Movies like Once Upon a Time in the Middle East (2026)

Name: Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Released: 2026

10 films to watch after Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, ranked by how well they match its tone — not just its genre.

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?

1

Breaker Morant (1980)

Fit 67%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

During the Boer War, three Australian lieutenants are on trial for shooting Boer prisoners. Though they acted under orders, they are being used as scapegoats by the General Staff, who hopes to distance themselves from the irregular practices of the war. The trial does not progress as smoothly as expected by the General Staff, as the defence puts up a strong fight in the courtroom.
2

Battle for Haditha (2007)

Fit 66%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

An investigation of the massacre of 24 men, women and children in Haditha, Iraq allegedly shot by 4 U.S. Marines in retaliation for the death of a U.S. Marine killed by a roadside bomb. The movie follows the story of the Marines of Kilo Company, an Iraqi family, and the insurgents who plant the roadside bomb.
3

Zulu (1964)

Fit 60%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

In 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War, man-of-the-people Lt. Chard and snooty Lt. Bromhead are in charge of defending the isolated and vastly outnumbered Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes.
4

Devotion (2022)

Fit 59%

Shares War and Drama with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

The harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.
5

The Monuments Men (2014)

Fit 57%

Shares War and Drama with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, The Monuments Men is an action drama focusing on seven over-the-hill, out-of-shape museum directors, artists, architects, curators, and art historians who went to the front lines of WWII to rescue the world’s artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their rightful owners. With the art hidden behind enemy lines, how could these guys hope to succeed?
6

Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog (2020)

Fit 57%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

Follow the perilous journey to freedom when a young boy and his dog attempt to escape a concentration camp during World War II. Based on true events.
7

The Young Lions (1958)

Fit 57%

Shares War and Drama with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.
8

A Night to Remember (1958)

Fit 56%

Shares Drama with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

The sinking of the Titanic is presented in a highly realistic fashion in this tense British drama. The disaster is portrayed largely from the perspective of the ocean liner's second officer, Charles Lightoller. Despite numerous warnings about ice, the ship sails on, with Capt. Edward John Smith keeping it going at a steady clip. When the doomed vessel finally hits an iceberg, the crew and passengers discover that they lack enough lifeboats, and tragedy follows.
9

Outlaws - For Greater Glory (2012)

Fit 55%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

A chronicle of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), which was touched off by a rebellion against the Mexican government's attempt to secularize the country.
10

Indivisible (2018)

Fit 54%

Shares Drama and War with Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.

Upon returning from serving in the U.S. Army, Chaplain Darren Turner faces a crisis that shatters his Family and Faith in God but through the help of his fellow soldiers, he returns to his faith and family