8 Great Movies for Chocolate Lovers | The Chocolate Professor

For many people, eating or drinking luscious chocolate satisfies their craving, whether via the ultimate hot chocolate recipe, a beautiful bonbon, or a simple chocolate bar made with only a few premium ingredients.

But there’s another way to satisfy your chocolate desires. There are many fascinating cinematic stories about chocolate, from documentaries to whimsical fantasy. These movies are a sweet diversion and 100% calorie-free, though we can’t guarantee you won’t be hungry after watching them.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory poster

1971. Writers: Roald Dahl, Robert Kaufman, and David Seltzer. Director: Mel Stuart.

Lead actors: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, and Peter Ostrum.

In the oldest of these movies, poor Charlie Bucket lives with his washerwoman mother and four elderly relatives in a dilapidated old house, when he learns that each of five people who find a golden ticket inside a Wonka bar will receive a lifetime of chocolate. They will also tour Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory – with one family member, each. It will be the first time the factory has opened in many years.

Charlie and his family keep track of how many tickets have been received – including one fraudulent ticket. Then the boy finds the remaining real ticket and asks his grandfather to visit the factory with him. It’s the first time the grandfather has left his bed in many years.

As Wonka, Gene Wilder’s bright blue eyes and penetrating stare give new meaning to the term ‘mad scientist.’ Oompa Loompas add a bit of whimsy to the factory, and a boat travels at warp speed through a very dark tunnel.

A fun house-style entry leads to the primary factory room, where almost everything is edible – from multi-color mushrooms and giant candy canes to enormous lollipops and a chocolate waterfall. And that’s where trouble begins, as each misbehaving child suffers the consequences. Only Charlie and his grandfather prove themselves worthy to Wonka.

Musical and magical, Willy Wonka tells a story of how good behavior reaps rewards.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2005. Director: Tim Burton. Writers: Roald Dahl and John August. Lead Actors: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, and David Kelly.

This updated version of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory begins in a dark, highly mechanized room where five chocolate bars receive golden tickets that offer coveted visits to Willy Wonka’s long-closed factory. Then frenzied fans crowd chocolate outlets across the globe, to purchase bars.

But young Charlie Bucket’s loving family lives in extreme poverty, with no money for candy. That is, until Charlie’s parents splurge for his birthday. When there’s no golden ticket he offers to share the confection with his family. A second bar, from his grandfather, has no ticket either. When Charlie finds money on the street, he purchases another bar, finds a ticket, and invites his grandfather – who previously worked for Wonka – to accompany him.

As ticket winners and family members tour the factory, the misbehavior of individual children contrasts with Charlie’s goodness. And each time a child encounters disaster, Wonka’s Oompa Loompas break out in song.

Burton’s Willy Wonka didn’t resemble actor, Johnny Depp, to me. The character also seemed more like an adult child full of wonder, rather than reminiscent of Gene Wilder’s mad scientist vibe.

And this movie weaves in a backstory about Wonka’s upbringing and the value of family which gradually emerges through his conversations with Charlie. A feast for the eyes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a lovely ‘twist’ on the original Wonka movie.

Wonka

2023. Director: Paul King. Writers: Roald Dahl, Paul King, and Simon Farnaby. Lead Actors: Timothée Chalamet, Gustave Die, and Murray

This isn’t your typical story about Willy Wonka. In fact, it’s a precursor to the more familiar cinematic tale. The movie begins on a large boat, which served as Wonka’s and his mother’s home for a time. After collecting one cocoa bean on each day, the pair made one chocolate bar on his birthday, annually. Wonka’s mother encouraged him to follow his dreams too.

As a young man whose mother has passed away, Wonka leaves the ship for dry land – determined to make and sell chocolate. In a town square he introduces residents to chocolates that magically appear from his top hat, much to the chagrin of three local chocolate makers who decide he must be stopped.

Wonka also quickly exhausts his paltry cash and falls prey to a ruthless pair with a scheme that leaves him and other lodgers laboring in a dank basement laundry to pay off their ‘lodging debts.’ But his positivity and out-of-the-box thinking lead the entire group to unexpected heights and depths, especially because of competition with local chocolate makers; including the creation of a short-lived chocolate shop. In addition, Wonka helps a young girl from the group to connect with her past.

Plenty of music, one pesky Oompa Loompa, and signs of Wonka’s generous spirit are woven into the fabric of this story. And you’ll never again look at more traditional Willy Wonka tales the same way.

Chocolat

2000. Writers: Joanne Harris and Robert Nelson Jacobs. Director: Lasse Hallström. Lead actors: Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, and Judi Dench.

Here is another story with a touch of magic. Residents in a small, ancient French village believe in tranquility and following convention, with the church being an important touchstone for most people. But when Vianne Rocher and her daughter, Anouk, arrive on a cold, winter day during Lent, life begins to change here.

After Vianne rents a building from the elderly Armande, the Comte de Reynaud welcomes her to the village and invites her to church – which Vianne declines.

Captivated by Vianne’s hot chocolate with chile powder, Armande visits regularly. Forbidden to see her grandson because of lifestyle choices, Armande is delighted when Vianne arranges for them to meet at the shop.

A shy woman buys a small item, receiving free candies that make her husband amorous, and the couple becomes regular customers. A man with an elderly dog buys chocolate for a local widow. Known for ‘walking to her own beat’ Josephine Muscat steals a small box of chocolates, before befriending Vianne and then flees abusive husband, Serge, to live and work with her.

Learn about Anouk’s imaginary kangaroo, and Vianne’s unusual habit of leaving places they live quite quickly, after a very short stay. Witness the fallout from Serge’s abuse, the evolution of Vianne’s relationship with a visiting gypsy, and drama surrounding Armande. Through it all gorgeous chocolates – and their preparation – are the visual centerpiece of this enchanting movie.

