China's Oscar Contender Blends Culinary Delights With War Drama

WHO:

Reddit Movies - Chef Xu Fu, restaurant manager Ma Junsheng, Xu's daughter Xu Le, Xu's mother, Zaid (an official and owner of the Loong Restaurant), Amina (Zaid's wife), Susu, Seif (an orphan), Lina (an orphanage teacher and Ma's fiancée), Ali (a terrorist warlord), Jamal (a child suicide bomber), Peter (commander of Alifah Prison), Morgan (an American lieutenant officer), Tony Wang (a Chinese-American private first class).

WHAT:

Reddit Movies - "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" is a Chinese war film that blends culinary themes with wartime drama.

Reddit Movies - The film originally premiered in a limited release in China on 8 August 2026 and expanded wide on 11 August 2026.

Reddit Movies - The film was released in the U.S. on 9 October 2026.

Variety - The film is described as a "bombastic submission" for the Oscar nomination for Best International Feature.

WHERE:

Reddit Movies - The film is set in the Middle East and features the Dragon Restaurant.

WHEN:

Reddit Movies - The film premiered in China on 8 August 2026 and expanded on 11 August 2026.

Reddit Movies - The U.S. release date is 9 October 2026.

WHY:

Reddit Movies - Chef Xu Fu travels to the Middle East to help his family and repay his debts.

HOW:

Reddit Movies - Xu Fu and Ma Junsheng revive the struggling Dragon Restaurant amidst the backdrop of war, which turns the restaurant into a refuge for the community.

(UPDATED October 14, 2026 07:12 UTC)

The new Chinese war film "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East" has made waves since its limited release in China on August 8, 2026, and its wider release on August 11, 2026, followed by its U.S. debut on October 9, 2026. The film tells the story of Chef Xu Fu, who travels to the Middle East to help his family and repay debts, as he and restaurant manager Ma Junsheng work to revive the struggling Dragon Restaurant amidst the chaos of war, turning it into a refuge for the community. Described as a "bombastic submission" for the Oscar nomination for Best International Feature, the film features a diverse cast including Xu's family, orphans, and a terrorist warlord.