I Was a Stranger Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Last modified: Dec. 11, 2025

I Was a Stranger

Coming Out: Friday, January 9, 2026 Limited

A doctor, a soldier, a smuggler, a father, and a captain. In a world divided by borders and war, five lives intersect in the pursuit of safety and belonging. Their journeys reveal the heartbreak and fragile beauty of those who dare to start over.

Director: Brandt Andersen

Starring: Omar Sy • Jay Abdo • Mahmoud Bakri • Saleh Bakri • Ziad Bakri

N/A Drama N/A

76% WILL SEE 24% WON'T SEE

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Plot – What's the story about?

Plot: 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 a night in the Mediterranean, where survival is uncertain, and humanity is revealed in its rawest form.

Drama

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Will you see I Was a Stranger?

76% of people who rated this movie are planning to watch it.

24% of people have indicated they do not plan to see this movie.

Who stars in I Was a Stranger – Cast List

O
Omar Sy
The Call of the Wild, The Strangers' Case
J
Jay Abdo
A Hologram For The King
M
Mahmoud Bakri
To a Land Unknown
S
Saleh Bakri
All That’s Left Of You, The Teacher
Z
Ziad Bakri
The Strangers' Case, The Weekend Away

Who is making I Was a Stranger – Crew List

A look at I Was a Stranger behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Brandt Andersen last helmed The Strangers' Case.

Director: Brandt Andersen
Screenwriters: —

Studio: Angel Studios
Production Companies: —

Production – What we know about the I Was a Stranger

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Sep 2025

Completed

Changed I Was a Stranger movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating: N/A Not available
Runtime: N/A
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Not available
Language: English

I Was a Stranger Trailers and Clips

I Was a Stranger

Official Trailer #2

I Was a Stranger

Official Trailer

I Was a Stranger Release Date: When is the film coming out?

I Was a Stranger is scheduled for release in limited movie theaters on Friday, January 9 , 2026. There are 18 18 other movies scheduled for release on the same date, including Greenland 2: Migration, Primate and Oscar Shaw. As a limited release, I Was a Stranger will be shown in select movie theaters in major markets. Check local listings to see if the film is playing in your area.