What's Cooking?

Play trailer

What's Cooking?

PG-13

2000

1h 49m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

You are invited to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner that will all at once transport you to four different worlds and take you home again. On the menu this November are turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie -- but also tamales, spring rolls, kugel, mac & cheese, love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, prejudice, politics, uninvited guests, unexpected accidents, outrageous conversations -- and all the other succulent and spicy surprises that arise when modern families come together for an annual meal.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

What's Cooking? is well-acted, but the scenes sometimes sink into melodrama as characters scream at each other, and the movie as a whole is too lightweight and forgettable.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 29, 2010

3/5

A bit melodramatic at times, but still charming.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Dec 20, 2006

B-

This valentine to the cultural diversity that defines L.A. is a second-tier Altman (or even Paul Thomas Anderson)a broad, accessible comedy that contrasts four large and dynamic families residing on the same street: Latino, black, Jewish, and Asian.

Go to Full Review

Jane Crowther

BBC.com

Aug 20, 2001

4/5

A combination of fresh ingredients mixed together with skill to create a well-balanced harmony of diverse flavours. Delicious.

Go to Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Apr 23, 2025

3/4

What's Cooking? (2000) is so nicely balanced and fine-tuned by director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) that it turns into an honest holiday film, filled with plenty of delicious-looking shots of Thanksgiving dishes being prepared and served.

Go to Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

4/5

Film Threat

Dec 6, 2005

2/5

Read all reviews

Alexander B

@RT91585287 Dec 15, 2024

I loved this film because it showed you how families in America celebrate thanksgiving differently and how every family has problems. It's also great for a foodie like me.

See more

alan g

@agenser Nov 14, 2024

Good acting but much melodrama as stated. Too confusing. Too many families involved. You need a scorecard.

See more

steve m

@RT57413388 Nov 7, 2022

An interesting concept, how Asian, Latino, Black, and Jewish families celebrate Thanksgiving. Each family has their issues and problems surface throughout the day. But there really isn't any connection among them so the movie is a little disjointed.

See more

Nov 24, 2021

Of all the "Thanksgiving" movies, this one is the most realistic and all-encompassing. It's also more upbeat than "Home for the Holidays" and "Pieces of April." I truly love and appreciate the directors vision of the different versions of Thanksgiving, without a traditional Anglo family (I already know that one). How is a turkey in four different families treated, prepared, and eaten? How do four families "bond" around that holiday table? And while a little cheesy (Thanksgiving pun?), I like the family-dynamic themes of transgenerational parenting, sexual preference, dating outside your culture, bullying, etc.) and the ending. Stereotypes are distracting, but it's part of this style of movie. Bonus: there are some good actors here. Problem: they aren't at their best (ie., overacting, forced, playing up clichés). Overall, for a realitic Thanksgiving movie, check it out.

See more

Nov 26, 2020

This is absolutely a must see Thanksgiving movie. You can almost smell the food as each of the 4 families prepare for the big meal in their own way. Sure some of it's melodramatic, but isn't that what family gatherings are? This movie also contains a twist at the end. Remember, "It's A Wonderful Life " didn't catch on at first.

See more

Nov 16, 2020

I absolutely love this movie. It's a look into the lives of real people. It's a fun watch every year in November.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Gurinder Chadha

Director

Alfre Woodard

Audrey Williams

Dennis Haysbert

Ronald Williams

Ann Weldon

Grace Williams

Mercedes Ruehl

Elizabeth Avila

Victor Rivers

Javier Avila

Chocolat

63%

83%

Chocolat

Watchlist

Passion of Mind

18%

51%

Passion of Mind

Watchlist

The Legend of Bagger Vance

43%

65%

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Legend of Bagger Vance

Focus

55%

62%

Focus

Watchlist

Pay It Forward

39%

77%

Pay It Forward

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

You are invited to a tasty Thanksgiving dinner that will all at once transport you to four different worlds and take you home again. On the menu this November are turkey, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie -- but also tamales, spring rolls, kugel, mac & cheese, love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, prejudice, politics, uninvited guests, unexpected accidents, outrageous conversations -- and all the other succulent and spicy surprises that arise when modern families come together for an annual meal.

Director: Gurinder Chadha
Producer: Jeffrey Taylor
Screenwriter: Paul Mayeda Berges, Gurinder Chadha
Distributor: Lionsgate Films, Trimark Pictures
Production Co: Stagescreen Productions, Flashpoint, Because Entertainment, Hope and Gravy Inc.
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Perilous Situation|Brief Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 49m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings