From ‘When Harry Met Sally’ to ‘Elf,’ these films have some of the most memorable food scenes of all time.
Entertainment and food don’t always blend together, but when they do, the two entities can create quite some memorable moments. Food not only brings people together, but it can also enhance the best pieces of media, creating unforgettable scenes that have (and will continue) to go down in movie history.
From animated classics like Ratatouille and Lady and the Tramp to cult favorites such as Pulp Fiction or Goodfellas, food has often been used to convey a level of emotion in film that doesn’t need any translation. Here are some of the most iconic movie moments that feature everyone’s favorite delicacies.
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‘When Harry Met Sally’
Image Credit: Columbia/Courtesy Everett Collection This 1989 film is regarded as one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and the iconic diner scene where Sally, portrayed by Meg Ryan, shows Harry, played by Billy Crystal, how swiftly women can forge an orgasm is the cherry on top of its cake. After delivering her performance, an innocent bystander delivers yet another one of the most memorable lines from cinema when they tell the cafe waiter: “I’ll have what she’s having.”
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‘Lady and the Tramp’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection An animated depiction of a Cocker Spaniel and a Schnauzer mixed breed eating a plate of spaghetti may not sound like one of the most romantic scenes in movie history, but it certainly is. Lady and the Tramp certainly isn’t centered around food, but the clip where Lady and Tramp share a single spaghetti noodle and accidentally lock lips is certainly one of the film’s most shining moments.
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‘The Gold Rush’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Charlie Chaplin had quite the impact on the silent-film era during his days in Hollywood, and his renowned dinner roll dance scene in the 1925 film The Gold Rush stands out as one of the earliest, most memorable food moments in movie history.
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‘Pulp Fiction’
Image Credit: Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection Pulp Fiction is full of crime, violence and, surprisingly, a slew of standout food references. As hitmen Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vince (John Travolta) are on the way to handle business, they nonchalantly discuss the discrepancies between American and European cuisine. Turns out the one major difference between the two countries is that in France they call a quarter pounder with cheese a “Royale with cheese.” It’s a small instance that sticks out from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film.
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‘Elf’
Image Credit: New Line/Courtesy Everett Collection Buddy the Elf single-handedly assembled one of the most peculiar dishes in movie history in this holiday classic. Comprised of spaghetti noodles, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, marshmallows and a few crushed-up Pop-Tarts, Will Ferrell happily inhales the dish — and it’s all for breakfast.
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‘Ratatouille’
Image Credit: Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection In a movie that’s all about food and spreading the message that “Anyone can cook,” Ratatouille is jam-packed with iconic bits in the kitchen. However, the moment when esteemed food critic Anton Ego takes a bite of Remy the rat’s very own ratatouille stands out among the rest. After the first bite, Ego is transported back in time to his childhood, instantly reminding the audience of how food can trigger memories and swiftly transport us back to simpler times.
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‘Cool Hand Luke’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection In this 1967 prison drama, Paul Newman’s character, Luke Jackson, embarks on the challenge of eating 50 hard-boiled eggs in an hour — a task he completes and a role that earned Newman a nod for best actor at the 1968 Oscars.
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‘Goodfellas’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection The dinner in prison scene from Goodfellas shows the top-to-bottom process of how Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta, and his fellow mobsters prepare a noteworthy meal within the bounds of confinement.
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‘Beauty and the Beast’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection In this 1991 Disney classic, food is a distraction for Belle after being kidnapped in the castle by the Beast — and the enchanted residents surely deliver an unforgettable feast full of soup du jour, hot hors d’oeuvres, beef ragout and more during the movie’s beloved “Be Our Guest” segment.
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‘The Godfather’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano) teaching Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) how to make his famous sauce may not be one of the overarching plot points of The Godfather, but it did make for a delicious moment while simultaneously showing the audience how to make an authentic red sauce.
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‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection In the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn eats a pastry and sips on her coffee while strolling through the empty streets of New York City and peering into a Tiffany and Co. shop. It’s a simple yet impactful moment that opens up the 1961 film.
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‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection When the Griswold family gathers for Christmas Eve dinner, they’re met with an unsettling debacle — their turkey is completely dry. Upon the first cutting of the dish, the family sits in silence, as nothing but the noise of their teeth crunching on the turkey like nails on a chalkboard fills the scene.
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‘Matilda’
Image Credit: TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The infamous scene from this 1996 movie when Bruce (Jimmy Karz) is forced to eat an entire chocolate cake isn’t exactly appetizing, but it did help coin the namesake of “Matilda chocolate cake” from the film’s title.
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‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Much of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory centers around food — or candy — though the 1971 original’s chocolate river is an undeniable standout fixture of the film. After indulging in drinking some of the river, Augustus Gloop (Michael Bollner) accidentally falls in and is grimly whisked away.