What to know

critics consensus

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

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

The Promise Videos

View All Videos (2)

The Promise Photos

View All Photos (40)

Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Disturbing Images|Thematic Material|Violence|War Atrocities)
  • Genre:
    drama, romance, history
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Terry George
  • Producer:
    Eric Esrailian, Mike Medavoy, William Horberg
  • Writer:
    Terry George, Robin Swicord
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $8.0M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Survival Pictures

Cast & Crew

Oscar Isaac
Michael Boghosian
Charlotte Le Bon
Ana Khesarian
Christian Bale
Chris Myers
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Marta Boghosian
Marwan Kenzari
Emre Ogan
Angela Sarafyan
Maral
Rade Serbedzija
Stephan
Igal Naor
Mesrob
Numan Acar
Mustafa
Milene Mayer
Yeva
Terry George
Director
Terry George
Screenwriter
Robin Swicord
Screenwriter
Eric Esrailian
Producer
Mike Medavoy
Producer
William Horberg
Producer
Kirk Kerkorian
Executive Producer
Ralph Winter
Executive Producer
Denise O'Dell
Executive Producer
Mark Albela
Executive Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for The Promise

Box Office: Latin Lover and Baahubali 2‘s Big Weekend
Box Office: Fate Races Closer to Billion Dollar Mark
Lost City of Z and Fargo Season 3 Are Certified Fresh
View All

Critic Reviews for The Promise

All Critics (160) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (81) | Rotten (79)

  • 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.

    April 17, 2020 | Full Review…

    J. R. Jones

    Chicago Reader

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

    November 20, 2017 | Full Review…

    Kristen Lopez

    Culturess

  • 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.

    September 5, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Rex Reed

    Observer

  • As one might expect, the horrors and the normalisation of same are deftly handled, even when the dialogue is overloaded with historical and political details.

    June 14, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Tara Brady

    Irish Times

  • It's a handsome film and George manages to keep the genocide in focus with shots of the Turks herding long lines of refugees across the desert expanses. But the full horror is kept at one remove.

    June 14, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Sandra Hall

    Sydney Morning Herald

  • With its sugary soft-focus, treacle-toned cinematography, over-masticated fake Turkish accents and cloying love triangle device, this is film that delivers more empty calories than historical sustenance.

    April 30, 2017 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Wendy Ide

    Observer (UK)
View All Critic Reviews (160)

Audience Reviews for The Promise

  • Sep 06, 2017
    "The Promise" tells an important story. The acting and costumes are reasonably good, but it seems as if it might have been a bit watered-down -- almost like a Hallmark presentation of the Armenian genocide. It's good, but it could have been a lot better.
    Christian C Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

The Promise Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides