The Best Movies About Cooking

From Chef to Babette’s Feast, here are the best movies about cooking – a curated list of films that capture the joy, romance, and comfort of food on screen.

Here in this small kitchen, we love food. And we also love movies, almost in equal measure. When the two come together, we get to savor the exuberance of food and cooking through the magic of the screen, indulging in a little cinematic escapism.

Every once in a while, when you get to live vicariously through a movie character, life takes on a magical quality. By the end of the movie, you’re feeling inspired and ready to become your very own Nancy Meyers version of yourself.

Here is a curated list of six perfect movies about cooking that will leave you hungry – for life, for love, and for a little extra butter.

Julie & Julia: The Modern Food Movie Classic

It wouldn’t be a list of movies about cooking without Nora Ephron. Nora loved food. It’s everywhere in her writing. Every Ephron movie kitchen is impeccable and food is at the center of countless scenes.

In Julie & Julia, food truly drives the story. You get to watch and experience the lives of two women in different timelines, intertwining through food and cooking. Visually, it’s absolutely stunning. It’ll leave you feeling nostalgic for a time you never even lived in.

From gorgeous shots of chocolate cakes and beef bourguignon to crushing meltdowns on the kitchen floor, Julie & Julia has it all.

You’ll also pick up a few valuable life lessons: the only way to get good at something is through persistence and hard work. And perhaps more importantly, it’s never too late. You’re never too old to find your calling or start pursuing your dreams.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 10/10

Babette’s Feast: A Dinner Party Masterpiece

Babette’s Feast is often called one of the best movies about cooking – and for good reason. Set in a small Danish village, it tells the story of Babette, a mysterious French refugee who spends her lottery winnings on a lavish meal for the townspeople.

The film isn’t just about food; it’s about generosity, devotion, and the way food has the power to bring people together. The scenes of turtle soup, quail in puff pastry, and endless wine pairings make this one of the most beautiful foodie films ever made. If you believe that cooking is an act of love, Babette’s Feast will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 10/10

Simply Irresistible: Magical Kitchens Meet ’90s Charm

Simply Irresistible is a lesser-known gem among movies about cooking, but this charming late 90’s gem is so eccentric and unique, it’s impossible to forget once you’ve watched it.

Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as a charming chef who discovers a magical touch in the kitchen, the film combines romance, whimsy, and, of course, mouthwatering food. From sizzling sautés to decadent desserts, every dish on screen feels like it has a personality of its own.

Simply Irresistible is a bit crazy, a bit quirky, and just the right amount of over-the-top. It’s wonderfully corny and cheesy in a way that only 90s movies manage to be. It’s cooking and magical realism rolled into one. It’s about how food and love are one and the same.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 7/10 for nostalgic sake. Don’t ask me about the plot, this is a romantic comedy, and as far as rom-coms go, it’s pure gold.

Chef: Food, Family, and a Truck

Jon Favreau’s Chef is more than a feel-good foodie film – it’s a love letter to cooking, family, and second chances. In this star-studded comedy-drama, a frustrated chef reinvents himself through a Cuban sandwich food truck – an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family.

Chef is one of the best cooking movies to watch if you want inspiration in the kitchen. The food scenes are beautiful, the story is inspiring and the performances are great.

It’ll make you laugh and cry and think about your own dreams and goals.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 10/10.

It’s Complicated: Divorce, Croissants, and Perfect Kitchens

It’s Nancy Meyers, after all.

It’s Complicated is a deliciously messy rom-com where pastries, love, and life’s complications collide. In this romantic comedy, Meryl Streep owns the most gorgeous bakery you’ve ever seen, her house is phenomenal, her kitchen is utterly perfect. The soundtrack is delightful and life is a fairy tale.

The perfect escapism!

In this wonderful world, a divorced woman is having an affair with her married ex-husband while dating another guy. Juicy!! This all happens around croissants and gluten and mouth-watering pastries.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 10/10.

No Reservations: Order in the Kitchen, Chaos in the Heart

No Reservations is a heartwarming rom-com where food and emotions intertwine. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a meticulous chef whose perfectly orchestrated life takes a turn when her sister is killed in a car accident and her niece moves in with her.

Then a new sous chef joins the kitchen and Kate starts to lose control of her perfectly ordered life. Or does she? Maybe it’s exactly what she needed. Maybe it’s the start of her real life. And maybe she’s about to find love and family and everything she didn’t know she was missing. I guess you’ll have to watch it to find out!

From perfectly plated dishes to moments of personal growth, No Reservations reminds us that cooking isn’t just about recipes – it’s about love, family, and learning to let life surprise you.

Perfect movie about cooking score: 8/10.