Black Panther's making the news again, bringing in a new age for Saudia Arabia by breaking the country's 35-year ban on cinema.
According to BBC News, Black Panther will be the first film made open to the public in Saudia Arabia, officially ending the movie ban that's lasted for thirty-five years in the country. Back in 1982, the Saudia Arabian government decided to put a ban on cinemas because of the request of hardline Islamic clerics who believed that movie houses and films would corrupt the morals of its people.
However, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman decided to put an end to the ban in December last year, allowing a double-bill screening of The Emoji Movie and Captain Underpants: The First Movie in a make-shift theater for a few key figures.
Not only is Black Panther going to be the first film open to the public when it starts screening at a brand-new AMC theater located in Riyadh, it's going to be the first film after the ban in the country where showings are segregated by gender. Public events are usually gender-segregated, but Mohammed bin Salman has also allowed mixed-gender cinema screenings to modernize the country.
Here's the synopsis for Black Panther:
"After the death of his father, T'Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T'Challa's mettle as king -- and as Black Panther -- gets tested when he's drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people."
It certainly is a good time for film in Saudi Arabia. Black Panther is currently screening in cinemas.
Read: Black Panther Beats Frozen To Become Tenth Highest Grossing Film Of All Time
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Fandoms