Following in the footsteps of Qashmoa and Shabab, the “Mahaiti” bomb faces widespread criticism...and Netflix: No comment

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

We at Al-Arabiya.net did not expect to find this answer when we went to one of the well-known film critics in Saudi Arabia to ask him about the severe criticism that the Saudi film “Al-Mahaitiya” has faced since the beginning of its showing on Netflix. The Saudi critic, whose name we are keeping, surprised us with his apology, saying: “The truth is that I have not seen the film, and I am not at all enthusiastic about watching it, just like the ridiculousness of the bomb guys.”

Hayat is not the way it is.. Hayat is a way of life ☺️ Al-Mahaitiya movie, showing October 1st exclusively on Netflix. https://t.co/sY5QgSxFkH

This sharp criticism, which refused to watch the film at all, was preceded by widespread criticism by critics and observers of Saudi artistic affairs. Saudi critic Ahmed Al-Ayyad described the film as “the best recipe for producing a bad film!” He considered that the actors “tell a joke and then explain it to the viewer and present it to him with a spoon!” He added in an article published on the Fasala Cinema platform that it failed to achieve its primary goal as a comedy, which is to make the viewer laugh.

The transfer did not arrive but in Mahatiya? They arrived! The comedy film “Al-Mahaitiya” is now showing on Netflix. https://t.co/u3WlqgQRNI

Al-Ayyad believes that the film's problems begin with the selection of actors and the distribution of roles, as combining the participating names did not succeed in achieving harmony between the characters, while the jokes and situations appeared artificial.

Al-Ayyad criticized the film's treatment of the "promiscuity" phenomenon, pointing out that exaggeration alone does not make comedy, unless it is based on an understanding of society, the characters' motivations, and the contradiction between what they claim and what they live. He cited the short film "The World is a Party" in which Saudi director Raed Al-Sammari presented in just 14 minutes the phenomenon of "promiscuity" within a Saudi family with a comedy that stems from the director's knowledge of the world of his characters, their behavior and their relationships, stressing that the success of the comedy is not linked to the nationality of its creator, as much as reliance On his knowledge of the language, characters, and environment that the work deals with, which did not happen in the film Al-Mahaitiya, since the director is, of course, not Saudi.

With the movie #Al-Mahaitiya, @NetflixMENA presented, in my opinion, one of the worst Saudi films. One of the most prominent advantages of Netflix’s presence, before and in the beginning of the reopening of Saudi cinema halls, is providing a space for Saudi makers to express themselves. We saw this in the experiences of Malek Najr and Abdulaziz Al-Muzaini, the makers of “Masameer,” and in the works of “Telfaz,” and even in its previous cooperation with “Edition.” There can be disagreement about these works and their results, but at least they bear the features of their authors and their original ideas. As for “Al-Mahaitiya,” it seems to me that it has retreated from this space in favor of a ready-made mixture with distorted interventions that lack connection to the environment that is trying to make its audience laugh. Saudi Arabia, which according to available estimates has the largest base of Netflix subscribers in the Arab world, deserves from the platform’s management a deeper understanding of the tastes of its audience, and a smarter dealing with this market. I hope that the recent changes in the administration have not affected its creative choices in this way, and that “Al-Mahaitiya” is not an indication of its future direction.

“Weak and dull.” Only two words used by Saudi film critic Raja Al-Mutairi described “Al-Mahaitiya,” starting with his idea and not ending with the scenario.

Al-Mutairi added that what he saw was “just a childish scenario that tells the story of a rich family facing the threat of bankruptcy, and seeking to save what can be saved.” He added: “Because the movie is on Netflix, you will at least guarantee that it will appear visually well;

Al-Mahaitiya (2026) is a weak and lackluster Saudi film. A childish scenario that tells the story of a rich family facing the threat of bankruptcy, and seeking to save what can be saved. Because the movie is on #Netflix, you will at least be guaranteed that it will look good visually; Sound, picture, lighting, and editing, while the idea and scenario are very weak. A silly movie, and another goofy one added to the list!

Regarding the keenness of the international platforms, Netflix and others, on the most important Saudi market in the region and producing works that address the Saudi viewer with high expectations, Al-Ayyad touched on Netflix’s options in producing Saudi works, considering that one of the most prominent advantages of its presence previously was allowing people with original ideas to present works that reflect their sense of comedy and their own vision, as in “Masameer” and “Telfaz” works.

On the other hand, he saw that “Al-Mahaitiya” represents a retreat from this trend in favor of “a ready-made mixture that lacks connection to the environment that is trying to make its audience laugh.” We point out here that the mixture that Al-Ayyad means in the film involves the Egyptian writer and director Ahmed Al-Jundi as director, and Ayman Wattar as writer, both of whom have had an important presence in several Egyptian films and series over the past years, in addition to the Saudi writer Badr Al-Assaf.

When we mention that the director is Egyptian, as well as one of the screenwriters, Al-Ayyad had another question before his final evaluation of the film, as he asked before watching the film: “Does “Al-Mahaitiya” need the Egyptian director Ahmed El-Gendy to make the audience laugh?” Then, after watching, his question turned into: “What did the director’s great experience add to this film?” Al-Ayyad, who awarded the film “only” half a star, considered that the amount of capabilities, names, and expertise involved in the work makes the result more disappointing.

In turn, at Al Arabiya.net, we brought all these criticisms and more to Netflix to respond to them, or express their point of view regarding the criticisms directed at the film, but an official at the company stated that she had no comment on them.

The events of “Al-Mahaitiya,” a Saudi comedy film from Netflix, revolve around the Al-Dhahabi family, which suddenly finds itself losing its wealth and social status, but it refuses to acknowledge its new reality, and continues to cling to appearances of wealth and luxury despite the collapse of its empire out of sight.

The film is directed by Ahmed Al-Jundi and written by Ayman Wattar from Egypt and Badr Al-Assaf from Saudi Arabia. The film stars the great Saudi star Rashid Al-Shamrani, in addition to several Saudi stars such as Fahd Al-Butairi, Ghada Al-Mulla, Aida Al-Qusay, Fayez Bin Jiris, Ziad Al-Omari, and Adwaa Badr. It has been shown exclusively on the Netflix platform since October 1, 2026.