What's it about?

When a Syrian doctor is forced to flee Aleppo with her young daughter, one desperate choice sets off a chain of events that ripples across borders and pulls four strangers into the same storm. A smuggler trying to save his son. A soldier wrestling with his conscience. A poet searching for home. A Greek coast guard captain caught between duty and mercy. Their paths collide on one night in the Mediterranean, where survival is uncertain and humanity is revealed in its rawest form. I Was a Stranger is a tense, deeply human story about the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

When is the release date?

I Was a Stranger will be released in theaters in the US and Canada on January 9, 2026.

International release dates and locations will be announced accordingly.

What is it rated?

I Was a Stranger has been assigned an MPA rating of PG-13 for Strong Violence, Content/Bloody Images, Thematic Materials, A Racial Slur, and Smoking.

This film offers an unflinching and no-punches-pulled portrayal of war. While certain scenes may be intense and emotionally charged, they are intended to authentically represent the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of the individuals and families depicted in the film. This realism is essential to honoring the true weight of their stories, and acknowledging the struggles of all who have been affected by this crisis.

What is the runtime?

1 hr 43 min

Will there be Closed Captioning?

We are making the following language options available to theaters:

English: Dubbing, Caption Subtitles, SDH, and Audio Description

Spanish: Dubbing, Caption Subtitles, and SDH

French: Dubbing and Caption Subtitles

Please contact your local theater directly to make sure they have the capability to provide those to you.

Is this film in English?

Because the film centers on the lives of those affected by the Syrian refugee crisis and is largely set in Syria, the filmmaker has made a deliberate effort to use accurate dialects and languages to authentically portray these stories. To ensure the film remains accessible, subtitles are provided for all scenes not spoken in English.

Is this based on a true story?

I Was a Stranger is inspired by 14 million true stories of displaced Syrians. All of the stories portrayed in the film are based on real events and people. The fictional element lies in how the five stories have been woven together to create a continuous narrative.

Where can I watch it?

I Was a Stranger will be released exclusively in theaters starting January 9, 2026! Most theaters don’t publish showtimes until about 6 weeks before the release of a film, so keep checking back at angel.com/tickets for showtimes near you!

Where can I learn more about the I Was a Stranger giveaway?

To learn more about how you can enter the I Was a Stranger giveaway, visit https://www.angel.com/giveaway/i-was-a-stranger

How do I book a private theater?

https://www.angel.com/blog/angel-studios/posts/how-to-book-a-private-theater