Once Upon a Time in Gaza (2025): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2025, Once Upon a Time in Gaza is a drama film directed by Tarzan Nasser, running about 87 minutes.

What it’s about. In 2007, Yahya works at his friend Osama’s falafel shop in Gaza, which doubles as a drug dealing front. His entanglement leads him to witness a terrible crime. A couple years later, Gaza’s Ministry of Culture randomly chooses Yahya to star in a TV series that highlights martyrs and heroes of the resistance. As conflict simmers in the distance, Yahya unexpectedly receives real weapons, heightening the stakes as the show provides him with an opportunity to confront the perpetrator of the offense that changed his life.

Who’s in it. Once Upon a Time in Gaza stars Nader Abd Alhay as Yahya, Majd Eid as Osama, Ramzi Maqdisi as Abou Sami and Is'haq Elias as The Director, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, Once Upon a Time in Gaza has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Once Upon a Time in Gaza page.

If you liked it. Fans of Once Upon a Time in Gaza tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.