#1 of 10 #1 Arabic-language movie of 2008
2008 · Drama, Comedy
$14.6M worldwide · 42% of the chart's total
$3.1M US & Canada · 21% $11.5M elsewhere · 79%
Arabic box office · 2008
Arabic Box Office 2008: Highest-Grossing Arabic Movies
The Band's Visit (2008) is the highest-grossing Arabic-language movie released in 2008, with $14.6M worldwide, ahead of Caramel (2008) at $14.2M and Captain Hima (2008) at $1.8M. 10 Arabic-language films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $34.7M in all, 12% of it from the US & Canada. That is 8.5 times the total of 2007, whose releases took $4.1M. By genre, Comedy leads with $33.2M across 5 Arabic releases.
- 2008 releases with a gross
- 10
- combined worldwide
- $34.7M
- The Band's Visit (2008), the #1
- $14.6M
- vs 2007
- ×8.5
#1 of 10 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Arabic Hits of 2008?
The Band's Visit (2008) leads with $14.6M, 42% of the total. The top 5 together took $33.2M, 96% of what all 10 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Arabic Release of 2008, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2008.
- 1 Feb 8, 2008 US and Canada: $3.1M Rest of the world: $11.5M Worldwide: $14.6M
- 2 Feb 1, 2008 US and Canada: $1.1M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $14.2M
- 3 Jun 25, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M
- 4 Aug 1, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M
- 5 Dec 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1M
- 6
May 16, 2008 US and Canada: $11.7K Rest of the world: $724.8K Worldwide: $736.5K - 7
Jun 8, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $348.7K - 8
May 7, 2008 US and Canada: $10.3K Rest of the world: $235.2K Worldwide: $245.5K - 9
May 21, 2008 US and Canada: $105.7K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $105.7K - 10
Apr 4, 2008 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $88K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2008?
Of the top 10, A Jihad for Love (2008) earned the biggest share at home (100% in the US & Canada), while Salt of This Sea (2008) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 10 films, $4.2M (12%) came from the US & Canada. 5 films of the top 10 report no US & Canada figure.
- 1 The Band's Visit (2008) $14.6M $3.1M US & Canada · 21% $11.5M elsewhere · 79%
- 2 Caramel (2008) $14.2M $1.1M US & Canada · 7% $13.2M elsewhere · 93%
- 3 Captain Hima (2008) $1.8M No US & Canada figure reported
- 4 Boshkash (2008) $1.6M No US & Canada figure reported
- 5 Ramadan Mabrouk Abou El Allamen Hamouda (2008) $1M No US & Canada figure reported
- 6 Salt of This Sea (2008) $736.5K $11.7K US & Canada · 2% $724.8K elsewhere · 98%
- 7 Chief Omar Harb (2008) $348.7K No US & Canada figure reported
- 8 Battle for Haditha (2008) $245.5K $10.3K US & Canada · 4% $235.2K elsewhere · 96%
- 9 A Jihad for Love (2008) $105.7K $105.7K US & Canada · 100% elsewhere · 0%
- 10 Go with Peace Jamil (2008) $88K No US & Canada figure reported
Gross bands
How Many 2008 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
None of the 10 films reached $100M. 8 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M. Each band shows its films and its share of the $34.7M total.
83% 17%
- $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 2 films, 20% of the list $28.8M · 83% of the gross
- Under $10M 8 films, 80% of the list $5.9M · 17% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2008 Earned the Most?
February releases took the most, $28.8M from 2 films, led by The Band's Visit (2008). April was the quietest month ($88K). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- February Feb The Band's Visit (2008) $28.8M The Band's Visit (2008)
- March Mar No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- April Apr Go with Peace Jamil (2008) $88K Go with Peace Jamil (2008)
- May May Salt of This Sea (2008) $1.1M Salt of This Sea (2008)
- June Jun Captain Hima (2008) $2.1M Captain Hima (2008)
- July Jul No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- August Aug Boshkash (2008) $1.6M Boshkash (2008)
- September Sep No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- October Oct No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- November Nov No reported grosses – No reported grosses
- December Dec Ramadan Mabrouk Abou El Allamen Hamouda (2008) $1M Ramadan Mabrouk Abou El Allamen Hamouda (2008)
Last 10 years
How Does 2008 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2008 earned the most: $34.7M from 10 films, led by The Band's Visit (2008).
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 No films | 0 | – | – | – |
| 2000 1 film | 1 | $1.4M | – | Backstage (2000) $1.4M |
| 2001 1 film · −95% | 1 | $62.9K | −95% | Fatma (2001) $62.9K |
| 2002 3 films · +5439% | 3 | $3.5M | +5439% | Mafia (2002) $2.7M |
| 2003 11 films · +53% | 11 | $5.3M | +53% | Divine Intervention (2003) $1.7M |
| 2004 10 films · +60% | 10 | $8.5M | +60% | Okal (2004) $2.8M |
| 2005 14 films · +39% | 14 | $11.8M | +39% | Paradise Now (2005) $3.6M |
| 2006 20 films · +1% | 20 | $11.9M | +1% | The Yacoubian Building (2006) $2.4M |
| 2007 12 films · −66% | 12 | $4.1M | −66% | Omar & Salma (2007) $2.5M |
| 2008 10 films · +749% | 10 | $34.7M | +749% | The Band's Visit (2008) $14.6M |
By genre
Which Arabic Genres Earned the Most in 2008?
Comedy took $33.2M across 5 films, 96% of the total, ahead of Drama ($30.3M) and Romance ($15M). A film counts once for each of its genres.
2008 Arabic Box Office by Genre
-
Comedy $33.2M5 films · #1 The Band's Visit (2008) -
Drama $30.3M6 films · #1 The Band's Visit (2008) -
Romance $15M2 films · #1 Caramel (2008) -
Music $14.6M1 film · #1 The Band's Visit (2008) -
Thriller $348.7K1 film · #1 Chief Omar Harb (2008) -
History $245.5K1 film · #1 Battle for Haditha (2008) -
War $245.5K1 film · #1 Battle for Haditha (2008) -
Documentary $105.7K1 film · #1 A Jihad for Love (2008) -
Action $88K1 film · #1 Go with Peace Jamil (2008) -
Crime $88K1 film · #1 Go with Peace Jamil (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 2008: 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 10 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing Arabic-language movie in 2008?
The Band's Visit (2008) leads with $14.6M worldwide, $3.1M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Caramel (2008) at $14.2M and Captain Hima (2008) at $1.8M.
How much did Arabic-language movies released in 2008 earn?
10 Arabic-language films released in 2008 report a worldwide gross, $34.7M in all, or $3.5M per film on average. 2007 releases took $4.1M.
How many Arabic-language movies released in 2008 made $1 billion?
None. The biggest, The Band's Visit (2008), earned $14.6M.
How is the 2008 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, and grouped by their release date in 2008. 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 2008 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.