Nowreturning for its second season on Max,Juliahas become one of the unexpected delights of the TV calendar. Telling the story of Julia Child with a winsome combination of humor and genuine pathos, the series has earned its fair share of admirers, who come to it either because of a fascination with Julia Child or because of their love of cooking TV more generally.
If you’re someone who finds yourself looking for similar shows and movies to watch when you’ve mainlined all of the availableJuliaepisodes, then we’re here to help. These are three shows you should check out that have a lot in common withJulia.
The Bear (2022 -)
Juliais a much calmer, gentler show, butThe Bearis very much set in the same world. Telling the story of a highly qualified chef who returns to his hometown to reinvent his brother’s sandwich shop,The Bearis a show about family, generational trauma, and fine cuisine.
WhileJuliadoesn’t have all the sharp edges thatThe Beardoes, both shows do have their moments of levity, althoughThe Bearis definitely much more likely to give you an anxiety attack. What both shows understand, though, is that cooking at its best is an art form, and it should be treated as such.
Both seasons ofThe Bearare streaming onHulu. For more related content, check outThe Bear‘s season 1 episodes, ranked.
Julie & Julia (2009)
Perhaps the most direct analog toJulia,Julie & Juliatells the story of Julia Child, and pairs it with the story of a contemporary blogger who is working her way through Child’s French cookbook.
While that may sound too complicated for its own good,Julia & Juliamanages to draw striking parallels between its two central stories, and also explains why Child has remained an enduring figure. Meryl Streep shines as Child, perfectly toeing the line between hammy and sincere, and Amy Adams is just as good playing a character were far less familiar with.
Julie & Juliais streaming for free onYouTube.
Ratatouille (2007)
Brad Bird’s magnum opus,Ratatouille,follows a rat who is inspired by a Julia Child-esque figure to believe that he too can become a great chef. LikeJulia,Ratatouilleuses comedy to tell the story of an unlikely chef who rises to the top of their field because of their tremendous skill.
Ratatouilleis a story about creation, and one where great art can come from anywhere, and it remains one ofPixar’s very best movies. Like all great movies about cooking,Ratatouilleknows that it’s an art as much as a science, and reminds us time after time that truly anyone can cook.
