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The Promise

Play trailer 2:32 Poster for The Promise PG-13 2017 2h 14m History Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Promise

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alexander M Had low expectations but that was my mistake. Beautiful movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/27/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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

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The Promise

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Movie Info

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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