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+

Making pretzels is in Justin Spannuth’s blood—literally. The COO of Unique Snacks is the latest in a long, long line of Spannuths to take up the craft of pretzel making. While he learned the trade from all the pretzel-making members of his family before him, he’s currently preparing the next generation to carry on the salty legacy. Here, he shares his story, in his own words.

Molly Blakely is one tough cookie. Before starting cookie brand Molly Bz, she had nothing but a nearly empty bank account and a can-do attitude. Those two things helped bring the business to the nationwide presence it is today—here’s her story, in her words.

GROWING UP
Alaska is amazing! Because we are basically quarantined up here, it leads us all to believe anything is possible!

My parents started over 23 different businesses here, all within a 10-mile radius. I learned how to run them all, from a family diner, roller rink, radio stations, and more. It was wild! When I was 18, my resume looked like I was making it all up. It was so much fun—other kids were doing lemonade stands, and I was running a bowling alley with a snack bar and arcade, and didn’t think it was weird at all. What a life—I'm so grateful! 

My parents’ diner made pies and breads daily. I was never a part of it unless I needed to taste test the cinnamon rolls, but I didn’t know I was absorbing all of it, to one day become Molly Bz. 

BEGINNINGS
That was a rough lesson. I became a serial entrepreneur like my parents. My 13th and final brick-and-mortar was a 33-room Alaska lodge with a 200-seat bar and restaurant attached. I owned it for around nine years and just wanted out of it. I was burned out on every side you could think of. It was a tourist town, so winters were lonely and sad. There's a lot more to this and it's in my memoir coming out in October called Bake It Til You Make It (shameless plug—ha ha). I made a deal to sell it and was taken advantage of, in a very hard and long, drawn-out way. I was stiffed on the balance owed for buying my place and found myself broke as a joke.

I was now a single mom, I had my 10-year-old son to feed and my bank account said $150. That was crazy! So I did what most people do: I prayed! Through it all I started making weird and fun gourmet cookies, one box at a time, hand-mixing out of my home kitchen.  

STARTING OFF
I was hustling about 20 boxes a week, going on social media asking all my friends who had birthdays, etc., and then delivered out of my trunk—very humbling for real. All of a sudden it went to 45 boxes a day—I had been shouted out on Buzzfeed!—so I moved production to a church kitchen. Pastor Vickie Walber took care of me; she had four ovens, a huge 30-quart mixer, and a pantry filled with everything I would ever need. She met me at the door of her kitchen and pointed to a white board and said, “Anything you run out of, you put here, and I will get more of it for you.” I said, “I'm not sure when I can pay you back!” She said, “Molly, I believe in you, and I know you are good for it.”

So, I started there, had my son Luke skip school a few days, and it never stopped. I moved to Anchorage, the big city, next, and hired one bakery, then two, then three and four, and then found myself googling "cookie factory.” I was looking for Willy Wonka for real! I found out about co-packers and after about 300 cold calls one finally said yes.

RAMPING UP
We have been in Target, Costco, 7-Eleven, World Market, Five Below, Sam's Club, Walmart and more! They have had us in so many cool events—gifting suites for the Oscars, Grammys, international Emmys, MTV music awards, Super Bowl, etc. It honestly seems like I'm just making it all up!


FLAVORS AND FAVORITES
A popular one we have is the Hot Mess—it has sundried mangos, white chocolate, and it’s rolled in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. We have bite-size shortbread cookies with boba gels in them called Bobadoodles; they won the most innovative baked good in 2025 at the Sweets and Snacks show! I cried—we beat out Tates, Keebler, Legendary, and so many other huge names!! I love to follow the food trends—I’m a foodie, like everyone these days—so why do normal when you can stand out with a little. 

What’s next? So many things! All cookies and a few other things. We are throwing a foot in the door at foodservice, so now you can bake the dough in store and serve hot; that will be super fun!

I love the Cold Brew Bobadoodles. They are snacky and sooo good! SF&WB