The blockbuster Egyptian film Kira & El Gin, the latest from acclaimed director Marwan Hamed, has officially becoming the highest grossing film in the history of Egyptian cinema.
The film, which has garnered huge approval from critics and audiences alike, has achieved the feat in just six weeks, after premiering on June 30th in Egypt before opening across the region.
With Kira & El Gin the new number one, here’s a countdown of the other top 10 films in Egyptian box office history.
1. Kira & El Gin
Based on Ahmed Mourad’s novel “1919”, the epic war drama chronicles Egypt’s resistance against British rule in the early days of the 20th century. It depicts the role of the Egyptian uprising through the lives of diverse characters that include famous and obscure historical figures as well as fictional characters. The film just became the highest grossing film in Egyptian history with a box office revenue of EGP 104,174,182. It features an all-star cast consisting of Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz, Sayed Ragab, Hend Sabry, Asma Abul Yazeid, Ahmed Malek, Huda El Mufti, Aly Kassem and others.
Karim Abdel Aziz plays doctor Ahmed Abdel Hay who goes by the nickname Ahmed Kira. A real person who was present during the British occupation.
2. Blue Elephant 2
Directed by Marwan Hamed, the mystery thriller film also stars Karim Abdel Aziz who portrays Dr. Yehia Rashed who receives the shock of his life when a new inmate in the psychiatric hospital prophesies that the death of the doctors family is only three days away.
The film grossed EGP 103,633,291 at the box office in 2019.
3. Sons of Rizk 2 (Welad Rizk 2)
Set three years after the events of the first film, the sequel stars Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Ahmad El-Fishawi and Karim Kassem as the Rizk brothers, Reda, Rabih, Rajab, and Ramadan who continue to keep their oath to stay away from the life of crime they led back in the prequel. One day, an unexpected event occurs which puts them in the cross-hairs of professional criminals.
The film grossed EGP 99,145,910 at the box office in 2019.
4. Kasablanka
Written by Hesham Helal, this action movie focuses on three pirates from Alexandria and one of them, Omar El-Mor, portrayed by Amir Karara gets arrested but refuses to tell the police about his partners. He later finds out he has been betrayed and must rescue his brother who has been kidnapped.
Shot across multiple cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Safaga and Alexandria, the film went on to gross EGP 79,156,808.
5. The Passage
Focusing on the Egyptian Special Forces during the War of Attrition, the film discusses the events of the Six-Day War in June 1967 until the victory on October 6th 1973. Ahmed Ezz plays Major Nour who is the leading war commander.
The film would go on to gross EGP 74,495,223 in 2019.
6. The Suit
Struggling with their careers, two friends played by Tamer and Akram Hosny decide to dress up as police officers for a costume party only to be mistaken by both civilians and police officers as the real deal. The dynamic duo soon realize that this is comes with a lot of perks such as attracting women and embark on wild adventures until they come across real mobsters and dirty cops.
The film grossed EGP 67,085,009.
7. The Secret Men’s Club
Starring Karim Abdel Aziz, Ghadah Adel and Nisreen Tafish, the film sees a dentist encourage Adham and a group of freinds to join a secret men’s club but his wife starts following him to find out what he’s keeping from her.
The film grossed EGP 59,719,314.
8. No Surrender (Karmouz War)
Directed and co-written by Peter Mimi, this action flick sees General Yousef Al-Masri, an Egyptian police officer played by Amir Karara living in the Karamouz neighborhood of Alexandria in 1952. Three young Egyptians save a woman being attacked by British soldiers but one of them gets thrown in the prison that Al-Masri is in charge of and must defend when the military launches an all out assault.
The film grossed EGP 57,634,545.
9. The Cell
Directed by Tareq El Eryan and starring Ahmed Ezz, Samer Al-Masri and Mohamed Mamdouh, the film sees a special operations officer hunting down terrorist cells in order to take down a major terrorist operation. It showcases the challenges and pressures that security forces need to overcome in their line of work.
The film grossed EGP 56,004,004 when it hit theatres in 2017.
10. Forced Escape (Horob Edterary)
When businessman Yahya Zakaria is killed, Adham (Ahmed El Sakka), Mostafa (Amir Karara), Youssef (Mostafa Khater) and Nada (Ghada Adel) are falsely accused for his murder. The four friends set out to clear their name as the situation begins to escalate.
The film would go on to gross EGP 55,551,644 upon its release.