Everything we know about Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East is a drama, war film from Wen Muye, produced by Bad Monkey (Shanghai) 上海坏猴子. Once Upon a Time in the Middle East was released on August 8, 2026. It stars Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Omar Sherif, Aarif Rahman. It holds a 9.0/10 audience score on TMDB from 43 votes.
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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Key details
| Type | Movie · Drama, War |
| Release date | August 8, 2026 (Out now) |
| Director | Wen Muye |
| Studio | Bad Monkey (Shanghai) 上海坏猴子 |
| Runtime | 141 min |
| Status | Released |
| Language | ZH |
| Audience score | 9.0/10 (TMDB, 43 votes) |
Cast
Shen Teng
Xu Fu 
Jiang Qiming
Ma Junsheng 
Omar Sherif
Seif 
Aarif Rahman
Tony 
Sherif Sabry
Zayd 
Ahmed Salim
Ali 
Faruk Muhammad
Jamal 
Russell Shealy
Morgan 
Naira Al-Qasim
Lina 
Karma Hazim
Susu 
Wei Qing
Xu's Mother 
Zhang Xiwei
Xu Le Frequently asked questions
When does Once Upon a Time in the Middle East come out?
Who is in the cast of Once Upon a Time in the Middle East?
Is there a trailer for Once Upon a Time in the Middle East?
Release dates and streaming availability change. We source them from official announcements and TMDB and mark each as confirmed, rumored or TBA — always confirm on the platform before planning. NewsGiga links only to legitimate streaming services and never hosts or links to pirated content.