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Desert Warrior Flops $16M, Streaming Needed

4/29/2026

Summary

Desert Warrior Flops

Desert Warrior opened on April 24, 2026 in the United States and Saudi Arabia, earning $472,000 on 1,000 screens.
Director Rupert Wyatt returned to finish editing after a brief exit over creative differences.
Box office reports list a $2 million opening-day gross, an $8.15 million U.S. total and $16.20 million worldwide earnings.
Producers say only a streaming release can rescue the film that holds a 1.9/10 IMDb rating and a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Summary

Desert Warrior Budget

Desert Warrior was produced on a $150 million budget, the highest ever for a fully Saudi film.
$150 million spend marks a major step for Saudi Arabia’s film industry after cinemas reopened.
The plot draws on the seventh-century Battle of Dhi Qar, where Arab tribes resisted the Sasanian Empire.
It had limited theatrical screenings in India on its release day, with an unannounced OTT release expected months later.

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Desert Warrior Flops

Desert Warrior opened on April 24, 2026 in the United States and Saudi Arabia, earning $472,000 on 1,000 screens.
Director Rupert Wyatt returned to finish editing after a brief exit over creative differences.
Box office reports list a $2 million opening-day gross, an $8.15 million U.S. total and $16.20 million worldwide earnings.
Producers say only a streaming release can rescue the film that holds a 1.9/10 IMDb rating and a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score.

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