Chef

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2:45

Chef

R

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

01/05/2015

3.5/5

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.

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Laurence Phelan

Independent (UK)

07/07/2014

4/5

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.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

07/07/2014

3/5

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.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

07/17/2025

4/5

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.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

12/31/2024

4/5

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.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

02/01/2021

3.5/5

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

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Mickey B

@Mickerdoo Aug 21

Cute, feel good watch. Not a ton of conflict but a heartwarming father/son connection.

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Sal D

@JustTheLaw Jul 27

This is Jon Favreau’a master lass in film making. Just like the food cart, simple story (ingredients) cooked to maximum perfection. Favreau may have made higher peak output movies that I may agree score above Chef, but this one is a sentimental favorite because it is sooooo authentic.

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Tyler S

@WalterWhiteWalker Jul 5

If you are a Jon Favreau fan you will enjoy this movie. Comedy that turns into a heartwarming story about a father/chef perusing his passions.

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Blaine C

@BlainesReviews Jun 29

One of my favorite movies still to this day. It’s not too serious or funny, it’s a perfect blend.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Jun 23

Chef is an outstanding film that completely surprised me. I cannot believe it took me this long to watch it because it delivers everything you could want from a feel-good movie. Jon Favreau is fantastic and carries the entire film with a performance full of passion, frustration, humor, love, and determination. Every emotion feels authentic, making his journey easy to connect with from beginning to end. While Scarlett Johansson appears in the movie, her role is relatively small and does not contribute much to the overall story. The real highlights outside of Favreau are Sofía Vergara and the young actor playing his son, who brings heart and charm to every scene. Their relationship becomes one of the strongest aspects of the film. The movie balances comedy, emotion, and inspiration extremely well without ever feeling forced. It also makes food look incredible, adding another layer of enjoyment to the experience.

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Donald S

@TioDon Jun 11

I am retired and live in Mexico and watch a LOT of movies. I can honestly say that this is in my Top 10 Worst Movies of all Time List. I cannot believe that people say they like it and shame on anyone who agreed to act in it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!

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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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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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