What's in this guide
Tony the movie is A24's take on Anthony Bourdain's early life, and it opened wider this week to some of the warmest reviews of the summer. Here is where to watch Tony the movie, who is in it, and what critics are actually saying.
Tony the Movie: Where to Watch
Tony the movie opened in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on August 7, 2026, then expanded wide nationwide on August 21. It is an A24 theatrical release, rated R, running 1 hour 46 minutes.
There is no streaming or digital date yet. A24 titles typically reach digital rental within 30 to 45 days of a wide release, so expect Tony the movie on platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video sometime in late September or October. We will update this post the moment that changes.
What Tony the Movie Is About
Set in the summer of 1975, a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown, Massachusetts, after getting rejected from a writing fellowship. He stumbles into a chaotic seafood restaurant kitchen, gets mentored by its brilliant, hard-edged head chef, and has the summer that quietly sets the course for the rest of his life.
It is based on chapters of Bourdain's 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, but deliberately narrow in scope. Director Matt Johnson has been explicit that this is not a cradle-to-grave biopic — there is no CNN, no Parts Unknown, no fame. Just one formative summer, years before any of that existed.
A line from the trailer sums up where Tony is at the start: "I'm actually not a fucking cook. I'm a writer. But I said I know how to cook."
The Bourdain Estate's Endorsement
This is worth knowing, because biopic families rarely go on record like this. In a statement, Bourdain's estate explained why they backed a film that skips almost his entire famous career:
"We chose to support Tony because it is not a standard biopic and doesn't attempt to summarize a life… It is an interpretation, as that part of Tony's life will always remain somewhat unknown."
That framing matters for expectations. If you are hoping for a greatest-hits tour of Bourdain's TV career, this is not that film. If you want to understand who he was before any of it, this is exactly that film.
Tony the Movie Cast
- Dominic Sessa as Tony (Anthony Bourdain), following his breakout in The Holdovers
- Antonio Banderas as Chef, the restaurant owner who becomes Tony's reluctant mentor
- Emilia Jones as Nancy, Tony's love interest
- Leo Woodall as Sal, Tony's reckless best friend in the kitchen
- Stavros Halkias as Dimitri
- Dagmara Domińczyk, Rich Sommer and Monica Raymund in supporting roles
Matt Johnson directs from a script he co-wrote with Matthew Miller, Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. Johnson previously made BlackBerry and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. It was shot on Cape Cod, and filming wrapped in August 2025.
Tony the Movie Reviews: What Critics Are Saying
Early reviews have been genuinely warm, if not universally rapturous. The Hollywood Reporter called it "more of a light bite than a full meal, but flavorful," praising Sessa's performance while noting the film's deliberately small scale.
Deadline highlighted the chemistry between Sessa and Banderas, and singled out a quiet, funny beat late in the film where Chef asks Tony if anyone calls him Anthony — "My mother," Tony replies, and Chef winks: "Smart woman."
Other reviews have praised Leo Woodall specifically, describing his performance as Sal as one that steals every scene he is in. The general critical consensus: a modest, warm coming-of-age story rather than a prestige biopic, and better for it.
Should You Watch It?
If you loved Bourdain's writing or his shows, this is an easy recommendation — it is made with genuine affection rather than obligation, and the estate's endorsement carries real weight. If you have never read Kitchen Confidential or watched Parts Unknown, it still works as a standalone coming-of-age story, just with less emotional payoff in the final stretch.
At 106 minutes it is also a tight watch, not a sprawling awards-season slog.
Tony the Movie FAQ
Where can I watch Tony the movie?
It is playing in theaters now, in wide release since August 21, 2026. No streaming or digital date has been announced yet.
Is Tony the movie based on a true story?
Yes. It is based on chapters from Anthony Bourdain's 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, focused specifically on one summer in 1975.
Who plays Anthony Bourdain in Tony?
Dominic Sessa, known for his breakout role in The Holdovers, plays the 19-year-old Bourdain.
Did Anthony Bourdain’s family approve of the film?
Yes. Bourdain's estate released a public statement supporting the film, praising its choice to depict one summer rather than his whole life.
How long is Tony the movie?
1 hour 46 minutes, rated R.
Is Tony the movie good?
Early reviews are warm rather than rapturous. The Hollywood Reporter called it flavorful but modest in scope, with particular praise for Dominic Sessa and Leo Woodall’s performances.
Will Tony the movie stream on Netflix or another platform?
No streaming date has been confirmed. As an A24 release, it will likely reach digital rental first, typically 30 to 45 days after wide release.
For more from A24 and recent biopics, see our guide to Michael.
