Discover the best of Egyptian cinema, film, and television

Discover the definitive list of popular and critically-acclaimed movies and TV shows from Egypt. Find your next binge-watch, streaming on Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Prime Video, and other top services!

The cinema of Egypt

For a century, Egyptian cinema has been the dazzling, beating heart of the Arab-speaking world. Often called the 'Hollywood on the Nile', its influence is legendary, producing a vast and beloved body of work that has defined entertainment for hundreds of millions. Its Golden Age, from the 1940s to the 60s, was a glamorous era of epic melodramas, comedies, and cherished musicals. It created superstars who were adored across the region, from the iconic Faten Hamama to the legendary Omar Sharif, who would go on to conquer Hollywood itself. But its soul is also found in the masterful artistry of directors like Youssef Chahine, whose powerful films were celebrated at international festivals like Cannes. The king of popular cinema for decades has been the incomparable Adel Imam, a comedy superstar whose films are national events. This love for screen stories reaches its peak during the holy month of Ramadan, when the entire nation gathers nightly to watch lavish new television series. This unique tradition has made Egyptian TV drama a cultural phenomenon. What makes Egyptian cinema so special is its immense influence. For generations, its stories and its dialect have been the shared language of entertainment from Morocco to Iraq. It is a cinema of stars, of laughter, of high art, and of the family, all rolled into one.

Best Egyptian series

  • Poster for Paranormal

    Paranormal 2020

    Set in the 1960s; Paranormal follows the adventures of Dr. Refaat Ismail, a professor of hematology, as he comes up against various supernatural events with the help of his Scottish old flame, Maggie.

    Netflix
    69
  • Poster for Finding Ola

    Finding Ola 2022

    After a life-altering event, Ola embarks on a journey of self-discovery while dealing with the challenges of raising two children and making ends meet.

    Netflix
    74
  • Poster for Family Matter

    Family Matter 2021

    Ibrahim reluctantly accepts becoming the legal guardian of his estranged daughter for six months, setting himself up for hilarious and lifechanging experiences.

    SHAHID
    80
  • Poster for Every Week Has a Friday

    Every Week Has a Friday 2020

    Hoping to leave her past behind and start anew, Laila strikes a deal that prompts her to marry and live with Emad, a mentally-challenged man. However, their life together gets complicated when henious crimes take place at their living place each Friday.

    SHAHID
    72
  • Balto 2023

    In a comic framework, (Atef), the newly graduated young doctor, is assigned to a health unit in a village, and then he suddenly finds himself becoming the director of the health unit and responsible for everything.

    74
  • Poster for Catalog

    Catalog 2025

    A recently widowed workaholic clumsily navigates life with his kids, guided by his late wife's online tips. Can he ace this crash course in parenthood?

    Netflix
    68

Best Egyptian movies

  • Poster for The Square

    The Square 2013

    The Square looks at the hard realities faced day-to-day by people working to build Egypt’s new democracy. Cairo’s Tahrir Square is the heart and soul of the film, which follows several young activists. Armed with values, determination, music, humor, an abundance of social media, and sheer obstinacy, they know that the thorny path to democracy only began with Hosni Mubarak’s fall. The life-and-death struggle between the people and the power of the state is still playing out.

    79
  • Poster for The Blue Elephant

    The Blue Elephant 2014

    After a five-year hiatus, psychiatrist Yehia returns to work at Abbasiya Hospital. He’s assigned to evaluate a patient who turns out to be his old friend. As events unfold, Yehia uncovers dark secrets that challenge his understanding of reality.

    74
  • Poster for Clash

    Clash 2016

    In 2013, in Cairo, a tragic fate brings together several detainees from different political and social backgrounds inside a police truck, during the turmoil that followed the ousting of president Morsi.

    73
  • Poster for Cairo Station

    Cairo Station 1958

    Qinawi, a physically challenged peddler who makes his living selling newspapers in the central Cairo train station, is obsessed with Hanuma, an attractive young woman who sells drinks. While she jokes with him about a possible relationship, she is actually in love with Abu Siri, a strong and respected porter at the station who is struggling to unionize his fellow workers to combat their boss' exploitative and abusive treatment.

    75
  • Poster for Bittersweet

    Bittersweet 2010

    An Egyptian-American returns to his homeland after twenty years abroad, filled with nostalgia and high hopes. But as he reconnects with his roots, he finds himself caught between two worlds—and begins to experience the reality of a country he thought he knew.

    77
  • Poster for Cairo Time

    Cairo Time 2009

    In Cairo on her own as she waits for her husband, Juliette finds herself caught in a whirlwind romance with his friend Tareq, a retired cop. As Tareq escorts Juliette around the city, they find themselves in the middle of a brief affair that catches them both unawares.

    64