Jason Statham's 'Shelter' Breaks Box Office Records in MENA

Jason Statham's Shelter posted a regional box office win in the Middle East and North Africa, earning $2.2 million and outgrossing China ($2.1 million) and the U.K. ($1.3 million). The film opened to $5.5 million in the U.S., a notably weaker start. Indie distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment reported that almost one in three cinemagoers in Saudi Arabia saw Shelter, calling it the biggest English-language title since September.

Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra said the response was meaningful during a period of uncertainty and underscored Statham's box office power in the region. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Shelter received a "fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes and the piece noted the film's continued international appeal despite its U.S.

performance, adding that a January release may have affected domestic results.

jason statham, shelter, middle east, north africa, $2.2 million, china, u.k, $5.5 million, front row filmed entertainment, gianluca chakra, saudi arabia, ric roman waugh, rotten tomatoes, biggest english-language title