Dripping in Chocolate

2012. Director: Mark Joffe. Writers: John Ridley and Sarah Smith. Lead actors: Louise Lombard, Laura Gorun, and Thommy Arena.

This movie weaves chocolate-making into a tale of intrigue and mystery. On a stormy night Australian chocolatier, Julianna Lovece, works in her Charlton Lane shop of the same name. But outside there’s something sinister happening. With a piece of Lovece chocolate in her pocket, we witness a blonde woman in a tight cocktail dress as her assailant strangles her with ‘fairy lights.’

Throughout this story Lovece chocolate shows up in inopportune places, threatening to implicate Julianna in multiple crimes. She encounters a developer at a gallery opening, who wants to demolish existing buildings on Charlton Lane so he can build a hotel and then gives chocolate to his distraught wife in a gallery restroom. The woman believes he is having an affair and invites Julianna to their home to discuss the development project. A piece of Lovece chocolate sits on the mantle after Julianna finds him dead.

We learn about connections between several characters – including a therapist – and witness additional violence. Julianna’s life partner has a hidden side, and the chocolatier takes refuge in her beautiful second home beside the beach long after her previous visit.

Full of twists and turns, this story begins and ends with gorgeous views of Julianna handcrafting chocolate. In-between murders, family rifts, and revenge impact the chocolate maker, people close to her, and even several police investigating the crimes.

Like Water for Chocolate

1992. With subtitles. Based on the novel by Laura Esquivel. Director: Alfonso Arau. Lead actors: Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, and Regina Torné.

Although there isn’t much chocolate on display in this movie, its title - Like Water for Chocolate – comes from the Spanish phrase como agua para chocolate. A common phrase in many Spanish-speaking countries, it means an individual’s emotions are on the verge of boiling over. And this movie depicts plenty of high intensity feelings between the lead characters.

The story opens in 1892, with a home birth on a Mexican kitchen table. But the little girl – Tita – is not wanted and not treated well by her mother. While playing outside one day, she meets Pedro, and the youngsters pledge undying love.

But as Tita and her two older sisters grow up, their mother repeatedly reminds Tita of a longstanding tradition that requires the youngest daughter in a family to remain single and care for her mother until death.

And Tita’s dream of being Pedro’s wife is shattered as he weds her sister, Rosauro. But she finds a delicious way to channel her passion – in the kitchen. Tita’s exquisite cuisine charms everyone, including Pedro. Like a hot mug of cocoa, this irresistible tale depicts unrequited passion, stunning cuisine, and intense family dynamics.

Peace by Chocolate

2021. With subtitles. Director: Jonathan Keijser. Writers: Jonathan Keijser and Abdul Malik. Lead actors: Hatem Ali, Ayham Abou Ammar and Yara Sabri.

Based on a true story, it opens as Tareq Hadhad remembers his family’s departure from war-torn Syria to a refugee camp. Surrounded by snow at Halifax/Nova Scotia, Canada airport, Tareq meets his family’s local immigration sponsor, Frank Gallant, and other townspeople from Antigonish.

During their drive Tariq’s ‘very good English’ prepares the way for other family members who will soon arrive without English fluency. A small Antigonish house awaits Tareq, his parents, his adult sister, and his young niece, but the family had hoped to live in a large city, such as Toronto. And their immigration liaison tells Tareq his family can live in Antigonish, or in Lebanon. Tareq also wonders about continuing his medical studies and practice, in Canada.

Soon after arriving Tareq’s father, Issam, visits a chocolate shop and unsuccessfully offers his help. So, the Syrian chocolate maker begins making confections at home. After tasting Issam’s chocolate, Frank suggests he sell it at church. Eventually locals pool funds for Issam’s first Canadian chocolate shop, Peace by Chocolate.

The remaining movie depicts hard work, friendship, accepting differences among people, and of course, delectable, beautiful, handcrafted chocolate. Tareq begins speaking about the family’s experiences, publicly, and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reenacts an actual 2016 meeting with the Hadhads.

The family’s chocolate has now traveled the world and even space. For a taste of Peace by Chocolate confections, visit their website.

Chocolate Road

2021. With subtitles. Documentary Director: Tanya Chuturkova. Stars: Frances Louise Bekele, Joe Cullen Brown, and Martin Christy.

In this fascinating documentary, three renowned chocolatiers from across the globe – Maribel Lieberman, Susumu Koyama, and Mikkel Friis-Holm – journey to learn about sourcing new cacao beans and chocolate flavors. Each of these passionate chocolate makers has participated in Salon Du Chocolat in Paris, too, which annually draws more than 50,000 people.

Owner of Pâtissier Es Koyama, in Japan, Koyama is a multi-award-winning chocolate maker, winner at Salon Du Paris, and frequent author. Aiming to become one of the world’s best chocolate makers, Friis-Holm’s Chokolade (Herslev village/Lejre, Denmark) sells chocolate couverture in bulk as well as its own products.

And Lieberman’s MarieBelle® New York shop has been a tasty Big Apple fixture for more than three decades. After growing up with cacao trees in her backyard this Honduran native wanted to infuse chocolate with cacao from her home country.

While traveling, these chefs examine cacao on trees and learn about its harvest. Farmers and representatives from Guittard Chocolate, International Cocoa Genebank, and the Cocoa Research Centre at UWI (University of the West Indies) talk about growing cacao.

The movie describes how Quetzalcoatl gave cacao to people, cacao’s migration to and transformation in Europe, and climate change’s impact on cacao. Creating disease resistant cacao, fermentation, conching, tempering and molding all appear here too. Near the end of this film, there are also behind the scenes visits with each chocolate maker.