Best Movies like Ratatouille (2007)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Ratatouille both center on unlikely protagonists changing their worlds through food, with inventive takes on the transformative power of cooking and a focus on the chaos and wonder food can bring to a community. Both are animated family comedies with strong fantasy elements.

Inventor Flint Lockwood creates a machine that makes clouds rain food, enabling the down-and-out citizens of Chewandswallow to feed themselves. But when the falling food reaches gargantuan proportions, Flint must scramble to avert disaster. Can he regain control of the machine and put an end to the wild weather before the town is destroyed? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.7 by 6,547 people. The movie made an estimated total of $242,988,466 in the box office.

Chef explores the personal journey and ambition of a chef reinventing himself, echoing Remy's passion for culinary achievement and self-expression. Both films focus closely on kitchen settings and the emotional stakes behind pursuing a creative career in cuisine.

When Chef Carl Casper suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife, his friend and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love. Chef is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.1 by 3,696 people. The movie made an estimated total of $50,440,695 in the box office.

Julie & Julia weaves together stories of individuals striving for culinary excellence, paralleling Ratatouille's celebration of discovering one's culinary voice and artistry in the kitchen. The pursuit of cooking mastery drives the narrative in both films.

Julia Child and Julie Powell – both of whom wrote memoirs – find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends... until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible. Julie & Julia is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,233 people. The movie made an estimated total of $129,500,000 in the box office.

The Hundred-Foot Journey, like Ratatouille, centers on forging new paths in a prestigious kitchen setting amid cultural challenges. Both films explore characters overcoming skepticism and tradition to pursue excellence and recognition in the culinary world.

A story centered around an Indian family who moves to France and opens a restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant. The Hundred-Foot Journey is a movie from United Arab Emirates in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,564 people. The movie made an estimated total of $89,500,000 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine, an animated feature, shares Ratatouille's story of an unlikely friendship between two outcasts who defy societal expectations. Both films use whimsical animation to present themes of acceptance, cooperation, and challenging conventional roles.

Celestine is a little mouse trying to avoid a dental career while Ernest is a big bear craving an artistic outlet. When Celestine meets Ernest, they overcome their natural enmity by forging a life of crime together. Ernest & Celestine is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.8 by 701 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,170,333 in the box office.

Paddington 2, like Ratatouille, follows an outsider grappling with misunderstanding in a European city. Both films are vibrant family animations featuring gentle comedy and heartfelt explorations of identity, community, and being true to oneself.

Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen. Paddington 2 is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,851 people. The movie made an estimated total of $290,132,513 in the box office.

The Princess and the Frog features a protagonist driven by the dream of owning a restaurant, a goal similar to Remy’s culinary ambition in Ratatouille. Both animated films blend magical elements with themes of perseverance and following one’s passion through adversity.

A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him. The Princess and the Frog is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.2 by 6,215 people. The movie made an estimated total of $270,997,378 in the box office.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a coming-of-age animated film about a young protagonist developing her unique talent in a new city. Much like Remy in Ratatouille, Kiki discovers her path, builds confidence, and navigates unfamiliar environments while connecting with others.

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. Kiki's Delivery Service is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,654 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,493,017 in the box office.

Luca shares Ratatouille's focus on self-discovery and pursuing dreams in an unfamiliar environment. Both animated films center on characters navigating the boundaries between their world and human society, learning acceptance, and celebrating individuality among friends.

Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface. Luca is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 7.8 by 9,034 people. The movie made an estimated total of $51,074,773 in the box office.

Burnt examines the intense drive for culinary perfection and the personal costs of life in a high-pressure kitchen. Like Ratatouille, it explores ambition, redemption, and the world of fine dining through the eyes of a chef striving for recognition.

Adam Jones is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars. Burnt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $36,606,743 in the box office.

Spirited Away is a richly imagined animated film featuring a young protagonist thrust into a magical version of everyday life. This mirrors Ratatouille's blend of fantasy with personal transformation, as both protagonists overcome daunting odds in extraordinary settings.

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family. Spirited Away is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 8.5 by 18,641 people. The movie made an estimated total of $274,925,095 in the box office.

