Wednesday, 14 October 2026 Updated 58 min ago
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‘Once Upon in the Middle East’ Review: China’s Oscar Entry Is a Breakneck Blockbuster That Mixes Food Porn With Wartime Devastation

Not since Zhang Yimou’s 2002 wuxia spectacle “Hero” has China landed an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature — and this dry spell surely won’t be…

Once Upon a Time in the Middle East
Image: Variety · via Variety

Variety reports: Not since Zhang Yimou’s 2002 wuxia spectacle “Hero” has China landed an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature — and this dry spell surely won’t be broken with this year’s bombastic submission “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East.”

Like most of the country’s entries over the past decade, this blockbuster epic — a.

This entertainment story centres on China. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include China’s Oscar Entry Is, Middle East’ Review and Breakneck Blockbuster That Mixes.

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Stories from the arts and entertainment world often reflect wider cultural conversations.

Key details

Location
China · Asia
Reported by
Variety
First reported
Key names
China’s Oscar Entry Is, Middle East’ Review, Breakneck Blockbuster That Mixes, Food Porn With Wartime
Section
Entertainment

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

Read the full story at Variety

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