5 In-Flight Movies and Series for Food-Focused Travelers

Get amped up for your next delicious destination with food-focused film in-flight.

Everyone loves a good plane flick. And it’s even better when it’s a movie or show that whets your appetite for a delicious meal or showcases good old-fashioned competition. Besides making the journey go by faster, the best onboard entertainment can serve as a recipe to eat, drink, and travel better. Here are five programs that do exactly that at 35,000 feet.

Hot tip:With high-speed Wi-Fi in the sky, you can even make that last minute restaurant reservation before landing.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

The late Bourdain is a legend in food and travel television. Watching No Reservations on a flight is one of the premier ways to get your fix of, well, food and travel — all before even getting to your destination. From Botswana to Bolivia (and dozens of places in between), it all comes with Bourdain’s no holds barred style and his ability to connect with the local flavor of a place. By the end of an episode, viewers are forced to stop, think, and reflect about the intricate socioeconomic balance of food, travel, and yes, politics. About to land in a place that’s featured in an episode onboard? Even better.

Related: Anthony Bourdain Once Said This Restaurant in Paris Was a Must-Visit, Second Only to the Eiffel Tower

Beat Bobby Flay

By all measures, Bobby Flay is a Food Network celebrity. From Iron Chef America to Worst Cooks in America (and many programs in between), Flay has had a stranglehold on food program aficionados. With Beat Bobby Flay, the premise is a rather simple one: two chefs, often up-and-coming ones from across the U.S., compete for the chance to cook against Flay. The show not only spotlights the cuisine and signature dishes from cities around the world, but also the individual restaurants and people who make it happen. It’s cooking entertainment that will have you on the edge of your (airplane) seat, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Chopped

Enjoy traveling spontaneously? Then Chopped may be your ideal onboard culinary entertainment. Host Ted Allen guides four chefs across several rounds of cooking — from appetizer to dessert — to see what they can make all on the fly. Each course comes with a mystery basket, often containing a potpourri of (sometimes outlandish) ingredients that must be featured in the dish. With a clock ticking, the competition can get ferocious. For viewers, it’s a glimpse into the frantic nature of chefs in the kitchen and a way to witness their creativity on full display.

Related: 24 Best Food and Drink Books of Spring 2024, According to Food & Wine Editors

Bar Rescue

Gordon Ramsey is to restaurants as Jon Taffer is to bars. This reality series showcases venues from across the U.S. that are on the brink of collapse; that is, until Taffer and his team come in to save the day (and the business). From celebrity chefs to expert mixologists, there’s a lot that goes on to help upright a sinking ship.

Wonka

There’s an element of fantasy in Wonka that feels ethereal. It’s kind of like how you may feel when looking out of an airplane window, dreaming as the world shapeshifts below. The film is obviously a classic, but this time it’s remade into a whimsical musical about a young Wonka — played by Timothée Chalamet — trying to succeed as a chocolatier. For travelers looking to escape, this is the movie to watch.

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