Chocolat

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Chocolat

PG-13

2001

2h 1m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

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163 Reviews

83%

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250,000+ Ratings

When mysterious Vianne and her child arrive in a tranquil French town in the winter of 1959, no one could have imagined the impact that she and her spirited daughter would have on the community stubbornly rooted in tradition. Within days, she opens an unusual chocolate shop, across the square from the church. Her ability to perceive her customers' desires and satisfy them with just the right confection, coaxes the villagers to abandon themselves to temptation -- just as Lent begins.

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Critics Consensus

Chocolat is a charmingly light-hearted fable with a lovely performance by Binoche.

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Michael Rechtshaffen

The Hollywood Reporter

Feb 17, 2026

3.5/4

Concession counters should be prepared for the accompanying deluge; after subjecting audiences to two hours of mouthwatering temptation, they could probably sell the stuff by the vat.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Feb 17, 2026

A truly astonishing exercise in retro-Gallic nostalgia. I kept gagging on this treacly fantasy as I haven't done since poor Ms. Caron played opposite Horst Buchholz in Joshua Logan's screen version of "Fanny."

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Jack Mathews

New York Daily News

Feb 17, 2026

3/4

A little of this magic goes a long way, and the story's dramatic conflict is a stacked deck leading to predictable conclusions. But given the season, Chocolat is a charming trifle.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 24, 2026

2.5/4

Chocolat is definitely a minor piece when compared to other films of a gastronomical nature, although it’s not without its own charms.

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Catherine Graham

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Feb 17, 2026

A+

Movies are most powerful when they function as cultural myth. Chocolat stealthily feeds the soul with positive images and feelings that give meaning to our lives. And what fun!

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Steve Persall

Tampa Bay Times

Feb 17, 2026

B-

Chocolat isn't as sensual as Like Water for Chocolate, sentimental as Big Night or gluttonous as Babette's Feast. It's more like a sprig of parsley on the side of a full plate of holiday releases. Nibble, if you wish.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 8, 2026

I have watched this movie *3* times so I am giving it a *4* star rating!

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Keith B

@Okbullard Sep 5, 2026

This film was much better than I expected. I've seen Juliette Binoche in many projects but she was outstanding in this one. I always really liked Alfred Molina after Spiderman 2 when he played Dr Octopus. Even Johnny Depp was great in this despite him many personal issues, though my favorite film of his was Edward Scissorhands. Give it a watch I think you'll probably enjoy it.

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Allysa W.

@Ally_star Jun 12, 2026

One of my favorite movies. Great acting, timeless message.

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Artsy C

@ystra Apr 22, 2026

One of the best movies I have ever seen. It has adventure, violence, romance, drama, moral debates and comedy. It has it all and it does it well. In an age where movie series seem to drag on and on before they get to the point, with sequel after sequel it's so refreshing to know that you can come back to a movie like this with a well paced and well told story. The acting is incredible and the soundtrack is so so beautiful. 10/10 film.

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S S

@RT49980310 Mar 13, 2026

I remember enjoying this film in 2001 and enjoyed it again in 2026. A sweet interlude; a delicious poetic ode to chocolate. And if you need to scratch the surface, you can find a lesson in misguided Christian prejudice and intolerance.

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S S.

@SShol Nov 9, 2025

It’s a sweet movie, and the acting is superb across the whole cast. It’s just a shallow movie, that almost yearns to have a deeper message or allegorical meaning behind it - but it ends with a somewhat sappy sweet finale and the viewer is left somewhat unsatisfied. If anything, watch this for the acting and the town vibe - masterfully crafted world building within this town. The story itself can be put on the back burner

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Juliette Binoche

Vianne Rocher

Johnny Depp

Roux

Lena Olin

Josephine Muscat

Judi Dench

Amande Voizin

Alfred Molina

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Synopsis

When mysterious Vianne and her child arrive in a tranquil French town in the winter of 1959, no one could have imagined the impact that she and her spirited daughter would have on the community stubbornly rooted in tradition. Within days, she opens an unusual chocolate shop, across the square from the church. Her ability to perceive her customers' desires and satisfy them with just the right confection, coaxes the villagers to abandon themselves to temptation -- just as Lent begins.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: David Brown, Kit Golden, Leslie Holleran
Screenwriter: Joanne Harris, Robert Nelson Jacobs
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, David Brown Productions, Fat Free Limited
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Scene of Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $165.5K
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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