8 Films Every Food Lover Should Watch

Food in cinema is rarely just about what’s on the plate. It’s culture, memory, artistry, and sometimes, even rebellion. My first introduction to the wonders of food in film was through the film Eat, Pray, Love. Julia Roberts finds herself through a series of travels and food experiences. Next came Julie & Julia. It was the film that made me realise the magic of beautifully portrayed food in film and the wonder that is Meryl Streep. It even made me want to start a food blog of my own, just like Julie. And although the dream never materialised, I did become a food writer. This is the power that the camera holds when influencing people, and these eight films prove that a good story, like a good dish, always leaves you hungry for more.

1. Babette’s Feast (1987)

This Danish masterpiece shows how one extravagant meal can transform lives. Babette spends her entire lottery winnings on a lavish feast for her pious hosts, turning food into a gift of freedom and joy. The movie won the Academy Award for Best International Film.

2. The Lunchbox (2013)

This movie was one of my first introductions to the dabba and local train culture of Mumbai. This tender film tells the story of how a misdelivered dabba sparks an unexpected bond between two strangers: a lonely widower and a young housewife. Through handwritten notes tucked into tiffins of spiced curries and chutneys, they build a quiet intimacy rooted in home-cooked meals. Subtle, nostalgic, and deeply human, the film proves how food connects souls across distance, routine, and longing. 

3. Julie & Julia (2009)

Meryl Streep as Julia Child is pure delight. The film parallels Child’s journey in 1950s Paris with a New Yorker, Julie, who blogs her way through Child’s cookbook, all with plenty of butter. By the end of the movie, you would be filled with mixed emotions of admiration for Julia's whimsy and Julie's willpower. The movie is also an exploration of love, as both protagonists navigate the highs and lows of married life while pursuing a culinary career. 

4. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

This Japanese documentary captures the devotion of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master in Tokyo, whose tiny Michelin-starred restaurant has achieved near-mythical status. The film is about perfection, discipline, and a philosophy of lifelong mastery. Jiro’s relentless pursuit of excellence, set against the struggles of his sons who work under his shadow, makes it a meditative portrait of craftsmanship, tradition, and the meaning of legacy.

5. Chef (2014)

Jon Favreau’s road-trip comedy is as heartwarming as the Cuban sandwiches it spotlights. After a high-profile meltdown, a chef reclaims his creativity by starting a food truck, serving dishes with heart, and reconnecting with his son along the way. Brimming with salsa rhythms, sizzling montages, and the joy of cooking without pretension, it’s a story about second chances, family, and how food can heal both careers and relationships.

6. Ratatouille (2007)

Pixar’s beloved animation about Remy, a rat with an extraordinary palate, is more than a charming children’s tale. It’s an ode to creativity, risk-taking, and the belief that great cooking can come from anywhere, even the most unlikely places. The iconic scene where a jaded critic is transported back to his childhood with a single bite reminds us that food is memory, comfort, and magic all at once.

7. Burnt (2015)

Bradley Cooper captures the chaos and precision of fine dining kitchens as Adam Jones, a fallen star chef trying to rebuild his career. The film dives into the brutal world of Michelin-starred ambition, plates meticulously crafted, tempers flaring, egos colliding. Beneath the fire and perfectionism lies a story of redemption, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of greatness, showing both the beauty and the cost of high gastronomy.

8. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

Ang Lee’s iconic family drama opens with a dazzling kitchen sequence. The film follows Mr Chu, a widowed master chef in Taipei, who prepares elaborate Sunday feasts for his three daughters. These banquets, meticulously crafted with precision and care, become the family’s unspoken language, carrying love, disappointment, and conflict that words often fail to convey.

From lavish French feasts to street-side tiffins, these films remind us that cooking is never just about eating, it’s about connection, resilience, and the stories we tell through flavour.