25 Foodie Movies That Will Make You Want to Cook
Movies, like books, have the power to transport us to different worlds. Foodie films take it a step further, engaging all our senses and leaving us craving the dishes we see on screen. If only we had smell-o-vision, the experience of watching the best cooking movies would be truly immersive! As a lover of both movies and cooking, I’m excited to share my top 25 foodie movies that will make you want to cook – they are listed in alphabetical order because ranking them was impossible!
Ranging from as early as 1971 to contemporary gems these movies include kids movies to adult movies from animated movies to documentaries to romance and more. This list includes release dates, streaming availability, star casts, a brief overview of each film, and my thoughts. I hope that these films will spark your culinary creativity and become new favorites. Oh, and remember that movies come and go from streaming services every day so make sure you check out one of my favorite websites Just Watch to see where these movies are now streaming.
Don’t forget to make your favorite snacks to enhance your taste buds as you watch – and if you aren’t sure what to cook I made some suggestions for each movie.
A Dash of Love (2017)
Storyline: Nikki is an aspiring chef who lands an assistant job at her idol’s restaurant. Even though she doesn’t have the best start at her job she befriends the handsome executive chef, Paul. Her boss fires both Paul and Nikki when they realize she is stealing Nikki’s recipes. They create their own pop-up restaurant and find love is the missing ingredient in their lives.
Stars: Jen Lilley, Brendan Penny, Peri Gilpin, Kandyse McClure
My Thoughts: Such a cute and romantic movie – perfect for a date night. I am huge Hallmark fan and this is one of their best movies. Don’t forget to make some delicious popcorn to have while watching.
Streaming On: Hallmark Movies Now
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Storyline: Sasha and Marcus, childhood friends lose touch for 15 years after a falling out. When Sasha, now a celebrity chef, returns to her hometown of San Francisco to open a new restaurant, she runs into her old friend. They reluctantly reconnect and find some sparks.
Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau
My Thoughts: Always Be My Maybe is a laugh-out-loud funny comedy and romance starring two Asian leads. Plus, one of my favorite actors ever, Keanu Reeves, has a guest spot and it’s hysterically funny. A great movie to watch anytime – would be great with a nice stir-fry!
Streaming On: Netflix
Bottle Shock (2008)
Storyline: Steven Spurrier, a sommelier in Paris, organizes a blind wine taste test in Paris – pitting Napa Valley wines against French wines. There’s family drama, love, victory and fermentation all in one movie.
Stars: Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, and Rachael Taylor
My Thoughts: Based on a true story of the “Judgement of Paris” this is a fascinating and entertaining movie. I was instantly transported to the late 1970s in Northern California (or at least what I imagine them to be since I was born in 79). A nice chardonnay would pair great with this movie.
Streaming On: Prime Video
Burnt (2015)
Storyline: Chef Adam Jones who has lost it all due to drugs and bad behavior. After cleaning himself up he returns to London for redemption. To win his third Michelin star he will have to win back his friends and his sous chef Helene.
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Bruhl, Riccardo Scamarcio, Omar Sy
My Thoughts: A great movie that shows how you can rebuild your life even after addiction. As someone who has lived with an alcoholic, this movie hits home. For me this movie calls for comfort snacks while watching.
Streaming On: Netflix, Fubo, Paramount+
Butter (2011)
Storyline: Set in Iowa, a young girl in foster care discovers her talent for butter carving. She finds herself in an all-out butter war with an uptight ambitious local woman.
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Yara Shahidi, Hugh Jackman, Ty Burrell, Olivia Wilde, Alicia Silverstone, Rob Corddry
My Thoughts: When I watched Butter, I was shocked by the star-studded cast and even more surprised I hadn’t watched it when it was first released. It’s funny and heartwarming – definitely worth the watch. Of course anything with butter would be great to have with this movie but why not make a batch of butter cookies to enjoy.
Streaming On: Prime Video
Chef (2014)
Storyline: An acclaimed chef quits his restaurant job after a now-viral confrontation with a restaurant critic. With his job and family in shambles, his ex-wife suggests opening a food truck and cooking on his own terms. He breathes live into an old food truck and rediscovers his love of cooking and his family.
