When Deemak opened in cinemas across Pakistan, few expected the supernatural thriller to become a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Within days, it shattered box-office records, earning PKR 17.5 Crores — an unprecedented figure for a Pakistani horror film — and ignited conversations about the power of home-grown storytelling to challenge both Bollywood and Hollywood imports. Now, as Deemak readies for its global release on 17 October 2025, the film stands as a defining moment for Pakistani cinema — one where domestic drama meets supernatural terror, and where local folklore finds a universal audience.
Horror has rarely dominated the Pakistani screen. For decades, filmmakers avoided the genre, constrained by budgets, censorship, or the belief that local audiences preferred melodrama or comedy. Deemak broke that mold. Directed by Rafay Rashdi and produced by Syed Murad Ali, the film merges the intimate tensions of family life with the creeping dread of jinn mythology — a combination that resonated deeply with viewers.
Following its release, Deemak’s numbers told their own story. Outperforming international horror titles at the Pakistani box office, the film became the highest-grossing horror release in the country’s history, proving that audiences are hungry for locally resonant stories. The success also caught the attention of distributors abroad, leading to its upcoming worldwide rollout across the UK, USA, Canada, and Europe, followed by a GCC release on 23 October.
As international audiences prepare to experience Deemak, anticipation is high. Early festival screenings have drawn praise for its balance of psychological depth and folklore-driven horror, while critics note its confident blend of realism and mysticism.
