The Best Food Movies

There is a whole hidden genre of film out there: the food movie.  Whether the movie is romantic or funny, intense or sad, there are movies where food becomes a central, unifying element of the theme, almost becoming a character itself.  Some movies simply could not exist without food.  These are the movies that you want to watch with a snack on hand, or that inspire you to want to cook more (or just make you hungry). 

Here are some of the best food movies.  There are many more that you can discover, but here’s a sampling.

Chocolat

The movie Chocolat is delicious in every possible way.  The cast is fantastic (starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp), the script is well-written, and the set is gorgeous.  And then there’s the food.  As you would guess from the title, chocolate is a central character in this movie, ranging from delectable little truffles and seashells to a dinner party where every dish includes chocolate.  This movie is about a lot of things, many of them very serious, but it is also about a love of food and enjoying life to the fullest.  This movie will make even the most serious dieter desperate for a taste of fine chocolate!

To watch a trailer for Chocolate, click here.

Mostly Martha/No Reservations

Released in 2001, Bella Martha (translated as Mostly Martha in America) was a fantastic German film that received some critical acclaim, but missed most international attention.  However, this movie is worth reading subtitles for.  The main character, Martha, is a chef who lives for her work.  Her world is radically changed, though, when her sister unexpectedly dies, and she takes custody of her niece.  The little girl stops eating, and Martha tries a variety of dishes to coax her back into eating.  Throw in a love story and some fantastic food, and you have Mostly Martha. 

The movie was remade in English under the title No Reservations, starring Catherine Zeta Jones.  The movie is more light-hearted than the original, although the basic story-line is the same.

To watch a trailer for Mostly Martha, click here.

To visit the official website for No Reservations, click here.

Ratatouille

You might be surprised to see a Disney/Pixar movie on this list, but Ratatouille is one of the most unabashed food films.  The main character, a rat, loves food.  The movie features food, cooking, and eating and every turn.  This children’s movie is unabashed in its love of food and its encouragement of cooking and enjoying food.  Whether you are young or old, have kids or not, if you love food, you can enjoy the movie Ratatouille.

To go to the Ratatouille website, click here.

Other great food movies include: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (based on the book by Roald Dahl, there’s the original and the remake); Tortilla Soup (featuring fantastic family moments around mealtimes); Julie & Julia (about the lives of chef Julie Child and the blogger who tries cooking her entire cookbook in a year); Christmas in Connecticut (this old movie offers fantastic holiday entertainment and food is ever-present); Fried Green Tomatoes (one of my all-time favourite movies that will make you love the South and want to enjoy southern cooking—although probably not BBQ); My Big Fat Greek Wedding (romantic comedy with food, and discussion of food, running constantly throughout).