Tony (2026)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08 · Missing measurements appear as gaps.
A young man's lie about his future leads him to a summer of culinary discovery and personal growth in a coastal Massachusetts town.
The story
In 1975, a 19-year-old Anthony "Tony" Bourdain is a student at Vassar College. He falsely tells his family and high school love interest Nancy Putkoski that he has received a writing fellowship that would send him to New York City to pursue a career as a writer. When he learns his application was rejected, he impulsively travels to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where Nancy said she was spending the summer. When he discovers Nancy is dating her coworker from a pizza restaurant, he goes to The Flagship, a local seafood restaurant, to drink. While inebriated, he is rude to Mary, the waitress and bartender, and is kicked out and robbed by Sal, one of the restaurant's cooks.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1975, a 19-year-old Anthony "Tony" Bourdain, a Vassar student, lies to his family and his love interest, Nancy, about receiving a writing fellowship. After his application is rejected, he travels to Provincetown, Massachusetts, where Nancy is staying. After being kicked out of a local bar, he finds refuge at The Flagship seafood restaurant. He lies about his experience and is hired as a dishwasher. Over several months, Tony becomes immersed in the drug-fueled lifestyle of the kitchen staff, particularly with the volatile Sal. He is eventually promoted to replace Sal after a confrontation. Despite his growing skills and a closer bond with Nancy, he continues to lie about his fellowship. A grease fire eventually destroys the restaurant's interior, and during a moment of honesty, he admits his lies to Nancy. After a falling out with Sal and a realization of his own character, Tony reconciles with the staff and decides to leave. He returns to New York, where he finally introduces himself to the world as Anthony Bourdain.
- First release year
- 2026
- Runtime (minutes)
- 106
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Matt Johnson
- Writers
- Matt Johnson · writer; Matthew Miller · writer; Todd Bartels · writer; Lou Howe · writer
- Cast and characters
- Dominic Sessa · Anthony "Tony" Bourdain; Antonio Banderas · Chef; Emilia Jones · Nancy; Leo Woodall · Sal; Stavros Halkias · Stavros; Dagmara Domińczyk · Gladys Sacksman Bourdain; Rich Sommer · Pierre Bourdain
- Genres
- biographical; coming-of-age
- Themes
- mentorship; coming-of-age
- Tone and mood
- sweet and tart
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; chef; restaurant
- Source material / true-story basis
- Kitchen Confidential
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with high scores on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, and was selected as an NYT Critic's Pick.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 93% · review count: 228; Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 50
- Production trivia
- It is Matt Johnson's first American film.; It is Matt Johnson's first feature that he does not star in.; The script was featured on the 2024 Black List.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…