A24’s Tony portrays a fictionalised, coming-of-age summer in the early life of Anthony Bourdain, focusing on the period before he became a celebrated chef, writer and television presenter. The review argues that the kitchen dramedy offers a sincere and authentic perspective on Bourdain’s formative years, while acknowledging the significance of his lasting influence on food culture and storytelling.

Directed by Matt Johnson, the film stars Dominic Sessa as 19-year-old Bourdain, an aspiring writer who lacks direction and follows his childhood crush Nancy, played by Emilia Jones, to Provincetown after missing out on a writing fellowship. Bourdain’s later career was shaped by Kitchen Confidential and travel series including No Reservations and Parts Unknown; he died by suicide in 2018 aged 61. The article notes that Tony is largely allegorical rather than a strictly factual biopic.