Each person has a favourite genre of film, whether comedy, horror, or sci-fi. However, it is not just the genre of the movie that makes it appeal to different people; it is also the subject. Most foodies love to watch a film that revolves around food, and there are some excellent examples of food-related movies for almost every genre. Many of these have enjoyed commercial success and also received great critical acclaim. If you enjoy movies featuring food, here are 35 of the best movies about food to watch this year.
35 Best Movies About Food
1. Chef (2014)- Winner of the Best Movies About Food
One of the best movies about food is the 2014 film ‘Chef’. Not only does Jon Favreau star in this film, but he is also the writer, director, and co-producer. It is about a chef who tires of working in an upscale restaurant and producing the same food over and over again. He wants to get back to his culinary roots, so he opens a truck selling Cuban sandwiches and yucca fries. As he travels around the different states in his truck, he starts introducing new dishes based on the traditional cuisine of the states, and he serves them in an innovative way. This comedy-drama film also starred Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara, and Oliver Platt.
2. Chocolat (2000)
The screenplay for this romantic-drama film was written by Robert Nelson Jacobs, and it is based on the novel of the same name by Joanne Harris. A woman and her son move to a repressed French Village, then the woman opens a chocolaterie. The woman and her shop soon begin to have an influence on the lives of the villagers. ‘Chocolat’ was directed by Lasse Hallstrom, and it starred Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench, and Lena Olin.
3. Ratatouille – Best of the Animated Movies About Food
A computer-animated comedy film, ‘Ratatouille’ is one of the best movies about food for all the family as it is loved by adults and children alike. It is about a rat who loves cooking and wants to become a chef, but nobody wants a rat in the kitchen. This film features the voices of Panton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, and Janeane Garofalo. Brad Bird directed the movie and also wrote the screenplay. ‘Ratatouille’ was well-received by critics. It was also commercially successful, as it grossed $260.7 million from a budget of $150 million.
4. Big Night (1996)
‘Big Night’ is about two brothers running an Italian restaurant who are struggling after a rival restaurant opens nearby, says IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115678/). To make their business stand out from the competition, they plan a big event. Stanley Tucci co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in this movie. The film also starred Tony Shalhoub and Marc Anthony.
5. Babette’s Feast (1987)
Released in 1987, ‘Babette’s Feast is a foreign language film. Gabriel Axel wrote and directed this movie. Starring in this film were Stephanie Audran, Brigitte Federspiel, and Bodil Kjer. It is about a pastor and his two daughters living in a desolate area along the coast. They are sent a Parisian woman as their cook, and she plans a big feast to tempt the formerly dwindling congregation.
6. Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
Nominated for multiple awards, ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ is a Mexican film that was released in 1992. At that time, it was the highest-grossing Spanish-language film released in the United States of all time, as it grossed $21.6 million at the US box office. The film was written by Laura Esquivel and directed by Alfonso Arau.
7. The Lunchbox (2013)- One of the Best Movies About Food with Subtitles
A lesser-known film but still one worth watching, if you can cope with reading the subtitles, is ‘The Lunchbox’. Ritesh Batra wrote and directed this Indian epistolary romantic film. It starred Imfra Khan, Nimrat Kaur, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. This is the highest-grossing film starring Imfra Khan as it grossed $17.2 million at the box office from a budget of only $3.1 million. The film is about the important role the lunchboxes a woman prepares for her husband has on their relationship.
8. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
In 2006, American author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote the book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. This was a memoir she wrote after getting divorced and feeling lost in life. She embarks on a journey around the world. In Italy, she discovers the pleasures of food, then learns about prayer in India before travelling to Indonesia to learn about true love. In 2010, Julia Roberts starred in the film version of this memoir. The movie was directed by Ryan Murphy, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Salt.
9. The Boss (2016)
Melissa McCarthy stars in this comedy film about a businesswoman whose life falls apart. McCarthy plays the role of the boss, who runs her business like a dictatorship and treats her employees like dirt. When she ends up in jail and loses her business, the former businesswoman is forced to stay at the home of her former PA, who has a young daughter. The little girl makes brownies and cookies to sell as she is in the Dandelion Girls Club. McCarthy’s character sees a business opportunity to start a company selling cookies. Along the way, her negative personality traits get in the way of things running smoothly. McCarthy co-wrote this movie with her husband, Ben Falcone, and Steve Mallory. Ben Falcone was also the director of the film.
10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)- One of the Best Movies About Food in the Fantasy Musical Genre
Based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, this musical fantasy film was released in 2005. Tim Burton is the director of this film, and his style and imagination are clear throughout in the way he has interpreted Dahl’s work. Johnny Depp plays the role of the eccentric factory owner, Willy Wonka. There are some magical scenes in this film, which makes it one for all the family to watch. As you would expect from a film linked to big names such as Burton and Depp, this movie was both a critical and commercial success. Made on a budget of $150 million, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ grossed $475 million at the worldwide box office.
11. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Also based on Roald Dahl’s book ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is an earlier interpretation of the book that was released in 1971. This version was directed by Mel Stuart and starred Gene Wilder in the role of Willy Wonka. It was nominated for multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Score.
12. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover (1989)
Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Gambon, Richard Bohringer, and Alan Howard, this 1989 crime drama film was directed by Peter Greenway. It is considered a cult film and is known for its graphic violence and nude scenes. After its release, the film was praised for its formalism and innovative cinematography. The storyline revolves around a gangster taking over a restaurant. This is one of the best films about food for those who also enjoy crime themes.
13. Waitress (2007)
Keri Russell stars in this comedy-drama film about a waitress stuck in a small town with an abusive husband, and she also experiences an unwanted pregnancy. The movie was written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, who also played a supporting role in the film. It was Shelly’s last film appearance before her death. ‘Waitress’ made its debut at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
14. Julie and Julia (2009)
Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Amy Adams, and Chris Messina star in this 2009 comedy-drama film. The film compares Julia Child when she was a young chef with Julie Powell, who is a young New Yorker who has challenged herself to cook the 524 recipes in a cookbook written by Child in just 365 days. She then publishes her efforts towards the challenge on her blog and becomes a popular author. Nora Ephron wrote and directed this movie.
15. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)- Best Documentary Movie About Food
Directed by David Gelb, this documentary film follows Jiro Ono, who is an octogenarian sushi master who owns a three Michelin-starred restaurant called Sukiyabashi Jiro. The chef’s two sons are also trained sushi chefs who feature alongside their father in the film. The documentary film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and has a rating of 99 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. This is one of the best films about food for those who want to learn about the skills required to create award-winning Japanese food.
17. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
One of the best films about food for all the family to watch is the 2009 animated film ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’. The film is loosely based on a book of the same name that was published in 1978. It is about an aspiring inventor who creates a wonderful machine that converts water into food. Things get out of control when the machine starts to create food storms, and the inventor must take action to save the world. Phil Lord is the director and co-writer of the screenplay. This is definitely one of the best movies about food for kids.
18. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
The sequel to ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs’, this film was based on an original idea and was co-directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn. The food machine survives the explosion in the prequel, so its inventor must once again save the world from the food storms and its newfound ability to create food beasts.
19. The Five-Year Engagement
‘The Five-Year Engagement’ is about a sous chef and a PhD graduate who become engaged. As their careers take different paths, their engagement is repeatedly extended to accommodate their life changes. It stars Emily Blunt alongside Jason Segel in the leading roles, while Chris Pratt and Alison Brie play supporting roles in this film. This romantic comedy was directed by Nicholas Stoller, who co-wrote the film with Jason Segel.
20. I Am Love (2009)
An Italian romantic drama, most of this film revolves around a formal meal hosted by a wealthy family. Luca Guadagnino was the director and co-writer of the film. It starred Tilda Swinton, while Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Alba Rohrwacher, and Pippo Delbono also have starring roles. The movie was developed over an 11-year period.
21. Baby Boom (1987)- One of the Best Movies About Food with the Cute Factor
Starring Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard, this movie is about a successful businesswoman whose world is turned upside down when her relative dies and leaves her daughter for the businesswoman to care for. She gives up her career, moves to the country, and then adjusts to a life of domesticity. She begins making her own baby food using the apples from the orchard and realizes she has an opportunity to start her own business.
22. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
Released in 1994, this comedy-drama film was written, directed, and co-produced by Ang Lee. In the year of its release, this film won the Asia Pacific Film Festival Award for Best Film. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film the following year. Several of those who starred in this film had previously had roles in other Ang Lee films, such as Sihung Lung and Ah Lei Gua. It is about a Taiwanese widower who is a master chef. He has three unmarried daughters living with him, each of whom is facing different challenges. Their father brings the family together with his elaborate meals.
23. Tortilla Soup (2001)
Based on the film ‘Eat Drink Man Woman’, this film is about a semi-retired Mexican American chef who enjoys making elaborate meals for his three daughters, the rest of the extended family, and also friends. It was directed by Maria Ripoll and starred Hector Alzondo, Jacqueline Orbradors, Elizabeth Pena, Tamara Mello, and Raquel Welch. The film received a good response from critics and moviegoers, despite being a low-budget film.
24. Mostly Martha (2001)
The winner of the Creteil International Women’s Film Festival Grand Prix Award in 2001, ‘Mostly Martha’ is a German romantic comedy film. It is about a chef who has to make some major changes in her personal and professional life due to tragic circumstances. Sandra Nettelbeck is both the writer and the director of this movie. The film stars Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto, and Maxime Foerste.