Soul, an animated exploration of purpose and finding one’s creative spark, aligns with Ratatouille's story of following passion despite unlikely circumstances. Both films from the same studio use inventive storytelling to examine personal growth and the pursuit of meaning.

Joe Gardner is a middle school teacher with a love for jazz music. After a successful audition at the Half Note Club, he suddenly gets into an accident that separates his soul from his body and is transported to the You Seminar, a center in which souls develop and gain passions before being transported to a newborn child. Joe must enlist help from the other souls-in-training, like 22, a soul who has spent eons in the You Seminar, in order to get back to Earth. Soul is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 8.1 by 11,586 people. The movie made an estimated total of $121,977,511 in the box office.

Big Night is built around the preparation of an important meal that represents much more than food, delving into the artistry and aspirations within the culinary world—themes strongly present in Ratatouille as Remy aims to make his mark in a prestigious kitchen.

Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant. Big Night is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 7.0 by 277 people. The movie made an estimated total of $12,000,000 in the box office.

Porco Rosso, though set in a different genre, shares Ratatouille's combination of wit, stylized animation, and a protagonist who exists on society’s margins while embracing his own code. Both films blend fantasy elements with stories of pursuing one’s unique path.

In Italy in the 1930s, sky pirates in biplanes terrorize wealthy cruise ships as they sail the Adriatic Sea. The only pilot brave enough to stop the scourge is the mysterious Porco Rosso, a former World War I flying ace who was somehow turned into a pig during the war. As he prepares to battle the pirate crew's American ace, Porco Rosso enlists the help of spunky girl mechanic Fio Piccolo and his longtime friend Madame Gina. Porco Rosso is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.8 by 3,761 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,600,000 in the box office.

Le Chef portrays the creative tensions, rivalries, and relationships behind fine French cuisine—echoing Ratatouille's Parisian kitchen setting and focus on the passionate, sometimes comedic, quest for culinary excellence against challenging odds.

A veteran chef faces off against his restaurant group's new CEO, who wants to the establishment to lose a star from its rating in order to bring in a younger chef who specializes in molecular gastronomy. Le Chef is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 24m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.2 by 642 people. The movie made an estimated total of $306,724 in the box office.

The Lunchbox highlights how food serves as a bridge between people and worlds, much like Ratatouille’s perspective on cuisine as an agent of connection and transformation. Both films explore relationships and aspirations through the lens of everyday culinary experiences.

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system (Mumbai's Dabbawallahs) connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. They build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. Gradually, this fantasy threatens to overwhelm their reality. The Lunchbox is a movie from India in Hindi, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.4 by 833 people. The movie made an estimated total of $17,240,000 in the box office.

Ramen Shop, like Ratatouille, follows a character exploring heritage and building identity through food. Both delve into culinary traditions, personal history, and the healing, unifying qualities of preparing meals in the face of familial and cultural expectations.

Masato is a young ramen chef in Japan. When he finds his late mother's journal after the sudden death of his emotionally distant father, he takes it with him to her native country, Singapore, hoping to piece together the story of his family and his life. Ramen Shop is a movie from Singapore in Japanese, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.8 by 119 people. The movie made an estimated total of $732,774 in the box office.

Whisper of the Heart focuses on youthful ambition and self-discovery in a gently observed coming-of-age story, thematic territory also explored in Ratatouille. Both animated films center on young protagonists determined to follow their passions despite internal and external doubts.

Shizuku lives a simple life, dominated by her love for stories and writing. One day she notices that all the library books she has have been previously checked out by the same person: "Seiji Amasawa." Whisper of the Heart is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.9 by 2,323 people.

Finding Nemo is an animated adventure about an unlikely hero navigating a vast world, testing his courage and resourcefulness—echoing Remy’s journey in Ratatouille. Both follow small protagonists through dangerous environments in search of belonging and fulfillment.

