Throughout the history of Egyptian and Arab cinema, numerous films have been produced and screened, ranging from comedy and thriller to dramas and biopics. Audiences have always been eager to see new films and follow their plots.
stars and directors have been keen to present diverse dramatic forms to the public in order to achieve success and build a substantial cinematic legacy. Many films have achieved great commercial success throughout cinematic history, while others, though less fortunate, have remained in the memories and hearts of audiences.
Movies that achieved great commercial success
The year 2026 witnessed fierce competition for box office revenue with the release of a large number of films. During this period, the film “Barshama” topped the Egyptian box office due to its popularity with audiences. This report reviews the top 10 highest-grossing films in cinemas in recent years.
Sons of Rizk 3
The film topped the box office with revenues of 260 million Egyptian pounds. It is the third installment in the “Welad Rizk” film series by director Tarek Al-Arian. Released in 2024, it features a large cast of stars, including Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Asser Yassin, Karim Kassem, Ali Sobhi, Sayed Ragab, Asmaa Galal, Nesreen Amin, and Mohamed Mamdouh.
Pill
The film became the second highest-grossing film in Egyptian cinema history, with earnings exceeding 188 million Egyptian pounds. Its release date is still uncertain, as it continues to be screened. Directed by Mohamed Diab, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sherine Diab, the film stars Hesham Maged , Reham Abdel Ghafour, Bassem Samra, Hatem Salah, Mostafa Gharib, and Kamal Abu Raya.
The comedy revolves around the high school final exams, specifically the Arabic language exam, which takes place in a private school. The exam hall transforms from a place of learning and testing into a battleground of widespread cheating, where conflicting interests and social classes intersect.
Siko Siko
The film ranked third with revenues reaching 186.7 million Egyptian pounds and was released in 2025. Its plot revolves around the characters “Salim” and his cousin “Yahya,” who inherit their deceased uncle’s fortune, only to discover that the inheritance consists of a shipment of contraband. They attempt to sell it by creating an online game, but their lives are turned upside down when a dangerous gang leader appears, claiming to be the true owner of the drugs.
Ruby House
The film was released in 2023 and grossed 129.8 million Egyptian pounds, making it the fourth highest-grossing film in Egyptian cinema history. It starred Karim Abdel Aziz, Karim Mahmoud Abdel Aziz , Nour, Tara Emad, and Mohamed Abdel Rahman. The film was directed by Peter Mimi and written by Mohamed El-Dabbah and Reem El-Qammash.
The film revolves around engineer Ibrahim El Rouby, whose wife faces a major crisis, leading him to flee the city and seek refuge in a secluded location. He lives there for years, but returns due to unforeseen circumstances. He then encounters numerous difficult situations that alter the course of his life, and the specter of his old crisis returns to haunt him once more.
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The film starred a large group of young actors, most notably Nour El Nabawy , Ahmed Ghazi, Kozbara, and Nour Ehab. It achieved fifth place on the list of highest-grossing films in Egyptian cinema history and was released in 2024. It was directed by Raouf El Sayed and written by Iyad Saleh.
Kira and the Jinn
It is considered one of the most prominent historical films released in recent years, ranking sixth among the highest-grossing films. Released in 2022, the film stars Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz , alongside Hend Sabry, Sayed Ragab, Ahmed Malek, Razan Gamal, Huda El Mufti, and Ali Qassem. The screenplay was written by Ahmed Mourad and directed by Marwan Hamed.
The film depicts the social conditions in the Egyptian street during the 1919 revolution, a pivotal event that united the fates of Ahmed “Abdel Hay Kira” and “Abdel Qader El Gen” as they joined forces to fight against the British occupation.
The Blue Elephant 2
In 2019, the sequel to “The Blue Elephant,” written by Ahmed Mourad and directed by Marwan Hamed, was released. The first film had previously ranked seventh on the list of highest-grossing films in Egyptian cinema history. The film’s events take place five years after the first; Dr. Yehia marries Lobna and is called to the dangerous cases ward, “8 West Harem.” There, he encounters a woman who manipulates his life and the lives of his family. Yehia then resorts to the Blue Elephant pills in an attempt to control the situation and solve the mysteries he faces.
The film starred a large number of artists, most notably: Karim Abdel Aziz , Hend Sabry, Nelly Karim, Eyad Nassar, Tara Emad, Sherine Reda, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Maha Abou Ouf.
Project X
The film ranked eighth on the list of highest-grossing films in Egyptian cinema history, with revenues exceeding 137 million Egyptian pounds. It was released in 2025. The story and direction were by Peter Mimi, with a screenplay and dialogue by Ahmed Hosny. The film starred Karim Abdel Aziz, Eyad Nassar, Yasmine Sabri, Ahmed Ghazi, Essam El Sakka, and Hana El Zahed.
The film revolves around an archaeologist working on an energy-related project in a secret chamber in the Great Pyramid. He subsequently enters into conflict with a mysterious international organization that is trying to hide the information he is searching for. His path intersects with several people whom he enlists during his journey, which spans more than one country, while on the other hand, he tries to fix his troubled life and his relationship with his daughter.
The crime
The film ranked ninth on the list with revenues exceeding 80 million Egyptian pounds. It was written and directed by Sherif Arafa and released in 2022. The cast included Ahmed Ezz, Maged El Kedwany, Menna Shalaby , Sayed Ragab, Riad El Khouly, and Mohamed Gomaa.
The film revolves around the character of “Adel,” a mentally ill man who relives his memories, revealing many criminal secrets from his mysterious past. During these recollections, the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of his wife, “Nadia,” and the continued haunting of her ghost become clear.
Another one
The film “Wahed Tani” (Another One), starring Ahmed Helmy, Ahmed Malek, Sayed Ragab, Ruby, Amr Abdel Galil, and Nesreen Amin, came in last place and tenth on the list of highest-grossing films in the history of Arab cinema, with revenues approaching 63 million Egyptian pounds.
The film was directed by Mohamed Shaker Khodair and written by Haitham Dabour. It revolves around a social worker in the prison service who, after an interview with old colleagues, discovers his failure and loss of passion for life. He decides to resort to an invention that will restore his passion, but things take an unexpected turn.
