Chef

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2:45

Chef

R

Released May 9, 2014

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

188 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After a controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman) pushes him too far, chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) quits his position at a prestigious Los Angeles restaurant. As he tries to figure out what his next step should be, he finds himself in Miami. Carl joins forces with his ex-wife (Sofía Vergara), best friend (John Leguizamo) and son (Emjay Anthony) to launch a food-truck business, and the venture provides a chance to reignite his passion for cooking -- as well as his zest for life and love.

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Critics Consensus

Chef's charming cast and sharp, funny script add enough spice to make this feel-good comedy a flavorful -- if familiar -- treat.

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Liz Braun

Toronto Sun

It's such a treat to see such an endearing slice o' life in the middle of this blockbuster season. There's not a single comic book character in sight.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 5, 2015

Full Review

Laurence Phelan

Independent (UK)

The result is a small, unashamedly feel-good film that makes up for what it lacks in dramatic jeopardy with gentle comedy, heartwarming family scenes, ladles of food porn, and time spent among characters you like.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 7, 2014

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Chef is a foodie-gasm of a film, directed by and starring Jon Favreau as a designer cook past his sell-by date, who goes on a road trip from Miami to Los Angeles to find his soul -- and soul food.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 7, 2014

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Like the lead character he wrote for himself, "Chef" is a chance for Favreau to get back to the character-driven chatter-filled roots that made him great in the first place.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 17, 2025

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Coming on the heels of Iron Man 2, filmmaker Jon Favreau delivers his most personal film yet as a chef responds to a food critic by going back to his roots in 2014's Chef.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 31, 2024

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A lightweight, but enjoyable film; an amuse bouche that may leave you hungry for something more substantial but still manages to satisfy.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 1, 2021

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Daniel M

It had a great cast and a good story, but the acting was a little off which made the characters and story a little unbelievable at times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

Full Review

Langdon T

The first time you do something it might be fresh and risky, but the tenth, twentieth, you risk becoming repetitive and bland. "Chef" is about a creative personality trying to break free from a system that fosters this repetition and stagnation.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

Full Review

Wyatt K.

A great family story that inspires a love for cooking and its ability to share with others.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

Scott M

Chef quits his job and buys a food truck. Okay stuff. But the entire relationship with his son felt fake to me. Good kid actors are difficult to find.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Matteo G

The cast is completely wasted, the plot not existing, the situations impossible and unreal. The message is that there is no culture of food over there

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/25

Full Review

Ali B

Didn’t really make me laugh, but did make me feel good. It gets better in the second half.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

Full Review

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Jon Favreau

Director

Jon Favreau

Carl Casper

Sofía Vergara

Inez

John Leguizamo

Martin

Scarlett Johansson

Molly

Dustin Hoffman

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24:28

Chef: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After a controlling owner (Dustin Hoffman) pushes him too far, chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) quits his position at a prestigious Los Angeles restaurant. As he tries to figure out what his next step should be, he finds himself in Miami. Carl joins forces with his ex-wife (Sofía Vergara), best friend (John Leguizamo) and son (Emjay Anthony) to launch a food-truck business, and the venture provides a chance to reignite his passion for cooking -- as well as his zest for life and love.

Director: Jon Favreau
Producer: Sergei Bespalov, Jon Favreau
Screenwriter: Jon Favreau
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Aldamisa Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Suggestive References|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.2M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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