Tony: What Do We Know About The New Anthony Bourdain Film?

Tony, the micro-biopic of Anthony Bourdain’s younger years is coming to the big screen in the UK this week. Select theatres will be showing the depiction of Bourdain learning the tools of the trade as a chef in New York City while he struggles to build relationships within his new community in Cape Cod. Now remembered as one of the most influential chefs of the 20th century, Bourdain first developed his passion for cooking while working in restaurants during his summers as a young adult. Tony gives audiences an imagined look into Bourdain’s summers in Massachusetts where he worked at multiple restaurants in the early 1970s.

Tony: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More 

Antonio Banderas, Dominic Sessa, Leo Woodall in Tony. Credit: Bob Gruen

While Bourdain spent much of the later part of his career a much beloved and admired chef, he was well known for having a tumultuous young adulthood. He famously described himself in his book Kitchen Confidential as a ‘spoiled, miserable, narcissistic, self-destructive and thoughtless young lout, badly in need of a good ass-kicking’.

Part of his formative years were spent working on Cape Cod where, over 60 years later, real-life cooks and dishwashers from Provincetown were cast as extras in this most recent film about Bourdain’s life. Whilst most of the restaurants used for filming either don’t exist or are no longer operating, some of the places Bourdain did work at in Cape Code include The Flagship, Ciro & Sal’s and Lobster Pot. One restaurant shown heavily in the film that still serves customers today is Spiritus Pizza, where Bourdain famously slept above and spent summer nights partying in his youth. 

Dominic Sessa and Emilia Jones in Tony. Credit: Seacia Pavao

What Will Happen?

While presenting as a feel-good film – with Bourdain finding romance and building friendships in the small sea-side town he comes to call home – Tony doesn’t spare viewers from his chaotic life choices. In real life, Bourdain had severe struggles with his mental health and battled with long-lasting drug addiction that started with recreational drugs when he was in high school. 

This new biopic shows Bourdain fleeing to the town where his love interest is spending the summer after he failed to be accepted for a writing scholarship. With nowhere to stay and out of a job, Bourdain finds himself in the chaotic kitchen of a local bar where he’s hired as a dishwasher. Tony learns from his mentor, Antonio Banderas who plays Chef, as he oscillates between destructive life choices or continuing to commit himself to the high-pressure environment of restaurant life. 

Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas in Tony. Credit: Seacia Pavao

The Cast

Whilst this film focuses on Bourdain’s start in the culinary world, multiple films and TV shows have already chronicled his life. From his own famous series, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Parts Unknown, to Roadrunner: A Film about Anathony Bourdain, his explosion onto the culinary arts scene has lasted well past his first essay chronicling the underbelly of the New York City food scene.

Tony, directed by Matt Johnson stars Dominic Sessa as Anthony (Tony) Bourdain, with Emilia Jones cast as his love-interest, Nancy. Other notable cast members include Dagmara Dominczyk as Gladys, Rich Sommer as Pierre, Stavros Halkias as Stavros, Monica Raymund as Mary, and Leo Woodall as Sal.

Matt Johnson and Dominic Sessa in Tony. Credit: Seacia Pavao.

The Canadian filmmaker Johnson has previously directed and co-starred in the 2025 comedy Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie and directed the 2023 drama BlackBerry. Sessa’s breakthrough feature film The Holdovers highlighted his acting chops which resulted in a BAFTA nomination and winning the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Young Performer. 

Release Date

With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95 percent, Tony is set to shine in nationwide theatres starting on 14 August. Preview screenings begun on 9 August in select theatres following the film’s debut opening nights in the US, which started on 7 August.