25. Burnt (2015)
If you are a fan of Bradley Cooper, then you will probably love this film. Alongside Cooper, there is an ensemble cast, including Sienna Miller, Daniel Bruhl, Matthew Rhys, Omar Sy, Emma Thompson, Uma Thurman, Alicia Vikander, and Riccardo Scamarcio. Steven Knight wrote the screenplay based on a story by Michael Kalesniko, although John Wells directed the film. Cooper is a talented chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant until he destroys his career through drug abuse, leading to temperamental behaviour. Then, he turns his life around after moving and becomes a chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant once again.
26. No Reservations (2007)
Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, and Patricia Clarkson, this 2007 romantic comedy-drama film was directed by Scott Hicks. It is about a career-focused chef whose life is turned around when her sister is killed in an accident, and she takes on her young niece. It was moderately commercially successful, taking $92 million at the worldwide box office even though it was a low-budget film. The storyline of this film was the basis for the storyline of ‘Mostly Martha’.
27. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Although not strictly speaking about food, much of the storyline of this film revolves around the Greek family restaurant. This romantic comedy is about a young woman who works at the family restaurant and believes that she is destined for a life as a spinster until she meets the man of her dreams. The only thing getting in their way is her overbearing Greek family. This film stars Nia Vardalos, who also wrote the film, alongside John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, and Louise Mandylor.
28. Delicatessen (1991)- Best Movies About Food with a Dark Theme
A post-apocalyptic black comedy, this film is based in France. When food is in short supply, the locals begin using food as currency. The butcher’s shop acquires meat from some very dubious sources, as the butcher is also the landlord of the apartments above, and the tenants start to disappear. Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro were the co-directors of this film.
29. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008)
Following along on a similar theme, ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ revolves around a fictional butcher from London. According to urban legend, this barber murdered his clients and used their meat as a filling for pies that he sold to the locals. Like many films directed by Tim Burton, this 2007 musical period slasher film has a dark streak running throughout. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter appear both in this Burton movie and many more of his works. It also stars Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, and Sacha Baron Cohen. If you love the collaborations between Burton, Depp, and BOnham-Carter, then you will love this movie.
30. Love’s Kitchen (2011)
Originally, this film was called ‘No Ordinary Trifle’, but the name was later changed. It is a British romantic comedy. Dougray Scott plays the lead male role, while Claire Forlani is the lead female. It also stars Michelle Ryan, Simon Callow, and Gordon Ramsay. For the latter, this was his first acting role. It is about a grief-stricken chef just after he is widowed. His grief impacts the success of his restaurant, thus leading him to relocate and start again. He finds love again and opens a new, successful restaurant.
31. Tampopo (1985)- Best Movies About Food Produced in Japan
According to Wikipedia, Tampopo is a Japanese comedy film. Juzo Itami is both the writer and the director of the film. It was the first Japanese version of a Spaghetti Western. This led to a newly formed genre of film that was playfully called a ramen western as the film revolves around a ramen noodle shop. This film was originally released in Japan in 1985 and then in the United States in 1987. A 4K film restoration with English subtitles came later in October 2016. It is one of the best movies about food to come from Japan.
32. Mystic Pizza (1988)
The coming-of-age film, ‘Mystic Pizza’ was directed by Donald Petrie. It starred Julia Roberts and Annabeth Gish, with Vincent Phillip D’Onofrio, Lil Taylor, Adam Storke, and William R. Moses also having leading roles in the film. It is about two sisters who are very different, both in terms of their personalities and their aspirations. They work together with their best friend as waitresses at Mystic Pizza. This film grossed $14 million on a budget of $6 million. It is probably something a little different from other films you have seen starring Julia Roberts, but it is worth a watch.
33. Dinner Rush (2000)
This American independent feature film was directed by Bob Giraldi and written by Brian S. Kalata and Rick Shaughnessy. The main location for the movie is a restaurant in the Tribeca neighbourhood of New York, and the storyline is about a restaurateur and his son, who is the restaurant’s sous chef. Organized crime is also a secondary theme for this movie, as the restaurant is a base and cover. Danny Aiello plays the restaurateur, while Edoardo Ballerini plays his son.
34. Good Burger (1997)
Brian Robbins directed this 1997 comedy film that stars Kenan Thompson alongside Kel Mitchell. The film is based on a comedy sketch that was featured in ‘All That’, which was a Nickelodeon series. It is about two young guys working together at a fast-food burger joint. Although the film received mixed reviews from critics, it did reasonably well commercially, considering it was a low-budget movie. It grossed $23.7 million at the worldwide box office, despite a budget of just $8.5 million. Although the humour may not appeal to everyone, it is still one of the best movies about food in the comedy category.
35. The Van (1996)- One of the Best Movies About Food Produced in Ireland
‘The Van’ is based on a novel of the same name by Roddy Doyle. All three books in the trilogy became films set in Ireland. ‘The Commitments’ was the first in 1991, followed by ‘The Snapper’ in 1993. The Van is about a baker who is made redundant and then uses his redundancy money to start a fish and chip business from a van. Stephen Frears directed the film, which stars Colin Meaney and Donal O’Kelly.
Best Movies About Food Ideas
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