The Promise

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2:32

The Promise

PG-13

Released Apr 21, 2017

2h 14m

History

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

157 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

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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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

Full Review

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

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Roslyn D

Its a stunning movie. I am not generally a fan of war movies but this one is a must see. I started watching it on SBS and was hooked from the first scene. It documents an important and little known aspect of WW1 but with a plot,characters and a love story that engages from the first moment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

Aren M

It’s a very beautiful movie, and does a great job showing the hardship and the selflessness of the Young Turks. It’s a great movie to show and teach people about the Armenian Genocide. I have no idea why the “critics” are calling this movie bad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

Full Review

Thomas S

So moving and a magnificent film set against the massacre of one and a half million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. Excellent acting and action scenes showing the courage of these brave people

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

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Alain E

My family roots are from Asia Minor and I would have liked to enjoy this movie but it looks fake from the get go.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

Full Review

Bobby E

I believe the Rotton Tomatoe critics are not a credible review source . Look at the audience reviews or the Popcorn meter . The Promise is an outstanding story , well structured for the screen . Excellent cast , locations , cinemaphotography and script . Rotton Tomatoes has lost their feel for cinema .

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

Toni A

This has been one of the best movies I have seen all year, if not decade. It made me cry, it made me think, it made me love.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

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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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The Promise: Trailer 2

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The Promise: Trailer 1

2:28

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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
Producer: Eric Esrailian, Mike Medavoy, William Horberg
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
Runtime: 2h 14m

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