The Queue
Plus, what new shows and movies to press play or skip.
Friday marks the limited release of “Tony,” the new Anthony Bourdain biopic filmed on Cape Cod last summer. If you’ve got time to head to the theaters this weekend, it’s definitely worth a watch. (Read my full review here)
Set during Bourdain’s formative years in Provincetown, “Tony” stars Dominic Sessa (“The Holdovers”) as a youthful, irascible version of the late celebrity chef, who over the course of a summer transforms from an aspiring writer slumming it as a dishwasher to a budding restaurateur.
Though the film is about more than just food, “Tony” joins the long list of movies that give viewers a front-row seat to the cooking process. Here are five more of my personal favorites.
5 of the best food movies streaming now
“Big Night” (1996)
This movie, about two Italian brothers (Tony Shalhoub, Stanley Tucci) in the 1950s trying to keep their restaurant afloat, was only a modest success upon initial release. But 30 years later, it’s evident how the movie was part of a movement that shifted American perspectives on fine dining, emphasizing chef-driven menus and multi-course culinary journeys. That same year, the Food Network introduced the world to personalities like Bobby Flay and Fall River’s own Emeril Lagasse. (Paramount+)
“Boiling Point” (2021)
A year before “The Bear” brought back-of-house restaurant anxiety to the masses, “Boiling Point” followed the head chef (Stephen Graham, “Adolescence”) of a high-end London restaurant on its busiest night, watching the drama unfold in a single, unbroken shot. (YouTube, Prime Video, Plex, Pluto TV, Tubi)
The final film of legendary documentarian (and Massachusetts native) Frederick Wiseman, this PBS production takes you inside a three-star Michelin restaurant in the French countryside. Wiseman’s fly-on-the-wall approach means that there’s rarely any manufactured drama like “Top Chef” or “The Bear.” Instead, there’s incredible competence every step of the way, from the farmhouse that supplies the restaurant to the careful plating of its dishes. (PBS)
“Ratatouille” (2007)
As the motto of this Pixar classic says, anyone can cook – even a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) stealthily controlling the movements of a janitor (Lou Romano). This kids’ flick is naturally more zany and antic-filled than the other films on this list, but the scene where critic Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole) is mentally transported by a single bite of Remy’s ratatouille is the perfect encapsulation of food’s power. (Disney+)
“The Taste of Things” (2023)
The opening 40 minutes of Trần Anh Hùng’s dreamy romance set in the 1889 French countryside are the zenith of food preparation on the big screen, as Juliette Binoche’s chef Pauline prepares a many-course meal for her employer/lover Dodin (Benoît Magimel) and his gourmand friends. Food is a love language for many, and watching Pauline prepare a Baked Alaska in the hot French summer without a freezer expresses her affection better than any sonnet could. (Hulu)
Play or Skip
Have a show you can’t stop watching? Email me about it at [email protected], and your recommendation may appear in a future edition of The Queue.
Press play on these movies and shows:
“Don’t Say Good Luck” (2026)
Though her famously funny dad Adam is still involved behind the scenes as a producer, Sunny Sandler strays far from Happy Madison territory in this dramedy about a teen balancing the lead in a school play, drama with her best friend, and the return of her mother’s (Melanie Lynskey) cancer. (Netflix)
“Normal” (2026)
Bob Odenkirk’s surprising mid-career action hero arc continues to pay dividends, with the “Better Call Saul” star playing the interim sheriff of a small Minnesota town who stumbles onto a vast conspiracy. (HBO Max)
“Reacher” Season 4
Alan Ritchson’s bulky vigilante continues to be a force, this time taking to the streets of Philly and ending up on the wrong side of the law after an incident involving a woman on a train. (Prime Video)
But go ahead and skip this one:
“Michael” (2026)
Watching the restaging of Michael Jackson’s greatest music videos with his nephew (Jaafar Jackson) stepping into the King of Pop’s shoes can be thrilling, but so much of this biopic is utterly empty. (Starz)
End Credits
That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.
Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!
— Kevin
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