Nemo, an adventurous young clownfish, is unexpectedly taken from his Great Barrier Reef home to a dentist's office aquarium. It's up to his worrisome father Marlin and a friendly but forgetful fish Dory to bring Nemo home -- meeting vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish, hungry seagulls, and more along the way. Finding Nemo is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.8 by 20,766 people. The movie made an estimated total of $940,335,536 in the box office.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory immerses viewers in a fantastical, imaginative take on gourmet food, mirroring Ratatouille's celebration of culinary creativity and sensory delight. Both films feature unusual protagonists and emphasize the magic of taste and discovery.

When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five lucky kids, penniless Charlie Bucket seeks the golden ticket that will make him a winner. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 1971 with an average rating of 7.5 by 4,002 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,000,000 in the box office.

A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt profiles a chef’s singular vision and struggles for acclaim within high cuisine—directly connecting with the depiction of ambition, creativity, and conflict in the restaurant world central to Ratatouille.

Paul Liebrandt is one of the most talented and controversial chefs in the food world and the youngest chef to have received 3 stars from the New York Times. He was 24. NY Times food critic, William Grimes, likened Paul to 'a pianist who seems to have found a couple of dozen extra keys.' Through Paul, the film reveals the creative process, the extreme hard work, long hours, and dedication it takes to be a culinary artist and have success in the cutthroat world of haute cuisine. Exploring the complicated relationships between food critics, chefs, and owners the film delves into the life of a dedicated young chef ahead of his time. A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 6m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 4.8 by 8 people.

Mary and Max uses stop-motion animation to tell a heartfelt story about unlikely friendship, outsider status, and connection. These are also core themes in Ratatouille, where Remy and Linguini's alliance bridges differences in a sometimes-hostile environment.

A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York. Mary and Max is a movie from Australia in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.9 by 2,293 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,740,429 in the box office.

An American Tail, like Ratatouille, follows an animated rodent protagonist facing adversity in a new city and striving for a better life. Both films depict themes of identity, perseverance, and the journey of outsiders in unfamiliar urban landscapes.

A young mouse named Fievel and his family decide to migrate to America, a "land without cats," at the turn of the 20th century. But somehow, Fievel ends up in the New World alone and must fend off not only the felines he never thought he'd have to deal with again but also the loneliness of being away from home. An American Tail is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 6.8 by 1,473 people. The movie made an estimated total of $84,542,002 in the box office.

Paddington features an affable outsider learning to navigate a bustling new environment, much like Remy in Ratatouille. Both family-friendly tales use humor and heart to explore acceptance, adaptation, and the discovery of community in a European city setting.

A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven. Paddington is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.1 by 4,298 people. The movie made an estimated total of $333,960,862 in the box office.

WALL·E is another Pixar animation with a non-human protagonist overcoming unique challenges in an expansive setting, paralleling Ratatouille's blend of charm, visual inventiveness, and the emotional journey of striving for something greater despite the odds.

After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E— a robot designed to clean up the earth—discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report to the humans. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most imaginative adventures ever brought to the big screen. WALL·E is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 8.1 by 20,594 people. The movie made an estimated total of $521,311,860 in the box office.

Babe tells the story of a small animal pushing beyond expected roles in a human-controlled environment, echoing Remy's fight to prove himself among humans in Ratatouille. Both films celebrate courage, resourcefulness, and challenging societal norms.

Babe is a little pig who doesn't quite know his place in the world. With a bunch of odd friends, like Ferdinand the duck who thinks he is a rooster and Fly the dog he calls mum, Babe realises that he has the makings to become the greatest sheep pig of all time, and Farmer Hoggett knows it. With the help of the sheep dogs, Babe learns that a pig can be anything that he wants to be. Babe is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 6.3 by 3,173 people. The movie made an estimated total of $254,100,000 in the box office.

Charlotte's Web, an animated animal fable, examines friendship, ingenuity, and overcoming adversity—key elements mirrored in Ratatouille's depiction of Remy overcoming societal prejudice and forming unexpected alliances in pursuit of his dreams.

Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen. Charlotte's Web is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.2 by 1,476 people. The movie made an estimated total of $148,964,660 in the box office.

Chicken Run features animal protagonists plotting to escape restrictive circumstances using creativity and teamwork, themes that resonate with Remy's quest for freedom and expression in Ratatouille. Both use humor and inventive storytelling to spotlight agency and aspiration.

