Whether you're in the mood for a light-hearted rom-com or you fancy learning more about fascinating food cultures from across the globe, there's a whole world of film and TV to sink your teeth into. With the exciting announcement of a new foodie biopic centred around the late Anthony Bourdain, we've put together a list of our favourite food films and TV shows of all time. From classic, nostalgia-inducing shows and outrageous competitions to award-winning movies and documentaries, here's what to watch. 

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our pick of the greatest foodie films and TV shows of all time – counting down to the most iconic of all. 

Not even released yet, but already highly anticipated, Tony is a new biopic centred around the life and career of the late Anthony Bourdain. The A24 film is set to star The Holdovers actor Dominic Sessa as the TV chef and writer, charting the summer he spent living and working in Provincetown, Massachusetts. A release date is yet to be announced, but it’s one movie all foodies will be eagerly looking out for in the coming months. 

Love chocolate? This show will bring you hours of amusement. TikTok’s favourite pastry chef and world-renowned chocolatier Amaury Guichon has earned a huge following thanks to his impressive confections – and in this show, he teaches eight professionals his most ground-breaking techniques. The show differs from the usual TV competitions in that nobody gets eliminated; instead, they get an opportunity to gain more experience and improve their knowledge. 

The concept behind Chopped sounds simple: four professional chefs are given a selection of everyday ingredients, with the challenge of turning it all into an extraordinary three-course meal. What could go wrong? Well, this show has become famous for presenting its contestants with ingredients that don’t tend to go well together, which definitely adds a bit of drama to proceedings. 

This award-winning docuseries is all about the key role African American cuisine plays in American gastronomy. Chef and food writer Stephen Satterfield takes the audience on a flavourful journey through the cultural lineage of African American cooking, with beautiful visuals and a powerful message. Expect to travel from Africa to Texas and beyond in this deliciously fascinating series.  

Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as a master chef who approaches life with a no-nonsense attitude. She’s meticulous, intense and intimidating – mostly because she's a female in a largely male-dominated environment. It all changes when she suddenly becomes her young niece’s guardian and realises that there is no recipe for grief and life-changing circumstances. There’s love, growth and a handsome male character who is a bit too perfect. This movie is like a bowl of pasta: comforting every time. 

Based on the novel of the same name by Mexican author Laura Esquivel, this is an award-winning story about two forbidden lovers. More importantly, though, it’s a tribute to food and its ability to nurture, heal and convey feelings, as well as the often-overlooked beauty of home-cooked food – and the burdens of tradition that the patriarchy so often dismisses. It’s a real feast for the senses.

Released in 2022, this biopic series is inspired by none other than the iconic Julia Child. If Julie & Julia (number 22 on our list) left you wanting more, this TV show is the perfect follow-up, chronicling the chef’s life, cookbooks and journey to presenting cooking shows, alongside all of the trials and tribulations it entailed. 

Dramatic rivalries, unrequited love, food critics, plot twists, revenge and fancy food – this is a must-watch for any foodie who is eager to understand exactly what it takes to get a Michelin star. A Star is Born and The Hangover star Bradley Cooper brings his varied acting range to the character's redemption arc, while audiences are shown the high stakes at play inside a fine dining restaurant. 

A film of two halves, Julie & Julia is, on one hand, a true story about Julie Powell, a food blogger who took on the challenge of cooking all the recipes in Julia Child's first book. On the other hand, it's the real story of celebrity chef Julia Child’s life. It’s fun, joyous and dramatic in all the right ways, and it's most importantly a love letter to food. It stars Amy Adams, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. 

Could French haute cuisine ever be threatened by an immigrant family with a deep love of traditional Indian food? After fleeing political violence in India and facing the grief of losing both their mother and family restaurant, the Kadams arrive in France looking for a fresh start. Here, the family faces a new challenge: a rivalry with a neighbouring Michelin-starred restaurant. British actor Helen Mirren brings to life the extremely strict maître who believes in excellence above all. However, she soon learns that a love for good food trumps everything.

Featuring humongous meal sizes, ridiculous levels of spice and epic food challenges, Man v. Food is one of the most outrageous food series on TV – but it also happens to be one you can't look away from. The show was hosted by eccentric TV personality Adam Richman before foodie Casey Webb (pictured) took over from season five onwards. As well as larger-than-life food challenges, it also spotlights some of the best eateries across the USA.

This critically acclaimed documentary follows the life of 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono as he relentlessly pursues a lifelong quest to create the perfect sushi. The docu-film offers a glimpse into the commitment and craftsmanship that takes food from a necessity to a form of art. It’s a captivating insight into the world of sushi and the work required to fully master a skill. 

Famous Momofuku chef David Chang travels around the world discussing food, authenticity and cultural appropriation in a show that’s been praised for its political commentary. Ugly Delicious is a thought-provoking series highlighting the often-overlooked nuances of food, race and fusion, all while hunting down some of the world’s tastiest meals. 

Boiling Point is a window into the relentless pressure endured by chefs in a fine dining kitchen who are affected by mental health problems and substance abuse. The back and forth between the kitchen staff and front of house, the difficult customers, the unfortunate accidents, the conversations and the stress come together in a dance that hospitality workers know all too well.

Centred around Buddy Valastro’s family bakery Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, this show looks at the dynamics of the family's business, their Italian heritage and the elaborate themed cakes they bake for their customers. The final touch? A pinch of good old family banter.

