Chef

Play trailer

2:45

Chef

R

2014

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jon Favreau

Director

Jon Favreau

Carl Casper

Sofía Vergara

Inez

John Leguizamo

Martin

Scarlett Johansson

Molly

Dustin Hoffman

Riva

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

91%

78%

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

While We're Young

84%

51%

While We're Young

Watchlist

TRAILER

for While We're Young

Wish I Was Here

45%

59%

Wish I Was Here

Watchlist

Demolition

53%

55%

Demolition

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Demolition

The Rum Diary

52%

36%

The Rum Diary

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Matrix Trilogy, Bad Santa, Chef, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

Rank Scarlett Johansson’s 10 Best Movies

Now Streaming: Birdman, Big Hero 6, Life Itself, and More

Most Inspiring Movies

24:28

Chef: Trailer 1

2:45

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now