An animated film created by and for Muslims is reaching hundreds of cinemas across the United States and Canada this weekend, marking a major milestone for Muslim representation in mainstream children’s entertainment. “Time Hoppers: The Silk Road” is the first animated feature by Muslim creators to receive a large-scale theatrical release, signaling a growing recognition of Muslim audiences within the film industry.

The movie follows four gifted students who travel back in time to protect influential Muslim scientists from an evil, time-bending alchemist. Co-writer and director Flordeliza Dayrit said the film was intentionally designed to spotlight Muslim innovators whose contributions are often overlooked, while also challenging Hollywood’s long-standing portrayal of Muslims as villains. In Time Hoppers, Muslim children are positioned as the heroes of the story.

Produced by Milo Productions and distributed by Fathom Entertainment, the film is being screened in more than 650 theaters across the U.S. and Canada on February 7 and 8, with 35,000 tickets sold in pre-sales as of February 5. Despite a limited marketing budget, the film gained what its producers described as unprecedented grassroots support, driven by families, influencers and community leaders who promoted it organically through local networks.

The production also featured Muslim American educators, scholars and community figures in voice roles, including Omar Regan, Dalia Mogahed and Imam Omar Suleiman, helping build trust and community buy-in. That momentum enabled Fathom Entertainment to expand showtimes and theater bookings in response to demand.

Michael Milo, the film’s co-producer, said the response reflects a broader industry shift. According to him, filmmakers and distributors are increasingly recognizing Muslims as a significant audience with real purchasing power. Research cited in the report further shows that positive portrayals of Muslims in entertainment are linked to greater opposition to anti-Muslim and anti-democratic policies.

While the film avoids overt religious messaging, its creators emphasized that it affirms the presence of Muslim life and faith in popular culture. To ensure authenticity, the team consulted the MPAC Hollywood Bureau and worked with Muslim historians to accurately portray historical figures such as Al-Khwarizmi and Fatima al-Fihriya, founder of the world’s first university.

Historian Hassam Munir, who researched the historical innovators featured in the film’s companion mobile game, said the goal was to reflect the diversity of Muslim contributions across time and geography. For him, the project is about giving Muslim children heroes they can recognize and relate to.

Behind the film is Milo Productions, founded by Milo and Dayrit, whose work includes MuslimKids.TV, a children’s streaming service launched in 2016. The couple hope Time Hoppers serves as proof that authentic Muslim stories can succeed on the big screen and open doors for future Muslim media creators.