The creators of Wallace & Gromit bring you an exciting and original story about a group of chickens determined to fly the coop–even if they can’t fly! It’s hardly poultry in motion when Rocky attempts to teach Ginger and her feathered friends to fly…but, with teamwork, determination and a little bit o’ cluck, the fearless flock plots one last attempt in a spectacular bid for freedom. Chicken Run is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 24m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.9 by 5,470 people. The movie made an estimated total of $224,834,564 in the box office.

My Life as a Zucchini, with its animated format and focus on outsiders building found family, aligns with Ratatouille's themes of acceptance, personal growth, and the comfort found in new relationships during times of transition.

After his mother’s death, Zucchini is befriended by a kind police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home filled with other orphans his age. There, with the help of his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love as he searches for a new family of his own. My Life as a Zucchini is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 6m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.8 by 1,534 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,873,256 in the box office.

Fantastic Mr. Fox centers on an animal protagonist using cleverness to outwit human adversaries, paralleling Remy’s resourcefulness in navigating the kitchen’s challenges in Ratatouille. Both stop-motion and computer-animated films revolve around vivid animal characters and smart storytelling.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 27m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.8 by 6,218 people. The movie made an estimated total of $46,471,023 in the box office.

ParaNorman is an animated film about an outcast boy who must use his unique talents to save his community. This echoes the way Ratatouille positions Remy’s distinctive gift—and outsider status—as central to overcoming challenges and finding acceptance.

In the town of Blithe Hollow, Norman Babcock can speak to the dead, but no one other than his eccentric new friend believes his ability is real. One day, Norman's eccentric uncle tells him of a ritual he must perform to protect the town from a curse cast by a witch centuries ago. ParaNorman is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.0 by 2,825 people. The movie made an estimated total of $107,307,220 in the box office.

Rango features an unconventional animal hero adapting to unfamiliar surroundings and outsmarting opponents, themes that also define Remy’s story in Ratatouille. Both use animation to explore identity, belonging, and the triumphs of underdog characters.

When Rango, a lost family pet, accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging Western town of Dirt, the theater-loving lizard suddenly finds himself the newly appointed sheriff. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt and uncover the truth behind a looming water crisis—before his act catches up with him. Rango is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 7,226 people. The movie made an estimated total of $245,724,603 in the box office.

Onward, like Ratatouille, is a modern animated fantasy following unlikely heroes on a quest for fulfillment. Both showcase characters trying to prove themselves within strict social structures and highlight the power of persistence, ingenuity, and family.

In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on an extraordinary quest to discover if there is still a little magic left out there. Onward is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 7.6 by 6,649 people. The movie made an estimated total of $141,888,276 in the box office.

Feast, centered on the perspective of a non-human character experiencing human culinary life, aligns structurally and thematically with Ratatouille, where Remy leads viewers into the kitchen’s world through a fresh, surprising viewpoint and an affection for the pleasures of food.

When a motley crew of strangers find themselves trapped in an isolated tavern, they must band together in a battle for survival against a family of flesh-hungry creatures. Feast is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 27m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 6.2 by 624 people. The movie made an estimated total of $658,573 in the box office.

Sing presents a group of underdogs pursuing their creative dreams in a vibrant, animated setting. As in Ratatouille, the narrative revolves around self-expression, perseverance, and crossing perceived limitations for the joy of sharing one’s talents.

A koala named Buster recruits his best friend to help him drum up business for his theater by hosting a singing competition. Sing is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.1 by 8,505 people. The movie made an estimated total of $634,151,679 in the box office.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya uses animation to explore a protagonist’s journey toward agency and fulfillment in a world full of expectations. Both films delve into identity, dreams, and the pursuit of happiness through visually distinctive storytelling.

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,020 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,366,656 in the box office.

The Secret of Kells uses striking animation to weave a coming-of-age story about creativity and inspiration in a European setting, much like Ratatouille’s Parisian world. Both films focus on youthful ambition, breaking traditions, and the transformative power of artistry.

Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest? The Secret of Kells is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.4 by 800 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,803,412 in the box office.