Depictions of the Middle East and Africa have been around since the beginning of cinema history, while Arab filmmakers are finally beginning to gain global notoriety. Here are the best movies featuring the Arabic language to stream now.
The Time That Remains (2009)
7.8
Elia Suleiman remembers his family in this absurdist, slice-of-life comedy
200 Meters (2020)
7.5
A father stops at nothing to visit his injured son in this raw, thoughtful road drama
Wolf (2013)
7.2
An ex-con tries to shift his life with kickboxing in this raw, black and white crime drama
Code Unknown (2000)
7.4
An instance of littering unfolds Paris’ many social maladies in this thought-provoking hyperlink drama
Four Daughters (2023)
7.2
A heartbreaking docudrama of a family torn by extremism
Timbuktu (2014)
7.4
A skillful, stunning depiction of the absurdities of occupation
Chronicle of a Disappearance (1996)
8.4
Absurdist comedy makes for unusual but powerful framing in this wry commentary on Palestinian identity
The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020)
8.0
A Syrian man becomes artwork in this fascinating drama based on a true story
Turtles Can Fly (2005)
8.0
A realistic and well-made Kurdish drama that’s absolutely devastating
All or Nothing (2002)
8.1
Mike Leigh goes all-in with this devastating drama
Incendies (2011)
9.9
Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene
Paris Je T’aime (2006)
7.6
An anthology ode to the City of Love stacked with talent behind and in front of the camera