Parents' Guide to

Burnt

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Salty portrait of chef's comeback serves up fine acting.

Movie R 2015 100 minutes
Burnt Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Handaloo
Handaloo Parent of 10 and 14-year-old
September 2, 2022
age 12+

Great movie suitable for any mature kids

Really great movie. Amazing cast and a great story overall. Watched again recently with my 14 year old daughter and it's absolutely fine. The only call outs would be some bad language, drugs references (but nothing on screen, only past call backs) and a little bit of kitchen violence. That's it. Really good redemption story with some amazing cookery scenes and character arcs
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) was once a celebrated, twice-Michelin-starred chef at a Parisian restaurant -- but he walked away from everything after his drinking and drug use overcame his culinary gifts. Adam gets clean back home in the United States, opting to spend his days shucking oysters ... until one day he decides that he's served his time, so he jets back to London for a third go at a Michelin star. Tony (Daniel Bruhl), the son of Adam's former mentor, isn't sure he wants to be embroiled with Adam again, but he can't deny the chef's genius, so he decides to invest in Adam's comeback. But has Adam really conquered his demons? An attractive sous-chef (Sienna Miller) and visits from friends and foes in his previous life show Adam that the past is very much in the present.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (3):

BURNT is kinetic and compelling, even if it does stick to a well-worn cinematic formula. We can pretty much predict where Adam is headed and that the way there will be complicated (though even the complexities are fairly standard). Nonetheless, the entire ensemble -- led by an admirable Cooper -- is watchable. Anytime he's on screen, viewers are interested, because he grounds Adam realistically while still managing to imbue him with a certain glamour.

And the food! Director John Wells rightfully makes sure the food doesn't take play second fiddle here, offering it up in all its delectable glory, from street food to classic French cuisine. Prepare to leave hungry -- but still (mostly) satisfied.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Burnt handles the subjects of substance use/addiction and recovery. Does it glamorize them? Are the consequences realistic?

  • Does Adam deserve a second chance? Do you consider him a role model? Why or why not?

  • What's role does food play in the film? Is it meant for fuel and consumption or as a statement about sophistication? Can you think of other movies that revolve around food?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate