If you’re anything like me, you love food; you find yourself dreaming about it the majority of the time you’re both awake and asleep. You’ve binge watched all of The Great British Baking Show, Somebody Feed Phil, and even Zac Efron’s show, right? Now what? You need some more food porn to drool over. These movies might just be what you’re looking for. Here are ten movies that will really work up an appetite.
Chef
If you’re especially fond of food trucks, cubano sandwiches, and po’boys, this one’s for you. There are plenty of expert close-ups of tasty food dishes being made in a professional kitchen and in a food truck. The food sizzles and drips, and you’ll be so busy salivating, you might only notice at the last minute how uplifted you feel by the end due to its easy, breezy flow.
Chocolat
If you’re a big fan of watching melted chocolate being poured slowly from one container to another one, this might just be the movie for you. Chocolate is all throughout this movie in many forms: melted, solid, thick, thin, truffles, bars, etc. There are also plenty of scenes with people eating chocolate if that’s your thing, and all of this chocolate is only the sweet backdrop to a really magical and charming plot.
Waitress
I cannot say enough how much I love this movie; I could probably write an entire thesis on why it’s so wonderful, but alas, this is just one aspect of this amazing film. I don’t think there is one pie that I would turn down, and this movie is full of them! Jenna (Keri Russell) creates unique flavor combinations in her mind constantly. Even savory pies if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth. I can guarantee you’ll be in the mood for pie by the time it’s over.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
This is your chance to watch a true sushi master create works of art that also look very delicious. That’s about all that needs to be said for this one. There are plenty of close up shots of sushi to really get your motor running.
Julie & Julia
Are you thinking about starting a food blog in which you cook a different dish out of Julia Child’s cookbook every day? This is your tutorial! Seriously though, it’s a lovely movie. Amy Adams and Meryl Streep are pure delights, and the dramedy that occurs within both storylines is just as delicious. After watching this, don’t be surprised if you want to take a few cooking classes or experiment in the kitchen. It goes without saying there are plenty of food glamour shots.
Spanglish
I know what you’re thinking. Why on God’s green Earth would I want to watch an Adam Sandler dramedy? And to that I say well, that’s sad. You really need to give the Sand Man a chance. He’s quite good in this one, and the movie altogether is a pleasant watch. There are two scenes in particular that make my mouth water. Sandler plays a chef, and he is creating a sandwich masterpiece late at night for himself to indulge in alone, and it looks heavenly. The other is when he is preparing a pasta dish for Paz Vega’s character, and it also looks divine.
Ratatouille
Animated vegetables have never looked so good! I still want to make myself ratatouille, and I never got too excited about vegetables in the past. It looks so delicious. There are plenty of scenes that take place in a kitchen and involve cooking, and it stars a cute rat! Ignore the first instinct you may have of being disgusted by a rat in a kitchen cooking food. It’s not even like that.
Spirited Away
Anime just knows how to depict food on screen. Without fail, when I watch anime films, there is inevitably a scene that involves characters eating or cooking, and the food always looks wonderful. In Spirited Away, there is one scene in particular that involves a massive feast, and despite the shoveling of food into a gaping mouth, it still looks pretty appetizing.
Phantom Thread
Ok, ok. What? Isn’t Phantom Thread just about this guy who designs clothes or something? Well, that is correct, but let me tell you there are many scenes where the characters are all eating (a lot of times breakfast) and a few that take place in the kitchen. The breakfasts are usually silent except for the crunching of food or spreading of jam and butter. After watching this movie, I considered breakfast for every meal for about a week.
Uncorked
This is a relatively new movie that came out in 2020 and is streaming on Netflix now. It is an interesting film about family dynamics and expectations that parents may place upon their kids. If you love traditional Memphis BBQ shots that are almost sinful, I think you’ll like this one. I could almost smell the smoky BBQ through the screen. At one point I almost had the urge to run to the TV with a napkin, so the grease and sauce wouldn’t drip onto the carpet.
There are still a good amount of movies centered around food that I have yet to see, and that’s ok because I love the sweet, sweet journey. Are there any favorites that you feel I should have included? I don’t know about you, but I could probably eat.
When I’m not busy daydreaming or having an existential crisis, I can usually be found watching a movie or TV, listening to music or a podcast, or with my nose in a book.
