Iran’s Cinema Sales Top $73K After Reopening Amid Israeli Strikes
WANA (Jun 26) – Since cinemas reopened on June 21 following Israeli attacks on Iran, films currently screening have sold over 73000$ in tickets, according to Iran’s official box office system, Samfa.
Cinemas had been shut down at the onset of the war and resumed operations amid some debate, as the timeline for the conflict’s end remained uncertain. Given the proximity of the Islamic month of Muharram—a period of mourning—it was initially suggested that screenings should wait until after the first ten days of Muharram.
Despite this, state-run cinemas began screening films in limited showings, followed by private cinemas. Discounted tickets were also introduced to encourage attendance.
Now, with a ceasefire in place, there is optimism that the screening situation will continue to improve. Raed Faridzadeh, head of the Iranian Cinema Organization, stated without providing an exact timeframe that cinema attendance has quadrupled compared to previous days.
From June 21 to June 24, cinemas recorded 104,000 viewers and about 76000$ in total sales.
1. “Saddam” drew 36,000 viewers and earned about 26000$.
2. “Pir Pesar” attracted 23,000 viewers, generating about 18536$.
3. “Salam Alaikum Haj Agha” ranked third, selling 15,000 tickets for about 10634$.
During a visit to Bagh-e Ketab Cineplex on June 23, Faridzadeh praised the efforts of Tehran’s municipal cinemas, the art organization, and private cinema halls for continuing operations during the attacks. He described public turnout as “encouraging.”
According to the Cinema Organization’s public relations office, Faridzadeh added that audiences are gradually increasing and that in most theaters he visited, a satisfactory number of people were attending screenings.
He also noted that on Tuesday alone, over 68,000 people attended films nationwide, with Khorasan Razavi and Tehran leading in attendance—figures he called “significant under the current circumstances.”
Also present during the visit were Masoud Najafi, Director of Public Relations at the Cinema Organization, and Maryam Pirkari, CEO of Tasvire Shahr Institute.