The percentage of nationals who watch films from country of residence has been decreasing since 2014, with only half of nationals watching films from their country of residence in 2021-2022. Despite the spike in watching films from the Arab world outside country of residence in 2016 (which can be due to the fact that the question asked ‘Arab world in general’ instead of ‘Arab world outside country of residence), 45-46% of nationals have watched films from this specific locale. Watching films from the United States has been on a decreasing trajectory between 2014 and 2018. In the latest iteration of this study, watching films originated in the US spiked with 16 percentage points in 2021-2022. Watching films from Europe has increased in 2021-2022 with 10 percentage points. In 2021-2022 most nationals have been watching films from the following locales in order: United States (53%), country of residence (50%), Arab world outside of country of residence (46%), and Europe (33%).
Figure 22: Nationals who watch films from the following locales
Egyptians watch almost exclusively from their country of residence. Qataris are the least to watch content from country of residence and the most to watch films from the Arab world outside of the country of residence. The rise in watching films from the US is driven by Khaleeji nationals watching American films the most in the region. Interestingly, Saudis watch films at relatively equal rates from Arab world outside country of residence and the United States.
Figure 23: Nationals who list the following film genres among their three favorite genres
