during the 1970s, cinemas were numerous in the kingdom although they were seen as contrary to wahhabi norms. during the islamic revival movement in the 1980s, and as a political response to an increase in islamist activism including the 1979 seizure of the grand mosque in mecca, the government closed all cinemas and theaters. however, with king abdullah's reforms from 2005, some cinemas have re-opened, including one in kaust.