A Peripheral Market?: Hollywood Majors and the Middle East / North Africa Market

Abstract

This article proposes to look away from highly publicized markets for Hollywood such as China toward a lesser-known area: the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). After presenting the economic and cultural strategies developed by the Hollywood majors over the past century, the article explores the current characteristics of the MENA market and the way these strategies are applied and adapted, faced with geopolitical constraints and the prevalence of piracy. The difference between strategies in the two regions are notably brought to light.