Stars: Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, and Sofia Vergara
My Thoughts: Love this movie – it’s one of those movies that sticks with you and anytime you see it on you want to watch it again. I don’t know if I will ever get tired of it. A great snack to have for this movie is a delicious grilled cheese – I love mine with swiss cheese and dill pickles.
Streaming On: Starz
Chocolat (2000)
Storyline: In the late 1950’s a free-spirited French woman and her young daughter open a chocolate shop in a very traditional Catholic village.
Stars: Jonny Depp, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judi Dench
My Thoughts: I had previously seen snippets of this movie but never the whole thing and it wasn’t anything like I expected. It had so much depth and meaning and I loved it. I was craving some chocolate after watching this great film! Of course you have to have some chocolate while watching this and my first choice is homemade chocolate fudge.
Streaming On: Prime Video, Fubo, Paramount+, Hoopla and Showtime
Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Storyline: A young scientist who is thought of as a failure invents a machine that makes food, including meatballs, fall from the sky. Unfortunately, chaos ensues when the machine has problems.
Stars: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Neil Patrick Harris
My Thoughts: A kid’s movie that every adult will love too. It was cute, funny and heartwarming. A must-see for all. Would be fun to watch while eating spaghetti and meatballs.
Streaming On: Peacock and Paramount+
Groundswell (2022)
Storyline: After a personal and professional setback, a chef, Emma, travels to Hawaii. While there she meets a surf instructor, Ben, who helps her find her way again.
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Ektor Rivera, Tracy Yamamoto, Omar Bustamante
My Thoughts: I’m a huge Hallmark fan, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed this movie. It included beautiful scenery, delicious food, and love. Any Hawaiian dish would be a great addition to your movie night with this movie.
Streaming On: Hallmark Movies Now
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Storyline: Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master works in his renowned Tokyo restaurant in this documentary of his life. He is still in pursuit of the perfect piece of sushi while his eldest son works with him.
Stars: Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono, Masuhiro Yamamoto, Daisuke Nakazama
My Thoughts: A fantastic documentary about Jiro a sushi master who had three Michelin stars. It was so interesting learning about how one becomes a sushi master and the training they go through. Even though it is in Japanese with English subtitles it was really good and even made me laugh a few times. Of course, you need your favorite sushi while watching this documentary.
Streaming On: Hulu, Prime Video, Fubo, and Peacock
Julie & Julia (2009)
Storyline: This movie tells the story of blogger Julie Powell’s 2002 challenge to cook all of the recipes in Julia Child’s first book. At the same time, we are seeing Julia Child’s own cooking journey.
Stars: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, and Chris Messina
My Thoughts: When you ask people to think of a food movie – Julie & Julia will be the most mentioned movie. I loved this movie and how it told the two stories simultaneously. Plus, the love of butter shown throughout the movie reaches out to my own heart. One of my favorite Julia Child recipes is Beouf Bourguignon and would pair great with this movie – just be advised you need to start it about five hours before you want to watch the movie.
Streaming On: Not currently streaming but you can rent it on most services.
Love, Romance & Chocolate (2019)
Storyline: Emma goes on her romantic Valentine’s Day vacation to Belgium alone after her breakup. While in Belgium she meets Luc and joins in to help him compete in a royal chocolate competition.
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Will Kemp, Brittany Bristow, Guillaume Dolmans
My Thoughts: Another great movie from Hallmark full of my favorite things: chocolate and romance! The scenery is stunning as the movie was filmed in Bruges, Belgium, and having taken a quick trip there in college it really is that gorgeous. Of course another movie that pairs perfectly with chocolate.
Streaming On: Hallmark Movies Now, Fubo and Hoopla
Mr. Church (2016)
Storyline: A dying mother and her little girl develop a unique friendship when someone hires Mr. Church to be their cook. A six-month arrangement ends up spanning 15 years and creates a new family.
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry, Christian Madsen, McKenna Grace
My Thoughts: I wasn’t expecting to be so emotionally moved when I watched this movie. The whole movie is centered around food and the love that can be shared through food. Overall, this is in the top 25 movies I have seen in the last few years and a must-see for everyone. The perfect dish with to have with this movie is whatever you love that reminds you of family – mine would be pork chops with mushroom rice.
