It’s the Barbenheimer of the Arab box office: the two biggest summer blockbusters are locked in a frenzied battle for the soul of regional cinema.
In one corner is Asad, the highly anticipated new feature from Moon Knight director Mohammed Diab, starring Mohammed Ramadan, the reigning king of Arab television.
In the other is 7 Dogs, the big-budget, Saudi-financed action comedy directed by Bad Boys duo Adil El el-Arbi and Bilall Fallah and headlined by Egypt’s two biggest box-office stars, Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz, alongside Monica Bellucci, Salman Khan and Martin Lawrence.
The two films could scarcely be more different. Asad is a historical epic centred on the little-explored history of Black slavery in Egypt.
At its heart, 7 Dogs is a contemporary action thriller that flaunts its lavish production values in every frame.
