Tony (2026)

Tony lies to his parents, his crush and his new boss before he has washed a single dish, and the movie asks you to like him anyway. That’s the catch with this early-years Anthony Bourdain story: it’s a familiar coming-of-age arc, a mouthy teenager learning humility, and his steady stream of fibs can wear you out. Then Antonio Banderas walks into the kitchen and the whole thing comes to a boil. His Chef, a boss who won’t tell anyone his real name, is gruff, funny and secretly generous, and every scene where he teaches Tony something feels like a gift. Dominic Sessa plays young Bourdain as pure nerve and ego, a Vassar kid who talks his way into a dishwashing job at a Provincetown seafood joint with zero experience. Leo Woodall’s Sal, the cook who robs him on night one, is trouble in an apron. Critics gave it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. An 8.1 because it’s a sweet, sharp tribute to mentors. $47.52 says you dice an onion tonight with way more confidence than skill and call it practice.

What works: Antonio Banderas is a standout as Chef, and the film’s scrappy, warm take on mentorship makes it a joy even if you know nothing about Bourdain.

What doesn’t: The coming-of-age beats are familiar, and Tony lies so constantly in the first act that he’s hard to root for at first.

Who it’s for: Bourdain fans, restaurant workers and anyone who had a tough boss who turned out to be the best teacher they ever had.