Khaberni - The Egyptian comedy star Mohamed Saad experienced a difficult start in the Eid al-Fitr 2026 season, after the total earnings of his new movie "Family Business" were restricted to about 12 million Egyptian pounds on its first day of screening; placing him in lower ranks compared to his competitors, especially the movie "Pill," which nearly reached 86 million Egyptian pounds.
The disappointing results came despite strong expectations accompanying Saad's return to the cinema after years of absence; raising questions about Saad's declining star power at the box office despite his status as a top-tier star.
In analyzing this phenomenon, film critic Khaled Mahmoud explained in exclusive statements to "Erem News," that the youth currently represent the largest cinema-going demographic, pointing out that they have grown up on content from digital platforms such as Netflix and Shahid, which feature a fast pace and realistic stories; making Saad's traditional theatrical style less appealing to this generation.
Khaled Mahmoud added that Saad still possesses a strong fan base, but he needs to develop his works in collaboration with directors who have a new vision, as he did in his previous successful experiences with top directors, to present contemporary works that suit the current audience's interests.
Observers believe that the great success achieved by Saad in the movie "The Simpleton" raised the expectations of the audience, while some considered his return to traditional comedy in "Family Business" as a step backward instead of leveraging his acting skills in complex and new roles.
The plot of the movie revolves around a family choosing to professionalize in the world of deception instead of minor thefts, finding themselves inside a wealthy family's mansion, trying to hide their true identity.
The film stars Mohamed Saad, Ghada Adel, Heidy Karam, Ahmed Al-Rafai, and other artists, and is directed by Wael Ihsan.
