Once Upon A Time in the Middle East

Once Upon A Time in the Middle East (2026)



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9.1 2026 140 min —

Director: Wen Muye

Cast: Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Aarif Rahman, Wei Qing, Zhang Xiwei

Comedy Drama War
Xu Fu heads to the Middle East, trading his apron for a passport to work as a chef at a Chinese eatery, all to settle his family’s mounting debts. There, he crosses paths with Ma Junsheng, the sharp floor manager who runs the front of the house. Together, they turn Dragon Restaurant into a local sensation—packed nightly with diners craving genuinely authentic Chinese flavors. Then war erupts, and the region spirals into chaos overnight. No one escapes its grip. As bombs fall and borders close, the future turns murky. Can Dragon Restaurant survive the storm? And what fate awaits the two men who built it from nothing?

More About This Film

Once Upon A Time in the Middle East is a 2026 Chinese drama, comedy, and war film directed by Wen Muye. The story follows Xu Fu, a chef who travels to the Middle East to work at a Chinese restaurant while trying to repay family debts. There, he meets manager Ma Junsheng, and together they help turn the Dragon Restaurant into a successful local business.

As the restaurant grows, the lives of its staff and customers are transformed by the outbreak of war. The film combines human drama and comedy with a larger story about friendship, survival, cultural connection, and the disruption caused by conflict. The film runs approximately 140 minutes and is primarily in Chinese.

  • The film was directed and co-written by Wen Muye, with Lang Qunli and Wei Zhong also credited as writers.
  • Shen Teng stars as Xu Fu, while Jiang Qiming plays Ma Junsheng. The international cast also includes Omar Sherif, Aarif Rahman, Sherif Sabry, and Ahmed Salim.
  • Production involved Bad Monkey (Shanghai), Meng Jiangjun Pictures, Alibaba Pictures Group, and China Film Group Corporation.
  • Ning Hao served as executive producer, while Huang Chao composed the score and Wang Boxue handled cinematography.
  • The film was released theatrically in China in August 2026 and has attracted early audience interest, although major international awards and a broad critical consensus had not yet been established at the time of release.

Where to Watch

Availability for Once Upon A Time in the Middle East varies by country, and international streaming or digital release plans may change as distribution rights expand.