• Analysis
NAZA documentary on Gaza killings passes 1.5 million cinema viewers worldwide
NAZA, an award-winning documentary about Israel's mass killing of civilians in Gaza, has been seen by more than 1.5 million people since its global cinema release last month, with its audience standing at 1,547,033 as of Friday 6 November.
A record festival run and mounting awards
The documentary is directed by the Oscar-winning Israeli film-makers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor and produced by the Guardian. It won the Special Jury prize at the Venice film festival in September, where its premiere drew a record 24.5-minute standing ovation. Earlier in November, NAZA took the Critics' Choice documentary award for best political documentary.
- •Special Jury prize, Venice film festival, September
- •Record 24.5-minute standing ovation at the premiere
- •Critics' Choice award for best political documentary, November
Admissions across territories
The worldwide audience of 1,547,033 as of Friday 6 November makes it one of 2026's most-watched documentaries with a theatrical release. The naza box office picture by territory:
- •Italy, released in September: 717,517 admissions, the third most-watched theatrically released documentary of all time there, behind Fahrenheit 9/11 and The March of the Penguins
- •Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg: 132,323 admissions, according to distributor Cherry Pickers
- •UK and Ireland: 102,508 admissions so far
- •Germany: 83,355 spectators
- •US and Canada: 83,673 admissions, after a self-release on 30 September and pickup by distributor Neon in October
- •France: more than 82,000 admissions over nearly 500 screenings in a limited 48-hour window, forced by strict rules around films also streamed online; the film topped the box office on both days
Political backlash and audience reaction
The gaza documentary drew worldwide attention after Israel's culture minister threatened to strip its directors of citizenship and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the identification and prosecution of the film's interviewees. There have been multiple reports of audiences sitting in stunned silence as the credits roll. As a review on Radio France put it:
Rarely does a film screening give way to such silence when the lights come back on.
After a cinematic run in 47 territories, a free naza streaming release on theguardian.com is planned for early December in multiple languages.
