Six years ago, a low-quality web animation on Muslim Kids TV sparked an idea that would become “Time Hoppers: The Silk Road,” the first animated feature film released in theaters, created by and for the Muslim community.
The film premieres on February 7 in over 660 theaters across the United States, marking a milestone for family entertainment and independent productions, demonstrating that independent animation can still attract audiences at a time when theatrical releases in the genre face significant challenges.
Director: Flordeliza Dayrit
Writers: Flordeliza Dayrit, Nuha Elalem, Sakina Fakhri
Stars: Emily Gin, Angel Haven Rey, Jayce McKenzie
The animated feature tells the story of four gifted children from the year 2050 who discover the ability to time travel and must protect history's most important scientists from an evil alchemist who threatens the future of modern science along the ancient Silk Road.
Gabriel Milo, COO of Milo Productions, explained that the time-travel concept, in which the children meet historical figures, initially gained traction as a mobile game funded by Canadian production grants. Within three months, it surpassed 100,000 downloads, indicating a strong demand for content centered on Muslim culture.
“For the first time, Muslim children will be able to see themselves reflected on the big screen,” Milo said. “It was something we noticed was missing, and we saw a real market opportunity.”
Although the industry is shifting away from theatrical releases, the filmmakers believed their audience craved a collective viewing experience. Initial social media engagement reinforced that intuition, with requests pouring in from communities around the world.
Instead of relying on celebrity endorsements, the marketing strategy focused on what Milo called “community credibility over fame.” Community leaders, educators, and religious scholars participated in the voice acting, including the character of Dean Hafsa. This trust-based approach extended to a nationwide network of volunteer “local ambassadors,” who used promotional toolkits to drive ticket sales in their regions. Shannah Miller, vice president of marketing at distributor Fathom Entertainment, recognized the model's potential from the start. Fathom, which handles approximately 100 specialty releases a year, saw “Time Hoppers” as an opportunity to expand beyond its core faith-based audience, which accounted for nearly half of the company's revenue last year.
“This was a first,” Miller said. “The content was created by the Muslim community for the Muslim community, and it felt authentic, yet accessible to a broader audience.”
The partnership between Milo Productions and Fathom proved crucial to the film's release. Milo provided data on community demographics and priority markets, while Fathom leveraged its exhibitor relationships to expand bookings and add showtimes as demand grew, sometimes within hours.
“We would send an email to Fathom, and within an hour, tickets would be available,” Milo said.
Originally scheduled in 516 theaters for February 7 and 8, exhibitor demand quickly pushed the release to over 660 theaters, with advance ticket sales exceeding expectations. More than 35,000 tickets have been sold, representing nearly $500,000 in revenue, with most purchases expected to occur in the final days before the release.
“We’ve seen more than a 35% increase in advance ticket sales since Monday,” Miller said. “And historically, 70% of tickets are sold in the last 72 to 48 hours.”
For a one-day event focused on a new intellectual property and targeting an underserved audience, the film's performance is remarkable. Its "edutainment" approach is designed to spark curiosity rather than deliver formal lessons, and it is complemented by activity books and coloring books developed with historians.
“Our goal is to generate intrigue,” Milo said. “We want kids to ask questions and want to learn more.” Beyond the box office numbers, the film's release reflects the potential of original stories from underrepresented communities to connect with audiences, even in a landscape where Hollywood relies heavily on established intellectual properties.
“Underserved audiences will respond,” Milo said. “They will come out to see authentic voices that represent them.” While the film is rooted in Muslim history and culture, its broader themes of education, curiosity, and pride in heritage have encouraged the community to welcome a wider audience. Fathom supported this initiative with strategic trailer distribution and partnerships.
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