With Ramadan set to begin in just two weeks, the UAE is gearing up for another wonderful Holy Month. Cinemas will of course remain operational, but as many hunker down to spend the evenings with their families at home watching the biggest Ramadan series, some of the highest-profile movies releasing internationally this month will be delayed in the UAE and across the Middle East.
Which ones? There are some big names, which we will now rundown for you.
All the movie releases delayed for Ramadan 2023 in the Middle East
Scream VI
The highly anticipated horror film, Scream 6, will be delayed in the UAE but still releasing in the month of Ramadan. Originally scheduled to hit theaters on March 9th, 2023, the release date has now been pushed back to March 30th, 2023. Fans of the franchise in the UAE will have to wait a little longer to see what new twists and turns the latest installment will bring to the iconic horror series.
“Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter. In Scream VI, Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Hayden Panettiere (“Kirby Reed”) and Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving,” reads the official description from Vox Cinemas.
International release date: March 9, 2023
UAE release date: March 30, 2023
John Wick 4
John Wick 4, the highly anticipated action-thriller film starring Keanu Reeves, has faced yet another delay in its release date, this time in the United Arab Emirates as the film gears up for a big Eid release after Ramadan. Originally set to hit theaters in May 2021, the film’s release date has been pushed back multiple times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, fans in the UAE will have to wait until April 20, 2023 to catch the latest installment in the John Wick franchise. This Eid, eager to see what new twists and turns the film will bring, as John Wick continues his adrenaline-fueled quest for vengeance.
International release date: March 24, 2023
UAE release date: April 20, 2023
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Originally set to hit theaters on April 5, 2023, the film’s release date has been pushed back to April 20, 2023, in order to release during the Eid holiday after Ramadan. While this is a longer wait than hoped, the move to coincide with the Eid holiday will attract a wider audience and give the film a better chance at box office success–and more Mario movies in the future! Fans will have to wait a bit longer to see their favorite Nintendo characters brought to life on the big screen.
International release date: April 5, 2023
UAE release date, April 20, 2023
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an upcoming fantasy adventure film directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Based on the popular tabletop role-playing game of the same name, the film follows a group of adventurers as they embark on a dangerous quest to recover a powerful artifact. The movie boasts an impressive cast, including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Justice Smith, among others. Fans of the game are excited to see how the beloved characters and world of Dungeons and Dragons will be brought to life on the big screen.
However, the release date of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves has faced a delay. Originally slated for a March 30, 2023 release date, the movie’s release has been pushed back to April 20, 2023, after Ramadan. This delay has disappointed fans who were eagerly anticipating the film’s release. Despite the delay, fans remain excited to see the movie and are eagerly anticipating its eventual release.
And while we’re here, read our March cover story on Chris Pine, chock full of an inside scoop on the film.
International release date: March 31, 2023
UAE release date: April 20, 2023