‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ blocked from release in UAE

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was blocked from release in the UAE for failing to pass local censorship laws, The Hollywood Reporter he confirmed.

The sequel to the 2018 Oscar-winning animated film, which was successful in theaters in the region, was set to debut on 22nd June across the territory ahead of the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson from a screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham, the film has apparently fallen into violation of the country’s censorship laws due in part to the poster’s protection of trans lives present in the background of one frame, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Regulators in the region have relaxed censorship laws in recent years, but there are still strict guidelines that international and local content must adhere to “local customs and values.” This is especially true for films aimed at children, which are classified as the most animated films.

In recent years, a number of animated and action films have been banned in the Middle East and Gulf countries. After you and Lightyear have both been banned in several countries, with the latter also banned on Disney+, which launched in the region in June 2022. Thor: Love and Thunder, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, West Side Story AND Eternals also faced bans. In case of Eternals, Disney agreed to make concessions to local censorship by eliminating all public displays of affection between characters. With the newest Strange WorldsDisney chose instead not to make the requested changes and did not release the film in several markets, including countries in the Middle East, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, among others.

The film garnered rave reviews from both critics and audiences and currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In the United States, On the other side of the Ragnoverse grossed more than $120 million in early June at the box office and has already surpassed its Academy Award-winning predecessor’s 10-day domestic earnings. Overseas, it raised $164.5 million for a worldwide total of nearly $390 million.