Framing the future

From experimental highs to a quest for stability, Pakistani cinema navigates a delicate path in 2025

KARACHI:

The year 2026 holds renewed promise and pressing challenges for Pakistani cinema as filmmakers, producers, and audiences alike watch closely how the industry evolves after a turbulent yet transformative 2025.

While the preceding year proved that local films could spark global conversation and experiment with technology, it also exposed a persistent struggle for sustainable growth and theatrical vitality.

The industry enters 2026 with cautious optimism, rooted in a push for stronger local content and an urgent need to reinvigorate a cinema ecosystem that saw a significant reduction in screens last year.

This year's slate is expected to test whether Pakistani films can build on the momentum of 2025 while addressing the structural challenges that have dogged the industry for decades.

A year of creative risks

Looking back, 2025 emerged as a defining chapter where the industry tested the balance between commercial appeal and artistic exploration. The Eid-ul-Azha season set a high bar with Nadeem Baig's 'Love Guru', starring Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan, which opened to roaring box-office success.

In stark contrast, Rafay Rashdi's 'Deemak' attempted to disrupt the mainstream by venturing into a "horror-family drama" hybrid — a genre rarely backed theatrically in Pakistan.

The year culminated in the long-awaited release of 'Neelofar' in late November. While the undeniable chemistry of Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan drew crowds, the film's pacing issues signalled rising audience demands for more rigorous quality control and smarter storytelling.

The experimental spirit of 2025 even touched the technological frontier with the premiere of 'The Next Salahuddin', Pakistan's first feature-length film created entirely through Artificial Intelligence.

By replacing traditional production costs with AI tools, director Farhan Siddiqui framed the project as a cost-effective model for a cash-strapped industry, blending innovation with a message of justice.

Global gains vs domestic pains

While the domestic box office remained unpredictable, Pakistan's creative profile strengthened internationally in 2025. Sonya Hussyn's performance in 'Deemak' earned her a Best Supporting Actress award in Moscow, and high-profile delegations travelled to the Fajr International Film Festival in Iran, where 'Taxali Gate' and 'Umru Ayyar: A New Beginning' received regional appreciation.

Historical milestones were also reached at the Red Sea International Film Festival with the selection of Seemab Gull's 'Ghost School', while diaspora-focused festivals in London and Karachi helped demonstrate that Pakistan's artistic credibility is on the rise.

However, this international acclaim stands in sharp contrast to the "stark reality" of theatre closures and distribution bottlenecks at home. Recent reports have documented a decline in cinema screens nationwide, attributed to dwindling releases and the competitive pressure of foreign films.

Compounding this is a shift in audience habits, with many viewers opting for streaming services — a trend mirrored by the digital premiere of the neo-noir thriller 'Jujji' ahead of its 2026 theatrical run.

Quality over quantity

In 2026 producers are expected to be pivoting toward more thoughtful rollouts as there is a growing sense that original narratives and cinematic risk-taking are required to retain public trust.

Though there hasn't been any film which is eagerly awaited by fans, several projects currently in production aim to bridge commercial viability with storytelling ambition, leaning into genres Pakistani cinema has touched only tentatively: crime thrillers, socially resonant dramas, and identity-driven narratives.

As 2026 begins, the industry stands at a crossroads. Achieving a balance between artistic ambition and the strengthening of exhibition infrastructure remains the primary goal.

For filmmakers and audiences alike, the theatrical release remains a vital space for shared cultural experience. If 2025 was a year of testing the waters, 2026 must be the year Pakistani cinema learns to swim in increasingly deep and competitive waters.