General Entertainment Authority Announces Activities Marking Saudi Arabia’s 93rd National Day

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
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General Entertainment Authority Announces Activities Marking Saudi Arabia’s 93rd National Day

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) announced on Monday the activities for the 93rd National Day across Saudi Arabia.

The day is being celebrated under the slogan “We Dream and Achieve”.

Among the activities in store are the “We're Racing Dreams” show of military and civil aircraft that will be held over Riyadh, Taif, Al-Baha, Asir and Tabuk on September 23.

Similar shows will take place over Jeddah's northern corniche on September 20 and the Khobar Corniche on September 27.

Public and private entities participating in the event are: the Presidency of the Saudi Royal Guard, the Presidency of State Security, the ministries of defense, interior, and national guard, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Matarat Holding, the Saudi Air Navigation Services, the Saudi Aviation Club, SAUDIA Airlines, Flynas, and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, which will stream live the national day main show on the Saudi channel.

The show will also include a military parade that will display military equipment. It will be led by horses and feature musical bands of the Saudi Royal Guard, the Ministry of the National Guard, and the General Directorate of Border Guards.

The Ministry of Interior will organize the "Pride of the Nation 2" event, following the great success the event enjoyed last year.

Attendees will learn about various national security achievements and the ministry's efforts to develop complex security systems and improve its capabilities and services. The event will take place at Riyadh Front from September 21 to 24.

GEA will mark this special occasion with massive fireworks show in over 15 different locations in the Kingdom, including Boulevard Riyadh City, the Art Promenade in Jeddah, King Abdullah Park in Dammam, King Abdullah Environmental Park in Al-Ahsa, and King Abdullah National Park in Buraydah.

A drone light show portraying Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the Saudi flag will illuminate the Riyadh sky at 9 pm on Saturday.



‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant Debut with $11 Million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Tops Box Office Again

 This image released by A24 shows, from left, Chloe East, Hugh Grant, and Sophie Thatcher in a scene from "Heretic." (Kimberley French/A24 via AP)
This image released by A24 shows, from left, Chloe East, Hugh Grant, and Sophie Thatcher in a scene from "Heretic." (Kimberley French/A24 via AP)
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‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant Debut with $11 Million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Tops Box Office Again

 This image released by A24 shows, from left, Chloe East, Hugh Grant, and Sophie Thatcher in a scene from "Heretic." (Kimberley French/A24 via AP)
This image released by A24 shows, from left, Chloe East, Hugh Grant, and Sophie Thatcher in a scene from "Heretic." (Kimberley French/A24 via AP)

“Venom: The Last Dance” has been no blockbuster in North American theaters. But in a lethargic fall moviegoing season, even a so-so performing superhero sequel can rule the box office for three straight weeks.

For the third weekend in a row, “Venom: The Last Dance” was the No. 1 movie at the box office, collecting $16.2 million in ticket sales in US and Canadian theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It fended off a pair of new challengers in the Hugh Grant horror thriller “Heretic” and the feel-good holiday movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

With the election on Tuesday, the major studios opted not to put any new releases into theaters. That allowed Sony Pictures’ “Venom: The Last Dance,” the third entry in the Tom Hardy-led franchise, to hold its position.

While “The Last Dance” hasn’t been a huge hit domestically — opening below expectations in late October — it has thrived overseas, grossing almost triple what it has in North America. The “Venom” sequel has grossed $279.4 million internationally, bringing its global total to $394.2 million.

“Heretic” and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” were neck and neck for second place. Counting only Friday-Sunday ticket sales, the edge went to “Heretic,” which debuted with $11 million. “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” though, factored in $2.2 million in sneak-peak screenings from last weekend to claim a reported opening gross of $11.1 million.

A24’s “Heretic,” directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who knock on the door of a man (Grant) they’ll regret trying to evangelize to. Though “Heretic” has been critically acclaimed for the darkest turn yet by Grant, audiences were less impressed, giving it a “C+” CinemaScore. Regardless, with a budget under $10 million, “Heretic” will easily turn a profit.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” released by Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, which specializes in Christian entertainment, is about six siblings with a bad reputation who take over the local church pageant. The film, an adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s 1972 children’s book directed by Dallas Jenkins, did well with audiences, who gave it a “A” CinemaScore. It, too, was modestly budgeted at about $10 million.

In its seventh week of release, Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” continues to show little rust in theaters. It landed in fourth place with $6.6 million, bringing its domestic haul to $130.2 million and its worldwide gross to $292 million.

Sean Baker’s acclaimed “Anora,” starring Mikey Madison, expanded into wide release. The Neon film, an expected best-picture contender, collected $2.4 million in 1,104 theaters. Its four-week total stands at $7.2 million.

The papal thriller “Conclave,” starring Ralph Fiennes, continues to perform exceptionally well for an adult-oriented drama. The Focus Features release, in its third weekend of release, added 487 theaters and dipped a modest 19% to earn $4.1 million. It has collected $21.5 million. Similarly, A24’s “We Live in Time,” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, has stayed strong, grossing $2.2 million in its fifth weekend for a $21.8 million total.

Overall ticket sales, though, remain sluggish. Box office is running about 11% behind last year, according to Comscore. In the last two weeks, overall ticket sales are down about 50% from the pre-pandemic average, according to David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter for Franchise Entertainment.

The good news for theaters: The next few weeks are lined up for several big new releases, including the Amazon MGM Christmas comedy “Red One” (Nov. 15), Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” (Nov. 22), Universal’s “Wicked” (also Nov. 22) and the Walt Disney Co.’s “Moana 2” (Nov. 27).

“Better late than never is the rule of the day and we can expect some positive success stories coming out of the Thanksgiving corridor, which looks the be on par with some of the biggest such frames over the past many years,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.

Before opening in US theaters, “Red One,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, kicked off in 75 overseas markets, collecting $26.6 million. The film carries a hefty price tag of about $250 million to make.