8 Best Cooking and Restaurant Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 13, 2026

Food films turn the kitchen into a stage for ambition, artistry, and obsession, proving that great cooking makes for irresistible drama. In Ratatouille (2007): A rat with a gift for cooking secretly helps a hapless kitchen worker become a celebrated Parisian chef. Just as strong is Babette’s Feast (1987): A refugee chef spends her entire lottery winnings preparing one extraordinary feast for her austere hosts.

The Menu (2022)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Guests at an exclusive culinary experience discover their eccentric chef has a sinister plan for the evening.

Directed by Mark Mylod · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, FXNow, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A widowed master chef's elaborate weekly family dinners reveal the quiet turmoil in his three daughters' lives.

Directed by Ang Lee · 2h 03m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Burnt (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A disgraced celebrity chef attempts a career comeback while battling his own self-destructive tendencies.

Directed by John Wells · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Chef (2014)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A chef who quits his high-pressure restaurant job finds fulfillment running a food truck with his son.

Directed by Jon Favreau · 1h 54m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Julie & Julia (2009)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A modern blogger's year cooking through Julia Child's cookbook is intercut with Child's own culinary beginnings.

Directed by Nora Ephron · 2h 03m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Ratatouille (2007)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 96% Metacritic 96

A rat with a gift for cooking secretly helps a hapless kitchen worker become a celebrated Parisian chef.

Directed by Brad Bird · 1h 51m · Rated G

Won 1 Oscar69 wins & 42 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Big Night (1996)

TMDB ★ 7.4

Two immigrant brothers stake their struggling restaurant's survival on one make-or-break dinner.

Directed by Stanley Tucci & Campbell Scott · 1h 49m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Babette's Feast (1987)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A refugee chef spends her entire lottery winnings preparing one extraordinary feast for her austere hosts.

Directed by Gabriel Axel · 1h 44m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

8 Best Cooking and Restaurant Movies

The Menu (2022)

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Burnt (2015)

Chef (2014)

Julie & Julia (2009)

Ratatouille (2007)

Big Night (1996)

Babette's Feast (1987)

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