Streaming On: Plex, Fubo, Freevee and Tubi
No Reservations (2007)
Storyline: A Manhattan master chef, Kate runs a kitchen with intensity and coldness. Her world is turned inside out when her sister dies, and she becomes guardian to Zoe her 10-year-old niece. In all the craziness a new chef, Nick is brought in to help her but causes her distress.
Stars: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson
My Thoughts: No Reservations is a movie that contains it all: comedy, drama, and romance. I really enjoyed it and have seen it a few times over the years. Takeout from your favorite fancy restaurant would be a good match for this movie.
Streaming On: Not currently streaming but you can rent it on most services.
Paris, Wine & Romance (2019)
Storyline: Isabella takes a big leap, as the owner of her family’s winery, to enter a prestigious Paris wine competition. While at the competition she meets Jacques her biggest competitor. He happens to be from one of the most well-known winemaking families in the world. A lot of laughs and love transpire throughout the movie.
Stars: Jen Lilley, Dan Jeannotte, Roxanne McKee, Michael D. Xavier
My Thoughts: It’s not a secret that I love Paris and will watch any movie featuring Paris. This movie didn’t just have pretty scenery it had an endearing love story that made you hope it wouldn’t end. A nice red wine would pair perfectly with this movie – my favorite is Francis Coppola Claret.
Streaming On: Hallmark Movies Now
Ratatouille (2007)
Storyline: A young kitchen worker at a famous Paris restaurant falls into an unusual alliance with a rat who can cook. All kinds of laughs and hijinks ensue throughout the movie.
Stars: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy
My Thoughts: The perfect movie to watch with your kids tonight – don’t worry even the adults will love it. A charcuterie board would be great with this movie – plus your kids can pick what they want from the board and enjoy too!
Streaming On: Disney+
Simply Irresistible (1999)
Storyline: Amanda is a chef struggling to keep the restaurant she inherited from her mother open. She is a bit of a wreck and stumbles upon a magical crab who improves her cooking skills. Tom is a department store executive who is falling in love with Amanda but trying to resist her.
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flanery, Patricia Clarkson, Dylan Baker, Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
My Thoughts: You may not have heard of this movie, but it is a must-see. I first watched this movie shortly after it was released, and I still love it now as much as I did back then. Be prepared to laugh at the craziness that happens throughout the movie. Since the movie craziness begins with a crab that is the perfect meal to serve with this movie.
Streaming On: Not currently streaming but you can rent it on most services.
That's Amor (2022)
Storyline: Sofia loses her job and relationship in one day. After moving back home her mom signs them (her mom and her) up for a couples Spanish cooking class series. In the class, Sofia meets a young Spanish chef and hits it off with him.
Stars: Riley Dandy, Isaac Gonzalez Rossi, Daniel Edward Mora
My Thoughts: I love that Netflix is now offering more Romcom movies and this one fits that bill. I love all of the dishes and the way they are showing you how to cook while falling in love. Enjoy a nice paelle while watching this delicious movie.
Streaming On: Netflix
The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)
Storyline: Hassan Kadam and his family flee political violence in India and move to Europe after their family restaurant is destroyed and their mother killed. After arriving in France a car mishap strands the Indian family in a small town where they find a restaurant space for sale. The space is across from a haute French cuisine restaurant with one Michelin star and it soon becomes a rivalry that goes too far. Both sides start to mend fences and lives are changed forever.
Stars: Helen Mirren, Manish Dayal, Om Puri, Charlotte Le Bon
My Thoughts: The Hundred-Foot Journey was a story of rebuilding in many ways and finding what you truly want in life. The storyline was well-written and the cast was amazing. I would definitely watch this again. You have a lot of choices to have while watching this movie from an amazing omelet to pigeon to the perfect curry – it’s viewers choice.
Streaming On: Not currently streaming but you can rent it on most services.
The Ramen Girl (2008)
Storyline: An aimless American young woman, Abby is stranded by her boyfriend shortly after she arrives in Tokyo. She stays in Tokyo at a dull job and is depressed. One night she stumbles into a ramen shop and after tasting the delicious soup, she decides she wants to learn how to make it. Abby speaks very little Japanese, and the Japanese Master Ramen Chef doesn’t speak English.
