Film

Ramen Heads

Name: Ramen Heads
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2017
Cast: Osamu Tomita, Shôta Iida, Kumiko Ishida, Katsuya Kobayashi, Yûki Ohnishi

Light-hearted

Ramen Heads follows Osamu Tomita, Japan's most celebrated ramen chef, as he obsesses over perfecting his craft. It's a meditative documentary about singular devotion to mastery—the kind of film that makes you understand why someone would spend decades on soup. For anyone who respects expertise, creativity, or just really good food.

TMDb rating

3.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love films that linger over craft, watching a single obsession unfold in patient detail until the process itself becomes the drama, the way a good chef's documentary turns a bowl of noodles into a study of devotion.

Skip it if you want a documentary with a clear argument or a brisk pace, since this one moves at the speed of broth simmering and spends long stretches on preparation rather than on stories about people beyond their work.

What it asks of you: It runs about ninety minutes and asks for steady, unhurried attention, with long observational shots of the kitchen and very little narration to tell you what to feel about any of it.

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

If you liked this

Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011

The spiritual ancestor of this film. An elderly sushi master's lifelong pursuit of perfection, filmed with the same reverent attention to process, ingredient, and the philosophy behind the obsession.

But It moves at a glacial pace and requires genuine patience with repetition and ritual. Not a quick watch, and sushi doesn't excite everyone.

Chef's Table2015

Each episode profiles a different culinary genius with the same documentary intimacy and respect for craft. Visually stunning, deeply human, and celebrates the kind of singular vision that drives Tomita.

But Some episodes lean heavily toward plating aesthetics over flavour. Can feel more about the chef's ego than the food itself in places.

Midnight in Paris2011

Not a documentary, but captures the same mood: a character transported into a world of obsessive artists and craftspeople who've perfected their work over lifetimes. Romantic about dedication.

But It's whimsical and sentimental in ways Ramen Heads is not. The fantasy framing might feel saccharine if you're after something grounded.

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

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Tokyo Story1953

Both films locate transcendence in daily ritual and the acceptance of impermanence. Both are about seeing clearly rather than changing anything.

Ozu's masterpiece is fundamentally about the small gestures, the everyday rituals, and the profound meaning found in ordinary meals and moments with family. It's where Tomita's philosophy comes from—the spiritual centre of Japanese aesthetics.

But It's 2.5 hours of very little happening, in black and white, with no dramatic arc. Patience isn't optional; it's the entire point.

The Deepest Breath2023

A documentary about freediving athletes pursuing an impossible, perfectionist goal. Same DNA as Ramen Heads—watching someone refine a single skill to transcendent levels, with meditative cinematography.

But The stakes are life-or-death, which can make it feel exploitative if you're not onboard with extreme sports culture.

My Octopus Teacher2020

Another meditation on patience, observation, and the rewards of sustained attention. A filmmaker spends a year with one creature, learning to see deeply. Calming and revelatory.

But Some viewers find the narration cloying. If you're allergic to uplift, this won't work.

Heroin(e)2017

Three portraits of women who have dedicated themselves to a singular cause in difficult circumstances. Respectful, unflinching, and genuinely moving. Made the same year as Ramen Heads and shares its focus on individual commitment.

But It's heavy. These are stories of addiction, poverty, and systemic failure. Not comfort viewing.

A Film About Coffee2014

Exactly what it sounds like—a documentary about the artisanal coffee world. Same obsessive focus on sourcing, roasting, and the philosophy of a simple product done extraordinarily well.

But If you don't care about coffee, the specificity might bore you. It's for people who want to understand why someone cares about coffee.

The Toys That Made Us2017

Each episode profiles a toy line and the creative obsessives who designed it. Like Ramen Heads but for play—celebrates makers who spent careers perfecting something many dismiss.

But Episodes vary wildly in quality. Some feel corporate and shallow compared to others. The nostalgia can feel forced.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?2018

A portrait of Mr. Rogers' singular, decades-long commitment to his craft and his vision. Quiet, profound, and unapologetic about the value of care and intention in work.

But Extremely sentimental and reverent. If you're cynical about sincerity, this will test your patience.

The Godfather1972

Both protagonists (and their creators) are consumed by the perfection of their work, regardless of personal cost. Both are about legacy and the weight of responsibility to a tradition.

A film obsessed with craft, loyalty, and the perfect execution of a vision—even if that vision is morally compromised. Coppola's obsession with filmmaking mirrors Tomita's with ramen. It's about mastery as a spiritual practice.

But Three and a half hours, violent, and about crime. The comparison is structural, not tonal. Totally different registers.

Stalker1979

Both films follow a man deeper and deeper into his chosen path, treating the journey as sacred rather than interesting. Both suggest that mastery is mystical rather than technical.

Tarkovsky's sci-fi meditation on desire, obsession, and the search for something ineffable. Beautifully slow, visually hypnotic, and fundamentally about a man's devotion to a singular pursuit. Shares Ramen Heads' contemplative patience.

But Surreal and philosophical rather than literal. Nearly three hours long. No plot in any conventional sense. Demands surrender rather than entertainment.