Many movie-goers (myself included) can’t sit down to catch a flick without one or more treats at the ready. Popcorn and boxes of candy are popular options at the theater, with concession stands upping their game and offering a broader range of gourmet creations. However, there are scores of cinematic treats where food isn’t just playing a supporting role—they’re the star of the show.

Are you in the mood for a movie? If so, consider the titles on this list, just a taste of the films featuring snacks, bakery goods, and candy.

The Baker: Titular character Pappi (Ron Perlman) finds his adorable daughter threatened by gangsters. As you might expect from a film starring Perlman, Harvey Keitel, and other rough-and-tumble actors, things do not go smoothly, and there’s as much blood flying around as there is flour—IMDB’s one-word content guidance under “violence and gore” is “severe” in case you’re squeamish. Streaming on Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+

Chocolat: The cast is as delicious as the candies in this sweet Oscar-winning movie—Juliette Binoche leads the way as chocolatier Vianne, with castmates including Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Johnny Depp, and other notable thespians. The shop shakes up the conservative French town, and more than one villager finds their lives transformed by the delicacies. Streaming on Paramount+, MGM+, Prime Video

Snack Shack: In the early 1990s, two best pals are given the enviable job of running the concessions counter at the local public pool. Because they’re teen boys, shenanigans ensue, but along with the naughty escapades (it is rated R, after all), they and their fellow kids up end up swallowing as many life lessons as they do Doritos. Streaming on Apple TV, Prime Video, MGM+

Candy is dandy. According to the National Confectioners Association, chocolates and other sweets are at the top of the list of gifts that hit your sweetheart’s stomach and their heart—about 90% of Americans that celebrate the holiday pick candy as the gift to give, with a nice dinner out, a blooming bouquet, and even beauty and self-care items trailing behind. I’m a chocolate first girl—and while I enjoy the old standby conversation hearts, I favor twists on the original version, like these Brach’s hearts that combine novel flavors with modern messages. This is because in middle school I correctly guessed in a contest how many hearts were in a jar; the prize was all the hearts in the jar (1,906), and that’s enough to last most people a lifetime.

Take-and-bake valentines. I enjoy baking cakes, pies, and other sugary treats, but (and I imagine a lot of you can relate to this) sometimes I run out of steam after a tough day and end up lacking the energy to whip up a from-scratch baked gift. That’s why I’m a fan of cake mixes, ready-to-bake cookies, and other offerings like Sweet Loren’s BFY heart-shaped Barbie cookies (available year round) and Pillsbury’s cutout sugar cookies, also shaped like hearts. The beauty of these is, after the cookies have cooled, you can take a moment to decorate the cookies and give your easy-bake offering a personal touch.

Savory over sweet. It might be hard for the sweet-toothed people of the world (including me) to believe, but many people would step over towers of pink-frosted goods, and every heart-shaped box full of finely crafted chocolates, in favor of something on the savory side. Hain Celestial recently released heart-shaped chips—with the snack coming in a multi-carton filled with individually portioned pouches, they’d be perfect for giving out to school classmates or coworkers, or sneaking into your honey’s lunchbox or commuter bag for the holiday as well as the days after.

• Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn suggested The Accidentals, from her home state of Michigan—the acoustic guitar and harmonies soothed my soul immediately (thanks, Liz)
• Senior Art Director Sarah Zagacki offered up Lady Gaga’s newest album Mayhem (solid choice—in true Gaga fashion, it’s all bangers, especially “Abracadabra”), another solid suggestion.
• Group Publisher Doug Peckenpaugh shared his fondness for Side One of George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, saying the songs remind us that “We face continual challenges, but if we remember to keep things in perspective, always with a heart that seeks to give back, everything will work out all right.”

• Senior Editor Liz Parker Kuhn suggested The Accidentals, from her home state of Michigan—the acoustic guitar and harmonies soothed my soul immediately (thanks, Liz)
• Senior Art Director Sarah Zagacki offered up Lady Gaga’s newest album Mayhem (solid choice—in true Gaga fashion, it’s all bangers, especially “Abracadabra”), another solid suggestion.
• Group Publisher Doug shared his fondness for Side One of George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, saying the songs remind us that “We face continual challenges, but if we remember to keep things in perspective, always with a heart that seeks to give back, everything will work out all right.”

• Work hard: Nathan showed up every danged day to Highland’s facilities, industry events, and wherever else he was needed and gave 100%
• Make connections: Rather than just sticking to the duties of his job description, he made a point to bond with Highland employees at every level, on a professional and personal level
• Build a network: A fixture at scores of industry events (American Society of Baking, American Bakers Association, and others), he didn’t just show up—he connected with producers, suppliers, execs, and people at every level as friends.

What are some of your favorite snacks or bakery items to give or to get for Valentine’s Day? Share your top heart-covered treats for the holiday by sending to me at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com. I’d love to hear from you—see what I did there? SF&WB