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Celluloid
DramaCrime Editor's Pick

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Review (2011) — 84% Celluloid Score

Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan · 2011 ·

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary: Is Once Upon a Time in Anatolia worth watching?

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (95%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%).

Quick Verdict: What is the Celluloid Score for Once Upon a Time in Anatolia?

Averaged from five public sources (critic, audience, Metascore, Letterboxd, IMDb). See how we calculate scores.

84%
Celluloid Score Recommended

Five-source breakdown

95% Critic Score
82% Audience
82 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1
7.8 IMDb /10
Watch Trailer
Runtime
2h 43m
Cast
Muhammet Uzuner , Yılmaz Erdoğan , Taner Birsel , Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan , Fırat Tanış , Ercan Kesal , Erol Eraslan , Burhan Yıldız , Murat Kılıç , Şafak Karali
Country
Turkey
Language
Turkish

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — currently on TV+, HBO Max in Turkey. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Apple TV

Buy: Apple TV

Why this score?

  • Strong critic approval (95% positive).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (82%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (82/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
  • Celluloid Score 84% averages all five public rating sources — our own composite, not a third-party trademark score.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, crime pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
  • Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Is Once Upon a Time in Anatolia worth watching?

    Yes — Once Upon a Time in Anatolia earns a 84% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

    Critics Consensus

    Ceylan’s nocturnal procedural — Grand Prix at Cannes — remains the international face of the Turkish new wave nurtured alongside Antalya’s national competition.

    Celluloid Critics Consensus

    Critics (95%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%).

    What is Once Upon a Time in Anatolia about?

    A group of men lead a search for a victim of a murder to whom a suspect named Kenan and his mentally challenged brother confessed. However, the search is proving more difficult than expected as Kenan is fuzzy as to the body's location. As the group continues looking and the night begins dragging on, its members can't help but chat with each other about everyday life, as the conversations turn more and more serious, revealing their deeper secrets and profound stories.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    critic Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

    Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) Review

    Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) remains a defining Drama landmark from Turkey, with scores that still shape how audiences discover the title.

    Essential viewing — a certified classic.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Once Upon a Time in Anatolia stills

    6 TMDB backdrops — open stills gallery

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet — be the first helpful voice.

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