A Chinese restaurant becomes an unexpected safe haven as war tears through a Middle Eastern city in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST, an international drama arriving in North American theatres October 9.
Directed by Wen Muye and starring Chinese superstar Shen Teng, the film takes place in the early 2000s in a fictional Middle Eastern country, following a chef who travels abroad hoping to earn enough money to help his family and settle his debts.
What begins as an attempt at a fresh start eventually becomes a story about survival, community, and finding hope in the middle of devastation.
A New Life Turns Into a Fight for Survival
Xu Fu, played by Shen Teng, leaves China for the Middle East in search of work and a better way to support his family.
After arriving, he joins forces with restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, and together they work to turn the struggling Dragon Restaurant into a successful business.
Their progress is cut short when conflict reaches the city.
As the war intensifies, the restaurant takes on an entirely different purpose. Local residents and workers caught in the fighting begin seeking shelter there, transforming the once-busy business into a place where people can find some protection from the violence outside.
With the danger steadily closing in, Xu Fu is forced to decide how far he is willing to go to protect the people who have come to depend on him.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
- Director: Wen Muye
- Starring: Shen Teng, Jiang Qiming, Omar Sherif, Aarif Rahman, Sherif Sabry, Ahmed Salim, Faruk Muhammad, Russell Shealy
- Genre: Drama, War
- Runtime: 140 mins
- User Rating: ★ 9.1
A Story About Community Amid Conflict
While ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST is set against the backdrop of war, its central focus is on the people brought together by circumstances far beyond their control.
Xu Fu’s journey moves from pursuing financial stability to protecting a community he never expected to become part of.
The restaurant becomes a symbol of that unlikely connection, bringing together people from different backgrounds while the world around them falls apart.
The Cast
The film stars Shen Teng as Xu Fu and Jiang Qiming as Ma Junsheng.
The international cast also includes Omar Sharif as Seif, Aarif Lee Zhi-ting as Tony, Sherif Sabby as Zayd, Ahmed Salim as Ali, Faruk Muhammad as Jamal, Russell Shealy as Morgan, and Naira Al-Qasim as Lina.
Wen Muye Directs
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST is directed by Wen Muye.
The film is presented as a 2026 Chinese production with dialogue in Mandarin, Arabic, and English, accompanied by English subtitles.
Running 141 minutes, the film combines its war setting with a character-driven story about family, sacrifice, and the bonds that can form during times of crisis.
Release Details
Title: ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST
North American Theatrical Release: October 9, 2026
Year: 2026
Country: China
Director: Wen Muye
Starring: Shen Teng as Xu Fu, Jiang Qiming as Ma Junsheng, Omar Sharif as Seif, Aarif Lee Zhi-ting as Tony, Sherif Sabby as Zayd, Ahmed Salim as Ali, Faruk Muhammad as Jamal, Russell Shealy as Morgan, Naira Al-Qasim as Lina
Languages: Mandarin, Arabic, English
Subtitles: English
Runtime: 141 minutes
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Drama and War
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST uses an unusual setting for a war drama, placing much of its story inside a Chinese restaurant that becomes a shelter for people caught in the conflict.
Led by Shen Teng and directed by Wen Muye, the film combines a large-scale backdrop with a more personal story about the people who find themselves depending on one another when everything around them begins to collapse.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST opens in North American theatres October 9, 2026.
