The Promise

PG-13

Released Apr 21, 2017

2 hr. 14 min.

History

Drama

Romance

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List

51%

159 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Brilliant medical student Michael (Oscar Isaac) meets beautiful dance instructor Ana (Charlotte Le Bon) in late 1914. Their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between Michael and Ana's boyfriend (Christian Bale), an American photojournalist who's dedicated to exposing the truth. As the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos, their conflicting passions must be deferred as they join forces to get themselves and their people to safety.

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Critics Consensus

The Promise wastes an outstanding cast and powerful real-life story on a love triangle that frustratingly fails to engage.

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Kathryn V

I just watched this. It almost leaves me with no words. Riveting and sad. Well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Leo P

Wonderful! Absolutely fabulous!Great cast and direction.Film that deals with the first genocide of our time with historical accuracy and poignant compassion.The movie makes the viewer ask questions more actual today than ever:How great must human suffering become before anyone reacts?Yet, there are heros among us with extraordinary courage,who insist that helping the weakest is the duty of every man.Can't wait to see the movie one more time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/20/23

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Emilliano Jr S

A love triangle story that is unnecessary to make us care about Armenian genocide.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/23

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S R

A good premise that I was interested in learning more about. However, it took things too far and was too one sided in its portrayal of the genocide. Regardless, it still has some beauty to it despite the odd plot that did not always make sense. Nor did the self-nobility of the reporter's character really make sense when he was a minority living in a foreign country pushing his own values. It was on HBO.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

An absolute heart wrenching movie with a believable love story and an even better story of the survival of the Armenian people during the Armenian genocide.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Unfettered S

The film is good. Like it said in the name, it's about a promise of a young armanian who wanted to be a doctor. But the turkey took advice from german and do a systematic genocide. I wondered how did this movie didn't even get its own worth.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/22

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Terry George

Director

Oscar Isaac

Michael Boghosian

Charlotte Le Bon

Ana Khesarian

Christian Bale

Chris Myers

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Marta Boghosian

Marwan Kenzari

Emre Ogan

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97%

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11%

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The Promise: Trailer 2

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The Promise: Trailer 1

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Director Terry George brings to this story a special gift, honed in his Hotel Rwanda (2004), for choreographing the chaos of civil collapse, and the three stars serve him well.

Apr 17, 2020

Full Review

Kristen Lopez

Culturess

The first major representation of the Armenian genocide boasts solid acting but falls short of the mark by a hokey, old-fashioned romance.

Nov 20, 2017

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Rex Reed

Observer

Terry George ... proved with Hotel Rwanda that he can tackle the wrenching subject of genocide with thrilling cinematic results. A wonderful cast adds no-fail polish.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 5, 2017

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Movies like Lawrence of Arabia and Reds had the ability to sweep viewers away with their passion and grandeur. The only sweeping to be found in this case will be by the theater employee tasked with removing spilled popcorn from the auditorium floor.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 17, 2021

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

The Promise can... be faulted for a plot that is so dense that even attentive viewers can be excused for wondering, What's going on here?

Jun 8, 2020

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

Not a great work, the film still manages to pack a great deal of power into its punches.

May 6, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Brilliant medical student Michael (Oscar Isaac) meets beautiful dance instructor Ana (Charlotte Le Bon) in late 1914. Their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between Michael and Ana's boyfriend (Christian Bale), an American photojournalist who's dedicated to exposing the truth. As the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos, their conflicting passions must be deferred as they join forces to get themselves and their people to safety.

Director: Terry George
Executive Producer: Kirk Kerkorian, Ralph Winter, Denise O'Dell, Mark Albela, Anthony Mandekic, Patricia L. Glaser, Dan Taylor, Sheri Sani
Screenwriter: Terry George, Robin Swicord
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Survival Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Disturbing Images|Thematic Material|Violence|War Atrocities)
Genre: History, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.0M

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