Cairo Conspiracy (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Cairo Conspiracy is a 2023 drama thriller directed by Tarik Saleh, starring Tawfeek Barhom as Adam, Hassan El Sayed and Ahmed Laissaoui. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes and earned $4.9 million worldwide on a $6.5 million budget. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 6m (126 min)
- Director
- Tarik Saleh
- Original language
-
Arabic
- Studio
- Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Budget
- $6.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Cairo Conspiracy About?
The premise of Cairo Conspiracy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Following the sudden death of the Grand Imam, a young fisherman's son named Adam finds himself entangled in a dangerous power struggle among Egypt’s religious and political leaders. Set in Cairo, he’s drawn into a web of deception and corruption as various factions vie for influence. Adam must navigate this treacherous landscape and confront the dark forces threatening to destabilize his community and the nation.
Cairo Conspiracy Themes & Keywords
· 46 tags- summer holidays
- influence
- battle
- university
- politics
- boat
- rowboat
- fisherman
- father son relationship
- beach
- mosque
- muslim
+34 more Show fewer
- imam
- university entrance
- university student
- praying
- cairo egypt
- dancing
- cigarette smoking
- murder
- blind man
- baby
- secretly married
- married in secret
- conspiracy
- informant
- state security service
- egyptian police
- egyptian government
- egyptian man
- police informant
- informant killed
- al azhar university
- islam
- prayer
- sunni islam
- politics and religion
- egyptian politics
- president of egypt
- egyptian president
- reference to gamal abdul nasser
- reference to anwar sadat
- reference to the muslim brotherhood
- reference to sayyid qutb
- reference to karl marx
- power
Cairo Conspiracy Cast & Characters
Tawfeek Barhom leads the cast as Adam, with Hassan El Sayed as Village Imam and Ahmed Laissaoui as Raed. Directed by Tarik Saleh; 14 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Tarik Saleh
-
Tawfeek Barhom as Adam - Hassan El Sayed as Village Imam
- Ahmed Laissaoui as Raed
- Ramzi Choukair as Sheikh Al Durani
Also Starring in Cairo Conspiracy
· 10 more- Zain Alabdin A. Fallatah Sheikh Qader
- Makram Khoury Blind Sheikh Negm
- Mehdi Dehbi Zizo
- Fares Fares Colonel Ibrahim
- Sherwan Haji Soliman
- Mouloud Ayad Nazim
- Mohammed Bakri
- Yunus Albayrak
- Ayman Fathy
- Jawad Altawil
More from Tarik Saleh
More films directed by Tarik Saleh, best-rated first: The Nile Hilton Incident, Eagles of the Republic, Eagles of the Republic and The Contractor.
Cairo Conspiracy Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Cairo Conspiracy 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (82) and weakest in story & flow (70).
Cairo Conspiracy Echo Score Breakdown
Cairo Conspiracy delivers a tightly woven political thriller that largely succeeds through its ambitious premise and strong performances. Critics and viewers alike commend its intricate narrative twists and textured depiction of power struggles within Egypt's religious institutions. While some note a sluggish middle act and occasional cultural inauthenticity, the film’s visual style and thematic depth sustain interest. Overall, the work stands as a commendable entry in contemporary international cinema, offering both intellectual engagement and atmospheric tension.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 82
In terms of direction and visual composition, the film is praised for its bold cinematography and meticulous production design. Reviewers highlight the director's skillful use of shadow and setting to enhance the thriller atmosphere. Minor critiques point to occasional pacing lulls and a lack of immersive authenticity for some viewers. The overall artistic execution remains strong and purposeful.
- Character & Emotion 75
When evaluating acting and character depth, critics note a capable cast delivering nuanced performances, especially in portraying psychological tension. Positive remarks emphasize the chemistry between protagonists and the credibility of supporting roles. Conversely, a subset of viewers describe certain characters as emotionally distant or stereotyped. The balance of strong lead work against some flat portrayals yields a moderately high character rating.
