---
title: "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-the-middle-east"
critics_reviews: 0
updated: "2026-09-21T01:52:57.981778+00:00"
region: "DE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Once Upon a Time in the Middle East (2026)

Directed by Wen Muye · 2h 20m · Drama, War

> **Out now, review to follow.** Released 11 September 2026; our review follows once the notices are in, usually within two days of release. The facts below are the distributor's and TMDB's.

## 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?

## Details

- **Director:** Wen Muye
- **Director:** Wen Muye
- **Writer:** Wen Muye, Lang Qunli, Wei Zhong
- **Cinematography:** Wang Boxue
- **Music:** Huang Chao
- **Cast:** Shen Teng as Xu Fu; Jiang Qiming as Ma Junsheng; Omar Sherif as Seif; Aarif Rahman as Tony; Sherif Sabry as Zayd; Ahmed Salim as Ali; Faruk Muhammad as Jamal; Russell Shealy as Morgan
- **Runtime:** 2h 20m
- **First release (CN):** 8 August 2026
- **Genres:** Drama, War
- **Production:** Bad Monkey (Shanghai) 上海坏猴子, 梦将军（上海）影业有限公司, Alibaba Pictures Group, China Film Group Corporation
- **Box office:** $306 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHDNxZF7LRw

## Where to watch in Germany

Not streaming, renting or buying in Germany at the last check.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/once-upon-a-time-in-the-middle-east