Once Upon a Time in the Middle East

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Once Upon a Time in the Middle East

Oct 2026

2h 21m

Drama

War

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100%

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11 Reviews

97%

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50+ Ratings

One of China's biggest stars, Shen Teng, leads the acclaimed international box office sensation Once Upon a Time in the Middle East. Seeking a fresh start, chef Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to support his family and repay his debts. Alongside restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, he transforms the struggling Dragon Restaurant into a thriving business. But when war engulfs the city, their hard-won success is shattered and the restaurant becomes a refuge for those caught in the conflict. As danger closes in, Xu Fu must risk everything to protect his newfound community and preserve a small beacon of hope amid the devastation.

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In Theaters Oct 9, 2026

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

15 hrs ago

4.5/5

Harrowing, heartfelt, beautiful, and agonizing, Muye’s “Middle East” takes inspiration from real events to craft a dramatic adventure which calls to all to sit for a meal before choosing to pick up a sword.

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Brett Arnold

At the Movies Again

4 days ago

A heartbreaking, empathetic, and emotional depiction of the harsh and dehumanizing realities of war

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Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

4 days ago

8/10

I really like Jiang’s slowly hardening Ma still holding onto his empathetic heart. And Shen is fantastic as his ever-endearing Xu eventually realizes he can’t talk himself out of every situation.

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Alice Shih

Original Cin

5 days ago

A-

Director Muye Wen’s brilliant film, already an Oscar contender, illustrates the horrors of war with uncommon balance.

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Mark Dujsik

Mark Reviews Movies

5 days ago

3.5/4

[T]his is a human story through and through, and it sees everything and everyone from that perspective first and foremost.

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Robert Ewing

Flickering Myth

5 days ago

5/5

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East is an absolute masterpiece and an emotional odyssey through the complexities of the War on Terror, exploring the moral grey areas of a conflict that became a perpetual cycle of pain and suffering

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David

3 days ago

This was such a beautifully told story. Showing that war is not simply as black and white. There are no winners. Only chaos and scars. I highly recommend watching this. Be prepared to cry often.

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Chenying G

4 days ago

One of the best movies I’ve seen this year

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Eddie E

@eddie1949 1 day ago

It was captivating, likely taking place during the Iraq war. Seen through the eyes of a Chinese chef, the American soldiers and the Jihadists are evil in different ways. The killing of children and the use of children are disputable. The Chinese come off as brave and moral. Its cinematography is phenomenal. Each fire mesmerizes you, including when our chef hero cooks. My only criticism is that the subtitles are too small. I wondered how much was in Arabic

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Richard F

@RichardFelton 1 day ago

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East speaks to the turbulent times we live in (wars, terrorists, authoritarian governments, and depraved individuals), and balances the horror of war with the humanity of people caught in between who only want to live their lives and survive...and cook and eat good food. This is a powerful movie with outstanding directing and marvelous special effects to show what it must be like and feel to be ordinary people whose homes and lives are destroyed.

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Jonathan A

@JonnyTo72 1 day ago

A powerful and heartbreaking story. An engrossing tale of passion and heart set against the chaotic backdrop of modern warfare.

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Arthur S

@RT20935410 1 day ago

This is a truly anti-war film. It examines the causes and consequences behind war and terrorist attacks. No hatred exists without a reason.

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Muye Wen

Director

Teng Shen

Actor

Qiming Jiang

Actor

Omar Sherif

Actor

Aarif Lee

Actor

Sharif Subhi

Actor

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East: Trailer 2

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Once Upon a Time in the Middle East: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

One of China's biggest stars, Shen Teng, leads the acclaimed international box office sensation Once Upon a Time in the Middle East. Seeking a fresh start, chef Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to support his family and repay his debts. Alongside restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, he transforms the struggling Dragon Restaurant into a thriving business. But when war engulfs the city, their hard-won success is shattered and the restaurant becomes a refuge for those caught in the conflict. As danger closes in, Xu Fu must risk everything to protect his newfound community and preserve a small beacon of hope amid the devastation.

Director: Muye Wen
Screenwriter: Qunli Lang, Wei Zhong
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Genre: Drama, War
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 2h 21m

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