Film

Julia

Name: Julia
Genre: Documentary, History
Released: 2021
Cast: Julia Child, José Andrés, Ruth Reichl, Cecile Richards, Marcus Samuelsson

Other titles called Julia: the 1968 series (NBC), the 1977 film, the 2008 film.

Biopic
Light-hearted

A portrait of Julia Child's improbable ascent from Washington housewife to beloved cooking icon, built from archival footage and intimate recollections. It's a warm, unhurried film about discovering your life's work late and bringing infectious joy to the everyday act of feeding people. For anyone who's ever felt adrift, or who loves watching someone become exactly who they were meant to be.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love documentaries that let a remarkable life unfold through its own archive, with a warm, curious eye for craft and a real appetite for how people make things.

Skip it if you want a tight, fast-moving film; it is a leisurely, reverent portrait that lingers on archive clips and talking heads, and the rhythm can feel gentle to the point of soft.

What it asks of you: About ninety-five minutes of patient, unhurried attention, with the mood staying bright and affectionate rather than pushing hard for drama or tension.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Julie & Julia2009

Meryl Streep's performance as Julia Child is luminous and funny, capturing her distinctive voice and irrepressible spirit. The film interweaves Child's early struggles with a modern parallel that brings the stakes of that era into relief.

But It's romantic and novelistic where the documentary is grounded. Some find the contemporary storyline distracting or saccharine.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown2013

Anthony Bourdain carries the same infectious curiosity about food and culture that made Julia Child magnetic on television. Episodes operate as passionate essays about place, memory, and what we owe to understanding each other.

But The show is travel-heavy and sometimes meandering. Bourdain's persona can overshadow the destinations. His death gives it an unbearable poignancy on rewatch.

Salt Fat Acid Heat2018

Samin Nosrat teaches cooking with the same patient enthusiasm Julia Child pioneered. Each episode is a mini-masterclass that makes you understand technique rather than just follow instructions. You'll actually become a better cook.

But It's educational television, which means it sometimes prioritizes clarity over drama. The pacing is deliberate rather than thrilling.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Julia

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Babette's Feast1987

Both explore the radical act of generosity embedded in feeding people well, and how a woman's dedication to craft becomes a form of communication that transcends words.

A Danish film about a French chef preparing an extraordinary meal for a small religious community. It shares Julia Child's belief that cooking is a form of love and grace, but frames it as almost spiritual. Quiet, profound, and absolutely transcendent.

But It's slow, meditative, and entirely unconcerned with plot. The religious context and deliberate pacing will lose anyone seeking entertainment over contemplation. Subtitled, if that matters.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011

A meditation on mastery and dedication that echoes Julia's own pursuit of excellence. Watching someone devoted absolutely to their craft—in this case, preparing sushi—is hypnotic and moving, even if you've never eaten sushi in your life.

But It's repetitive by design and nearly silent. The subject matter is rarefied. Some find it austere rather than moving.

The Great British Bake Off2010

Captures the warmth and generosity Julia Child embodied—contestants are rivals who genuinely want each other to succeed. It's about people finding confidence through craft in an environment of genuine kindness. Deeply comforting.

But It's formulaic and repetitive across seasons. If you don't care about baking, there's no entry point. Some find the coziness cloying.

Ratatouille2007

An animated film that understands something true about cooking: it's an act of generosity and communication. The kitchen scenes have a respect for craft that echoes Julia Child's approach, and the emotional core is surprisingly deep.

But It's a Pixar film designed for children. The rat-chef premise is silly, which doesn't land if you're seeking realism. Some find the message heavy-handed.

The Hundred-Foot Journey2014

A modest, likable film about a family opening a restaurant across from a Michelin-starred kitchen, discovering that food is a bridge between cultures. It's earnest about cooking as a language of care.

But The plot is predictable and the stakes are gentle. It's a feel-good film that doesn't challenge; some find it forgettable.

Persona1966

Both are studies in the construction of self, the performance of identity, and whether there's a difference between the person you pretend to be and who you actually are. Julia became herself by deciding who she would be.

Bergman's masterpiece about identity and performance between an actress and a nurse. Sounds unrelated, but Julia Child performed herself into being just as deliberately—constructed a public persona and grew into it until the performance and the self became one.

But It's an abstract, difficult film from 1966 about psychological dissolution. If you want to watch something beautiful and comprehensible, this isn't it. Almost no plot. Demands patience and multiple viewings.