- Story & Flow 70
The narrative structure presents a complex, intrigue‑driven plot that many find engaging and original. Praise centers on the layered conspiracies and thematic relevance. However, several comments mention a sluggish middle segment and surface‑level handling of deeper themes, contributing to uneven pacing. The story thus achieves a respectable but not flawless coherence and momentum.
- Sensory Experience 78
Sensory elements such as soundtrack, sound design, and visual style receive commendation for their atmospheric contribution. Reviewers cite an evocative score and striking color palette that reinforce tension. Some criticism arises from perceived cultural inauthenticity, suggesting the setting feels distant to certain audiences. Overall, the sensory experience supports the film’s tone effectively.
- Rewatch Factor 74
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 85% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 81%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
49 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 5.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Cairo Conspiracy Plot Summary
What happens in Cairo Conspiracy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The Al-Azhar, established by the Fatimids in 972 AD, is renowned as a hub of Islamic learning. The Grand Imam serves as the paramount authority in Sunni Islam, and throughout history, Egyptian rulers have endeavored, albeit unsuccessfully, to exert control over this revered institution.
In this gripping tale, Adam (Tawfeek Barhom), the son of a fisherman from a quaint village near El Manzala, is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue his studies at the esteemed Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Living with his strict father, who values discipline, Adam’s father ultimately sees this opportunity as God’s will and permits him to attend.
Full summary
The whole story of Cairo Conspiracy, scene by scene
Cairo Conspiracy Box Office & Budget
Cairo Conspiracy grossed $4.9 million worldwide on a $6.5 million budget, 75% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$4.9M
75% of its budget back
- International
- $4.9M
- Budget
- $6.5M
Cairo Conspiracy Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 3 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
- Teaser Official UK Trailer #2
- Featurette Cairo Conspiracy | Dir. Tarik Saleh Interview
How Well Do You Know Cairo Conspiracy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What institution does Adam have the opportunity to study at?
Cairo Conspiracy Also Known As
33 alternative titles, including “Walad Min Al Janna” and “Заговор в Каире”.
- Also known as
-
- Walad Min Al Janna
- Заговор в Каире
- La conspiration du Caire
- ولد من الجنة
- صبي من الجنة Cairo Conspiracy
- Boy from Heaven
- 天堂来的男孩
- Die Kairo-Verschwörung
- Chłopiec z niebios
- Garoto dos Céus
- A Conspiração do Cairo
- Die Kairo Verschwörung
+21 more Show fewer
- Момчето от Рая
- Chlapec z nebe
- Η συνωμοσία του Καΐρου
- Fiú a mennyből
- स्वर्ग से लड़का
- La cospirazione del Cairo
- 天国から来た少年
- Chico del Cielo
- 보이 프롬 헤븐
- Zavera u Kairu
- Conspiración en el Cairo
- Pojken fra himlen
- Cennetten Gelen Çocuk
- 開羅謀殺案
- Salaliitto Kairossa
- Zarota v Kairu
- Chlapec z neba
- הילד מגן עדן
- Kairo sąmokslas
- จารชนแผนบงการไคโร
- Хлопчик з небес
Seen Cairo Conspiracy?
Movies Like Cairo Conspiracy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Cairo Time, Cairo 30 and The Nile Hilton Incident.
Cairo Conspiracy FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Cairo Conspiracy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Cairo Conspiracy?
Cairo Conspiracy runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).
When was Cairo Conspiracy released?
Cairo Conspiracy was released on January 27, 2023.
Who directed Cairo Conspiracy?
Cairo Conspiracy was directed by Tarik Saleh.
More films by Tarik Saleh Who is in the cast of Cairo Conspiracy?
Cairo Conspiracy stars Tawfeek Barhom as Adam, Hassan El Sayed as Village Imam and Ahmed Laissaoui as Raed, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Cairo Conspiracy make at the box office?
Cairo Conspiracy grossed $4.9 million worldwide on a budget of $6.5 million.
How is Cairo Conspiracy rated?
Cairo Conspiracy has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Cairo Conspiracy have a post-credit scene?
No. Cairo Conspiracy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Cairo Conspiracy in?
The original language of Cairo Conspiracy is Arabic.
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