Once Upon a Time in the Middle East (2026)

Chinese · Drama / War · 140 min

Releases 11 Sept 2026

Page updated 2026-08-26

The verdict

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East is the kind of Chinese release people circle on the calendar. It clocks in at a standard 140 minutes. It releases 2026-09-11; mark your calendar if it's on your list.

Story

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?

Good to know

Director

Wen Muye

Cast

Shen Teng

Xu Fu

Jiang Qiming

Ma Junsheng

Omar Sherif

Seif

Aarif Rahman

Tony

Sherif Sabry

Zayd

Ahmed Salim

Ali

When is Once Upon a Time in the Middle East coming to streaming?

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East hasn't had its theatrical release yet, and is due 11 Sept 2026. A streaming release date won't be set until after it opens — this page updates automatically the day it starts streaming.

Where to watch in Australia

Not out yet — nowhere to stream or rent it until it opens.

Trailer

Find the trailer on YouTube →

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