Stars: Brittany Murphy, Toshiyuki Nishida, Soji Arai, Kimiko Yo, Daniel Evans, Tammy Blanchard, Gabriel Mann
My Thoughts: One of my favorite movies on this list! It was heartwarming, funny, and touching all at the same time. You will find yourself rooting for Abby and hoping she finds her own happiness. Of course, you need a delicious bowl of ramen to enjoy while watching.
Streaming On: Paramount+, Freevee, Hoopla and Showtime
The Sweetest Christmas (2017)
Storyline: Kylie is blindsided by her boyfriend/boss with a promotion instead of a proposal. When she finds out she has made it to the finals of the American Gingerbread Competition she is thrilled – however her oven breaks and she has to ask her old boyfriend from culinary school, Nick, to use his pizza ovens to make her gingerbread.
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Lea Coco, Jonathan Adams, Brenden Sunderland, Lara Gilchrist
My Thoughts: A great movie with lots of food – the gingerbread felt like another character in the movie. It was a sweet treat of a movie and I have seen it a few times! Gingerbread cookies are a must for your viewing pleasure.
Streaming On: Peacock, Hoopla and PlutoTV
Uncorked (2020)
Storyline: Elijah is conflicted between pursuing his dream of becoming a master sommelier and meeting his father’s expectations to take over the family barbecue business.
Stars: Courtney B. Vance, Lashun Pollard, Michael Mobley, Robert Cox, Mamoudou Athie, Sasha Compere, Alicia Ester, Niecy Nash
My Thoughts: When I started watching this movie, I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I was instantly hooked. It is such a well-done movie and showcases how many young people feel about carrying on family businesses vs pursuing their own dreams. Uncorked is a great movie that you should definitely watch. I would pair a great plate of bbq with your favorite wine to enjoy this movie.
Streaming On: Netflix
Waitress (2007)
Storyline: An unhappily married waitress, Jenna, who expresses her emotions through making pies. She finds out she is unexpectedly pregnant. Jenna falls into an accidental relationship with a newcomer to town and attempts to find her own happiness.
Stars: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith, and Cheryl Hines.
My Thoughts: I have loved the story of Waitress, having seen it on Broadway before, and was excited to see the movie version. The movie version was really good, and I enjoyed it almost as much as the musical. Pie is the only acceptable choice for this movie and Sugar, Butter, Flour The Waitress Pie Book has incredible recipes to make.
Streaming On: Starz
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Storyline: Willy Wonka, a reclusive chocolate maker, holds a contest for five lucky people to get to tour the factory by winning one of the golden tickets hidden in his chocolate bars. Young Charlie wants to win so badly but his family is so poor that buying even a single chocolate bar is a luxury. Charlie winds up winning a ticket and takes his Grandpa Joe to tour the magical chocolate factory.
Stars: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, and Jack Albertson.
My Thoughts: One of my favorite movies of all time – I have no idea how many times I’ve seen it but it has probably been at least 20 or more! It’s a fun movie to watch with the whole family. A large chocolate bar is the perfect snack for watching this movie – unfortunately, they won’t have a golden ticket.
Streaming On: Not currently streaming but you can rent it on most services.
Wonka (2023)
Storyline: Willy Wonka may be known for making some of the most delicious chocolate creations but how did his story begin? As a young confectionery genius, he needed to make a name for himself. With the help of new friends, he shows how hard work, and some magic can pay off.
Stars: Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, and Hugh Grant
My Thoughts: When I first heard of this movie, I had no idea it was a musical, but once I found out I had to watch it immediately. Wonka was a feast for the eyes and ears with all the incredible music and scenery throughout the film. I was so happy with the movie and how it showed the beginnings of Willy Wonka. Some chocolate bonbons or an eclair will be great but of course, they won’t have the Wonka magic in them.
Streaming On: Max
Foodie movies have a unique way of blending the art of cinema with the passion of cooking, creating a feast for both the eyes and the soul. From timeless classics to modern masterpieces, each film on this list offers a different flavor of inspiration. Whether you’re an avid cook or simply a movie enthusiast, these 25 films are sure to ignite your culinary creativity and deepen your appreciation for the world of food. So, grab some popcorn (or perhaps something a bit more gourmet), settle in, and let these 25 foodie movies that will make you want to cook inspire you today. Happy watching and happy cooking!
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