Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Seen it?2026 | 141 min | Drama, War
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It was a solid box office hit. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 21 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
Generally positive reviews
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
Award season hasn't happened yet, so this isn't counted
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$306 million worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 92K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Wen Muye
- Shen TengXu Fu
- Jiang QimingMa Junsheng
- Omar SherifSeif
- Aarif RahmanTony
- Sherif SabryZayd
- Ahmed SalimAli
- Faruk MuhammadJamal
- Russell ShealyMorgan
- Naira Al-KasimLina
- Karma HazimSusu