'Mandoob' is co-written and directed by Ali Kalthami, marking his directorial debut.
Netflix has announced the release of Mandoob (Night Courier), a Saudi dark comedic crime thriller, on October 31, 2024. Backed by the Red Sea Film Foundation, the film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and made its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) debut at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah in December.
Directed by Ali Kalthami and produced by Telfaz11, a studio co-founded by Kalthami, Mandoob follows the story of Fahad, a 30-year-old man from a lower social class, who, after losing his job at a telecommunications call centre, finds himself drawn into Riyadh’s underworld as an alcohol courier. The film explores Fahad’s struggles as he attempts to support his ailing father and divorced sister while navigating the dangerous world of illicit nightlife and alcohol trafficking.
Shot entirely in Riyadh, the film stars Mohamad Aldokhei as Fahad, Mohammed Altawyan as Nasser, Hajar Alshammari as Sara, Sarah Taibah as Maha, Abdullah Ahmad as Alaa, Mohammed Algarawi as Abu Saud, Layla Malik as Suha, Morouj as Sawsan and Abo Salu as Sultan.
Mandoob made an impact in Saudi cinemas, selling 114,000 tickets and grossing $1.58m during its opening weekend, outperforming major releases like Wonka and The Boy and the Heron. By the end of February 2024, the film had attracted 605,000 viewers, grossing a total of $7.5m, marking a milestone for Saudi productions.
