Desert warrior's epic fail: $150 million flop in the making

Anthony Mackie and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley star in the $150 million historical epic Desert Warrior, but the film is shaping up to be one of the biggest box office flops in history. Opening in just 1,010 North American theaters this weekend, it raked in a paltry $472,111, giving it a per-theater average of a woefully low $467.

From saudi arabia with pride, and shame

Backed by Saudi Arabia as a modern-day take on Lawrence of Arabia, Desert Warrior's failure raises questions about the future of the country's expensively funded film industry. The Crown Prince, a self-proclaimed film buff, wants to take on Hollywood, but Desert Warrior's dismal reception may change his tune.

Directed by Rupert Wyatt, who revitalized the Planet of the Apes franchise, Desert Warrior tells the story of Princess Hind refusing to become a concubine and teaming up with a legendary bandit to unite warring tribes for a pivotal battle. Critics panned the film, giving it a 25% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 2.1/10 on IMDb.

With a reported brutal production and lackluster promotion from its stars, Desert Warrior's fate seemed sealed before it even hit theaters. Will Saudi Arabia continue to pump millions into films aimed at Western audiences? Only time will tell.