari (2010)
2000s 10 years · $120.9M
- 2009 $39.6M #1 Buried Secrets (2009)
- 2008 $34.7M #1 The Band's Visit (2008)
- 2007 $4.1M #1 Omar & Salma (2007)
- 2006 $11.9M #1 The Yacoubian Building (2006)
- 2005 $11.8M #1 Paradise Now (2005)
- 2004 $8.5M #1 Okal (2004)
- 2003 $5.3M #1 Divine Intervention (2003)
- 2002 $3.5M #1 Mafia (2002)
- 2001 $62.9K #1 Fatma (2001)
- 2000 $1.4M #1 Backstage (2000)
1980s 1 year · $1.3K
1970s 1 year · $309
1960s 2 years · $994.7K
FAQ
Arabic Box Office All Time: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 368 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Arabic-language movie of all time?
Capernaum (2018) leads with $64.4M worldwide, $1.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Buried Secrets (2009) at $25.5M and Lyd (2024) at $20.6M.
How much have Arabic-language movies earned at the box office?
368 Arabic-language films in our database report a worldwide gross, $368.8M in all, or $1M per film on average.
How many Arabic-language movies have made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, Capernaum (2018), earned $64.4M.
How is the all-time Arabic box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact, and so are films whose stored language is most likely wrong.
How often is the all-time Arabic box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.