The Record-Breaking Rise of Honeymoonish
Honeymoonish is a Kuwaiti romantic comedy released by Netflix — the platform's first-ever Kuwaiti original. Within just a few hours of its premiere it climbed to number one worldwide, becoming the most-watched title in 41 countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Morocco and Oman, while landing in second place in Egypt.
It is the first Arab film to reach the global top spot on the platform, setting a record that had never been achieved before.
The Story
A young man works at his father's company, only to be threatened with disinheritance unless he marries within a month and delivers the grandchild his father has been waiting for. He meets a young woman, and each of them is hiding a secret agenda from the other. They marry in haste and set off on a honeymoon brimming with surprises and comic situations.
Cast and Crew
Honeymoonish stars Nour Al-Ghandour and Mahmoud Boushahri, directed by Elie Semaan and written by Eyad Saleh and Rami Ali. The film is screenwriter Eyad Saleh's second feature after "Al-Hareefa," which likewise became an unexpected hit, earning strong box-office numbers despite a relatively unknown cast.
Why It Worked
Honeymoonish broke the mold of Kuwaiti and Gulf cinema, which tends to lean on social dramas, horror, or stories drawn from folklore. The director also chose fresh, rarely-used filming locations in Lebanon, lending the film an easy, relaxed feel across its two-hour runtime.
Honeymoonish is streaming on Netflix and is well worth watching if you love light romantic comedy.
