Once Upon a Time in the Middle East vs Timbuktu
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East has the higher audience score (9.2/10 against 7/10 for Timbuktu). Timbuktu is the shorter watch at 1h 36m compared with 2h 20m. Timbuktu is the older of the two (2014 against 2026). Both are drama, war movies, so they suit a similar mood.
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Timbuktu| Once Upon a Time in the Middle East | Timbuktu | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience score | ★ 9.2/10 | ★ 7.0/10 |
| Year | 2026 | 2014 |
| Length | 2h 20m | 1h 36m |
| Genres | Drama, War | Drama, War |
| Country | – | – |
| Director | Wen Muye | Abderrahmane Sissako |
| Main cast | Aarif Rahman, Jiang Qiming, Wei Qing, Michael Koltes, Zhang Xiwei | Ibrahim Ahmed, Toulou Kiki, Layla Walet Mohamed, Abel Jafri, Kettly Noël |
Synopsis
Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
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?
Timbuktu
Just outside of the Malian city of Timbuktu, now occupied by militant Islamic rebels who impose the Sharia on civilians and inconvenience their daily life, a cattleman kills a fisherman.
Where to watch
Where to watch Once Upon a Time in the Middle EastWhere to watch Timbuktu
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