Top five movies to watch if you liked Netflix's Nonnas

If Nonnas left you laughing through tears and dreaming of homemade pasta straight from the heart, trust me, you’re in good company. There’s something magical about the story of Nonnas, which celebrates food as the language of love, family as a wild, imperfect recipe, and grandmothers who don’t just cook but rule the kitchen with fierce devotion.

If you’re craving more films that wrap you in a warm hug, toss in a little spice, and serve up life’s messy, beautiful moments on a silver platter, you’re exactly where you need to be. Wondering what to tune in to after the magical chaos of Nonnas? We've got you covered.

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What is Nonnas about?

Nonnas (2025) is a warm, delicious slice of life that proves grief can sometimes lead to the most unexpected magic. Inspired by a true story, the film follows Joe Scaravella (played by Vince Vaughn), a man grieving the loss of his mother who decides to honor her memory in the most heart-filled way: by opening a restaurant where grandmothers from around the world run the kitchen — and not just any grandmothers, real, fierce, big-hearted nonnas with decades of cooking, stories, and sass. As the dishes simmer and the cultures collide, Nonnas becomes a celebration of love, memory, and comfort food that hugs you back.

Here are five movies that stir that same soulful flavor as Nonnas, each one a feast for the heart and a reminder that the best stories, like the best meals, are shared around the table with those who matter most.

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No Reservations (2007)

No Reservations is like the worst kind of kitchen disaster turned into the best meal of your life. Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Kate Armstrong, a chef so crazy about control, she could probably time her pasta boil down to the second. Kate lives in a tightly wrapped package of rules and routine, until life comes in the form of her vivacious great-niece Zoe. Zoe turns Kate's perfect kitchen upside down, boiling Kate's sterile world into a stewing frenzy of love, chaos, and just a little adventure.

Then, along comes Nick Palmer, played by Aaron Eckhart, the easygoing sous-chef to knock Kate back into her place, and prove the greatest chaos can yield the greatest result. Nick challenges Kate's grip on her life, and her anxiety, teaching her the beauty in being flawed and the importance of adventure.

No Reservations isn't just a movie about cooking; like Nonnas, it is a lesson about breaking walls down, living imperfectly, and embracing family in the most chaotic and unexpected places. It is messy and tender, and will make you want to grab a fork and dig into life's chaotic meal.

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Ratatouille (2007)

In the center of Paris, the world-renowned food capital and city with the most discerning tastes, lives Remy, a rat with an extraordinary talent. While other rats scurry through the shadows to scavenge food, Remy dreams of cooking food that makes people "feel," to create, and inspire. With a nose to rival the world's best sommeliers and a palate as sophisticated as the world's greatest chefs, Remy is not just about eating, but about creating art atop the plate.

Of course, the world is not welcoming to a rat in a kitchen, especially when that rat refuses to live by the status quo of merely surviving. Nevertheless, the passion and drive of Remy helps him defy every rule and expectation. Remy partners with Linguini, a bumbling but good-natured human, and despite their differences, shakes the Paris food scene in ways nobody could have imagined. Ratatouille is more than a movie about food, it symbolizes believing that greatness can come from the unlikeliest of places, and like Nonnas, it has that sweet touch of how a meal made by your mom can surpass anything ever made by the best chef in the world.

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Julie & Julia (2009)

Julie & Julia is an uplifting and heartwarming film about dreams, struggles, and how food can change your life. The movie beautifully intertwines two stories that are decades apart but connected by a love for food and the adventurous spirit of Julia Child, who was the first television chef and brought French food to American kitchens. On one side you have the playful, curious, and determined Julia Child, a woman shown to take on the challenge of French cooking, at a time when cooking was a male-dominated industry. The other is Julia Powell, a writer, who felt like she was in limbo about her career and her life, and decides to cook every recipe in Julia Child’s cookbook in a year.

The movie proves that food is not only about nourishment but also creativity, community, and discovery. It’s funny, honest, and uplifting- reminding you that whether it is navigating your career or life path through chaos, sometimes pursuing your passion and the sheer determination to push through beyond what feels reachable, can lead to crazy and unexpected happiness. Julie & Julia is more than a cooking movie; it’s a love letter about pursuing dreams, embracing challenges, and finding joy in every moment through the magic that happens along the way, one recipe at a time. You would love the women-centric cast, something that is also a huge part of Nonnas, and Meryl Streep as Julia is *chef's kiss*.

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Chef (2014)

Chef is a heartwarming and mouth-wateringly fun story about finding your passion, failure, and daring to start again. The story follows Carl Casper, an innovative chef who is frustrated by the artistic restraints of restaurant life and is feeling uninspired and limited by it. And after a public meltdown about protecting the integrity of his artistry, he quits his job for a soul-searching road trip in which he travels across the U.S. cooking on a food truck. The journey takes him from Miami to L.A. He spends time reconnecting with his son, re-discovering his passion for cooking, and learning what it truly means to "follow your heart."

Chef is a colorful, vibrant celebration of food, family, and the joy of creating something authentic. The film shows how sometimes in life you have to risk failure or break the rules to discover your true flavor. In addition to being about food, Chef is also about reclaiming your voice, connecting with people, and the beautiful mess of pursuing your dreams on your own terms. Like Nonnas, it shows a unique dream that was unprecedented, but soon made its way to become a huge success.

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Big Night (1996)

Big Night is a touching and bittersweet tale of two brothers, Primo and Secondo, who have given every inch of themselves into living the American dream of operating an Italian restaurant. As they keep their dream afloat against all odds, they plan for one big night, the feast that will save their restaurant and, hopefully, convey their love of authentic food to a disheartening audience of two of the worst critics.

This film is a rich recipe for a layered story about love, sacrifice, and the realities of chasing dreams that become complicated. Primo, the head chef, is a perfectionist who works miracles with every dish he creates. In contrast, Secondo, as the manager/sommelier, desperately balances hope, disappointment, and despondency in his life; that is, until his brother arrives and changes everything. So, their coming-of-age journey is a combination of love of family, a sense of pride, and the bittersweet journey of finding the balance between tradition and survival. It beautifully captures everything you must have loved about Nonnas.

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Nonnas is now available to stream on Netflix.