Family secrets, misadventures, hidden pasts and personal growth were the fastest-growing themes and topics in Arabic movies and series this year, according to an AI-powered report released ahead of TV market Mipcom by Rise Studios, which is based in Dubai.
The popularity of these themes and topics reflects the Middle East and North Africa region’s “evolving societal dynamics where traditional values are often challenged by modern realities,” Rise Studios said in a statement.
On Monday, Amanda Turnbull, CEO and founder of Rise Studios, will be a panelist at Mipcom in a session about drama series that travel across borders. Turnbull was formerly managing director for Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Warner Bros. Discovery.
The report, titled “Exploring Emerging Themes and Topics in MENA’s Streaming Landscape,” looks at the trends shaping contemporary content across 12 streaming platforms in the Arabic region, and examines how these have evolved over the past 12 months.
The report reveals that the historically dominant themes in Arabic scripted content, including secrets, betrayal, relationships and mystery have plateaued or declined, making way for “more complex and resonant narratives,” Rise Studios said.
Content reflecting hidden pasts saw the largest growth year-on-year (73%), followed by family secrets (68%), misadventures (68%), and personal growth (67%).
Examples of shows that deal with hidden pasts, family secrets and misadventures include Egyptian thriller “All But Divorced,” one of Rise Studios’ shows. It centers on Yara, a chemistry teacher, who suspects her freelance writer husband of cheating. Discovering the truth puts their lives in danger.
Themes of personal growth, twists and hidden truths can be seen in the movie “From the Ashes,” a Saudi drama-thriller inspired by a real-life tragedy about the chaos and emotional turmoil that unfolds when a fire breaks out in an all-girls’ school. It was released as a Netflix Original in January.
Saudi Arabia is emerging as a powerhouse for production in the region. Recent movies explore themes such as friendship, culture clash, survival and suspense against the backdrop of social and cultural tensions of modern Saudi youth, such as Netflix’s “Naga.” In the film, a young woman is stranded in the desert after a secret party. She must get past a vindictive camel — and worse — to make it home before curfew.
Turnbull commented: “The stalling of previously popular themes can partly be attributed to the law of diminishing returns. However, a more compelling factor is the surge in investment over the past three years, alongside the influx of young, up-and-coming creatives across the MENA region.
“These new voices are eager to break from tradition, exploring fresh, often edgier themes that resonate with younger audiences, allowing viewers to engage with stories that mirror their own experiences of cultural shifts, identity and transformation.”
The research was conducted in partnership with Vynd – a company that provides AI enhanced intelligence for the entertainment industry.
Commenting on the report, Maarten Kranendonk, Vynd co-founder and CEO, said: “With the rapid advances in technologies such as AI and large language models, we can dive deeper into the core of the content and draw out valuable data and insight. This supports companies like Rise Studios – who rely on data to give audiences what they want – to shape the future of content in the region.”