As an acclaimed food writer, Michael Pollan is known for exploring the evolution of food and its ability to connect us. This four-part docuseries follows the four natural elements: fire, water, air and earth. It explores tradition, nutrition and the need to reconnect with the way we cook and eat. It’s a must-watch if you’re keen to learn about food from a more in-depth perspective.

This heartwarming Japanese comedy follows a widow named Tampopo who is left to run a ramen shop solo following the death of her husband. When a truck driver stops at the struggling business one day, he decides to help the chef out and take her recipes from bland to crave-worthy. As friendships blossom and the narrative progresses, you’re left rooting for Tampopo (and longing for a steaming bowl of noodles).

This beloved British classic may not feature the most gourmet of offerings, but it captures the soul and diversity of British people perfectly. Some of its episodes are so memorable that the contestants have almost become national treasures – though everyone in the UK agrees that when it comes to Come Dine with Me, the biggest treasure is the commentary, which is both hilarious and ruthless.

Based on the award-winning book of the same name, this docuseries follows its author and chef Samin Nosrat, as she explores how these four key elements – salt, fat, acid and heat – influence how we eat and perceive flavours. It’s an extremely educational show, but it’s explained in a no-nonsense, down-to-earth manner, and it’s guaranteed to change the way you look at food forever. 

Each episode of Chef’s Table focuses on a single chef telling their life story, offering an insight into their kitchen and serving up fantastic visuals of their most iconic dishes. Over the course of seven seasons, it has seen many famous chefs feature, including Dominique Crenn (of Atelier Crenn fame) and Asma Khan (of Darjeeling Express). The show’s success has given way to several fantastic sequels, too, such as Chef’s Table France, Chef’s Table BBQ, Chef’s Table Pizza and, most recently, Chef's Table: Legends. If you want to understand the intricacies of contemporary cuisine, it’s a must-watch.

With versions across Latin America, Asia and the US, Street Food is a refreshing, modern documentary series that examines how the essence of a nation can be found in street food eateries. Watch it and you’ll see that these affordable, unassuming dishes are just as rich, delicious and complex as those you’ll find in haute cuisine – and often even more so.

Following a public altercation with a food critic, chef Carl Casper is forced to reinvent himself and go back to cooking the food he genuinely enjoys. Investing in a rundown food truck, Carl undertakes a journey that sees him reconnect with his young son, his ex-wife, his old colleague Martin and his love of food. The storyline is just like the Cubano sandwich that launches Carl back into stardom – a cult classic that needs no further embellishments. 

A domestic goddess indeed, British author and TV personality Nigella Lawson has amassed quite a following with her cooking shows and alluring personality. When viewing any of her programmes, you can expect a mix of comforting home cooking and ASMR (before ASMR was even a thing). Just don’t ask her how to pronounce 'microwave'.

A gangly chef and his rather unconventional rat sidekick won our hearts (and an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year) in this fabulous children's movie. In a quest to find his identity, Remy the rat befriends Linguini, an anxious and lonely kitchen worker. The plot involves drama, family secrets, DNA tests, a fierce female cook, a greedy chef and an evil critic who gets his moment of redemption after a Proustian encounter with a childhood dish. The moral of the story is that 'everyone can cook'. 

American food personality and Food Network star Guy Fieri has the job of dreams: driving around America visiting the best diners, drive-ins and dives. As the zany host interviews the restaurants’ owners and cooks, he samples the best items on their menus. With 51 seasons (and counting), this show is an ode to American food, but beware: do NOT watch it on an empty stomach.

The most wholesome TV competition show out there, The Great British Bake Off (known as The Great British Baking Show in some countries) has won hearts for staying away from mean-spirited comebacks and spiteful commentary. The show sees amateur bakers from all over the UK compete weekly on themed challenges, from tricky technical tasks to eccentric cake displays. 

Somebody Feed Phil follows American TV writer and producer Phil Rosenthal as he travels the world, tasting one city at a time. The show is delightfully wholesome, showcasing the naïve joy of encountering new and exotic flavours while travelling. Rosenthal does an excellent job at hosting; you can’t fail to be charmed by his contagious, joyous character.

Never romanticising one of the toughest industries out there, The Bear deals with grief, strained family relationships, financial crisis, substance abuse and many other harrowing issues as we follow the story of Carmen Berzatto, a brilliant young chef. Once on the way to culinary stardom, he’s suddenly forced to give up his career, returning to his family's sandwich shop following the death of his brother. Heart-wrenching at times, hilarious at others, it's a culinary must-watch. 

Many of today’s cooking shows owe their success to TV’s original culinary competition: Iron Chef, a Japanese game show that first aired in 1993. The premise? Chefs from all over the world travel to Kitchen Stadium to compete against the 'Iron Chefs' using the chosen ingredient of the day. It’s a nostalgic show that’s both entertaining and refreshing, putting unusual ingredients in the spotlight. The show's success has enabled country-specific versions to be produced, including Iron Chef: America (pictured) and Iron Chef: Mexico. 

The late Anthony Bourdain was a chef, writer and avid traveller who showed audiences how to experience a nation through its fascinating food culture. From sharing drinks with Barack Obama in Vietnam to visiting some of the world’s least-travelled destinations, the Emmy award-winner hosted two memorable shows: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, each with multiple seasons and episodes still well worth exploring. He was an icon of food television who will be remembered for his candid remarks and eagerness to try everything.  

Now discover the food and drink made famous by TV shows and movies

Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.