While 2026 might seem promising for many movie releases, it’s also a bummer in many cases. This is especially true for this Saudi Arabia-backed movie Desert Warrior, which has a budget of $150 million, and here’s why it’s turning out to be such a disappointment.
Saudi Arabia funded film proves to be a major letdown
As reported by DiscussingFilm on X, Desert Warrior, directed by Rupert Wyatt, has only garnered $488k. Its reception hasn’t been good so far, and most fans have also critiqued it for its box office performance.
This is fair considering the reviews and its RottenTomatoes score, where the movie scored 29% on the average tomatometer and 62% on the Popcorn meter.
On IMDb, it has a rating of 2.0/10, which isn’t shocking to say the least, considering it was released last year. It was first showcased at the Zurich Film Festival, and then it was released on 24th April 2026.
The movie stars Anthony Mackie, Ben Kingsley, and Numan Acar in central roles. Mackie plays the role of a bandit who helps Princess Hind, played by Aiysha Hart. Hind is fleeing her marriage to the Emperor Kisra, played by Kingsley, and for that, she would defy all odds, even if it means partnering with a notorious bandit.
Desert Warrior is set in the seventh century Arabia and also expands on the Battle of Ze Qar. The movie was also considered among the top worst openings at the box office, and what’s disappointing is that Wyatt envisioned the movie to be a Saudi Arabian blockbuster.
In an interview with Deadline, Wyatt shared his vision for the movie, saying: “Desert Warrior is that rare beast of a film that combines a very human story with epic scope and ambition. Shot in the most extraordinary desert landscapes, with a cast and crew of thousands who all reached for the stars, I am privileged to have played my part in perhaps one of the last in-camera on-location action epics. So it’s fitting and fortunate to have Vertical bring our film to cinema audiences and the big screen. Long live cinema!”
While most critics deemed it lackadaisical in terms of plot, others noted how it is easily forgettable!
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