The 5 Best Movies About Julia Child
Julia Child was an American chef and TV star who made French cooking popular in the U.S. She wrote a famous cookbook called ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and hosted a TV show called ‘The French Chef’ starting in 1963. Julia Child is one of the most popular chefs in American history, so it’s not surprising that plenty of films and documentaries were made to celebrate her. This is why we decided to pick through 5 best, so, let’s go!
1. Julie & Julia (2009)
What it’s about: ‘Julie & Julia’ is a movie that tells two parallel stories. One story follows Julia Child’s experiences in France during the 1950s as she discovers her passion for French cooking and writes her cookbook. The other story is about Julie Powell, a young woman living in New York City in 2002, who decides to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s cookbook in one year, detailing her experiences in a blog.
Why you should watch it: ‘Julie & Julia’ is a wholesome tale about two women chasing their dreams and inspirations. It’s a perfect watch for all food enthusiasts “hungry” to go on a culinary journey. This is a particularly good movie for anyone looking to explore Julia’s life through a more dramatized perspective. The movie also serves as an adaption of Child’s book called ‘My Life in France,’ and stars Meryl Streep. What’s not to like?
2. ‘Julia Child! America’s Favorite Chef‘ (2004)
What it’s about: This documentary explores the life and career of Julia Child, focusing on her journey to becoming a beloved figure in the culinary world. The movie explores her upbringing, her experiences in France that sparked her passion for cooking, and her groundbreaking contributions to American cuisine.
Why you should watch it: This is among the best documentaries out there considering that it uses interviews with friends, family, colleagues, and culinary experts who provided insight not only into Julia’s brilliant techniques but also what kind of personality she was off-screen as well. It’s probably the best rundown of Julia’s life on the market.
3. ‘Julia Child: America’s Favorite Chef‘ (2012)
What it’s about: ‘Julia Child: America’s Favorite Chef’ is a PBS documentary that celebrates Julia’s life and legacy. Narrated by actress Linda Hunt, the film features archival footage, and interviews with friends, family members, colleagues, and culinary experts, offering insights into Julia Child’s personality, passion for cooking, and impact on American culinary culture.
Why you should watch it: This is a tribute to Julia’s career. While it doesn’t focus much on her personality like the above-mentioned documentary, its still a quality piece of work that’s both entertaining and educational.
4. ‘Dinner with Julia‘ (2003)
What it’s about: This documentary offers a more intimate look at Julia Child’s life, featuring interviews with friends, family, and culinary experts as they reminisce over meals and conversations with Julia.
Why you should watch it: What makes ‘Dinner with Julia’ stand out is the fact that viewers get to hear personal anecdotes and stories from those who knew Julia Child best, offering a deeper understanding of her life beyond her public persona. As the conversations revolve mainly around food, you’re also going to learn a thing or two.
5. ‘Julia’ (2021)
What’s it about: ‘Julia’ is an American documentary released in 2021, directed and produced by Julie Cohen and Betsy West. It follows the life of Julia Child, with executive producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard. The documentary provides an overview of Julia Child’s life and achievements.
Why you should watch it: This is the latest released documentary about Julia’s life, and despite getting mainly positive reviews, it’s clear that it’s not as personal as some of the documentaries mentioned on this list. Still, it’s nice to look back at Child’s career in the context of the current age.
Have a movie to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!