Film2026140 min

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East

Name: Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Genre: Drama, War
Released: 2026
Duration: 140 min
Cast: Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Omar Sherif, Aarif Rahman, Sherif Sabry

Taste attributes: dramawarhistoricalslowunsavouryheavyrealisticintricatelinearemotive & stirringcomplex relationshiphuman spirit/resilience/survivalrescue/escape/jeopardy

See which match your taste

Boxlist takeA grounded war film that is heavy, stirring and slow-burning. Best if you like real life over fantasy.

Taste details

Pace: slow · Originality: balanced · Tone: dark · Weight: very heavy · Realism: true to life · Story: intricate · Structure: linear · Look: balanced · Scale: balanced · Emotional punch: stirringHow we score

Quality rating

9.2 /10

TMDB · 25 votes

Your matchTake the taste test to see your match

Where to watch

We don't know of anywhere to watch Once Upon a Time in the Middle East in the US right now.

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What lines up

Emotional punch: Emotive / stirring, just how this profile likes it
Wholesomeness: Unsavoury, just how this profile likes it
Weightiness: Weighty / heavy, just how this profile likes it

What might not click

Realism: True to life, where this profile leans balanced realism
Originality: Balanced originality, where this profile leans fresh / original

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Synopsis

Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to work as a chef in a Chinese restaurant to pay off family debts, where he meets floor manager Ma Junsheng. Their Dragon Restaurant rises to fame, attracting crowds with authentic‑tasting Chinese food. But war breaks out, and local conditions take a drastic turn for the worse. No one can remain unaffected. What lies ahead for them? And how will the Dragon Restaurant hold on amid the war?

Synopsis: TMDB