The Promise is a film.
In the motion picture industry , a `` box office bomb '' or `` box office flop '' is a film that is considered highly unsuccessful or unprofitable during its theatrical run , often following significant hype regarding its cost , production , or marketing efforts . The Promise is a 2016 American historical drama film directed by Terry George and starring Oscar Isaac , Charlotte Le Bon and Christian Bale , set in the final years of the Ottoman Empire . The film premiered on September 11 , 2016 , at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released in the United States on April 21 , 2017 , by Open Road Films . The film was a box office bomb , grossing just $ 8 million against its $ 90 million budget , although the studio noted the main purpose of the film was to bring attention to the story , not make money .