Movies Like Sweet Bean (2015)

Sweet Bean is a 2015 drama film from Naomi Kawase with a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Ramen Shop and Midnight Diner.

Drama

Ramen Shop

2018

Masato is a young ramen chef in Japan. When he finds his late mother's journal after the sudden death of his emotionally distant father, he takes it with him to her native country, Singapore, hoping to piece together the story of his family and his life.

6.9

MagicScore

Midnight Diner

2014

A restaurant opens at midnight. Both the menu offerings and personality of the owner draw a series of flawed patrons including Tamako, whose boyfriend has passed away, live-in worker Michiru, and ruckus-raising Kenzo.

7.6

MagicScore

Midnight Diner 2

2016

The Master’s late-night diner welcomes a woman troubled by funeral fans, an elderly scam victim, and a noodle delivery man struggling with love.

7.4

MagicScore

Kamome Diner

2006

On a quiet street in Helsinki, Sachie has opened a diner featuring rice balls. For a month she has no customers. Then, in short order, she has her first customer, meets Midori, a gangly Japanese tourist, and invites her to stay with her.

7.4

MagicScore

Little Forest: Winter/Spring

2015

Ichiko bakes a cake for an end-of-year party with her friends. In the depths of winter, making mochi and curry keeps the people of Komori warm. Later, spring brings thoughts of her absent mother as well as rice planting and sakura, and she begins to think of leaving Komori behind again.

7.8

MagicScore

Little Forest: Summer/Autumn

2014

Fleeing heartbreak in the big city, Ichiko returns to Komori, her rural hometown. She battles summer's rain and humidity, bakes her own bread, grows hothouse tomatoes and tills the fields. During autumn, the time for pickling and preserving fish and sweet potatoes, Ichiko begins reaping rice and recalls her departure five years before.

7.7

MagicScore

Bread of Happiness

2012

A couple decide to relocate from Tokyo to the northern island of Hokkaido where they settle and establish a bakery and café called Mani. One cooks. The other bakes. Everyone walks out happy.

6.7

MagicScore

The Ramen Girl

2008

An American woman is stranded in Tokyo after breaking up with her boyfriend. Searching for direction in life, she trains to be a ramen chef under a tyrannical Japanese master.

6.5

MagicScore

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

2011

Revered sushi chef Jiro Ono strives for perfection in his work, while his eldest son, Yoshikazu, has trouble living up to his father's legacy.

7.7

MagicScore

#10

Umami

2023

Following a near-death experience France's leading chef throws himself into a quest seeking the flavor that has confounded his life since he was defeated by a Japanese chef's bowl of noodles as a young man.

5.7

MagicScore

#11

Little Forest

2018

A young woman leaves the city to return to her hometown in the countryside. Seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, she becomes self-sufficient in a bid to reconnect with nature.

7.6

MagicScore

#12

Eat Drink Man Woman

1994

Retired and widowed Chinese master chef Chu lives in modern day Taipei, with his three attractive daughters, all of whom are unattached. Soon, each daughter encounters a new man in their lives. When these new relationships blossom, stereotypes are broken and the living situation within the family changes.

7.6

MagicScore

#13

Daawat-e-Ishq

2014

A deliciously romantic coming together of Gulrez “Gullu” Qadir a Hyderabadi shoe-sales girl disillusioned with love because of her encounters with dowry-seeking men; and Tariq “Taru” Haidar a Lucknawi cook who can charm anybody with the aroma and flavours of his biryani and kebabs.

6.9

MagicScore

#14

No Reservations

2007

Master chef Kate Armstrong runs her life and her kitchen with intimidating intensity. However, a recipe for disaster may be in the works when she becomes the guardian of her young niece while crossing forks with the brash sous-chef who just joined her staff. Though romance blooms in the face of rivalry, Kate needs to look outside the kitchen to find true happiness.

6.7

MagicScore

#15

Love's Kitchen

2011

Rob Haley, an up-and-coming chef and restaurateur in London, is grief-stricken when he loses his wife. With encouragement from his infamous friend and real life TV Chef Gordon Ramsay, Rob decides to spice up his life by turning a run-down country pub into a gourmet restaurant. His food catches the eye - and taste buds - of beautiful American food critic Kate Templeton and they soon both write a recipe for love that leaves both their hearts - and their stomachs - in full.

5.3

MagicScore

#16

Tony

2026

A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

7.6

MagicScore

#17

Delicious

2021

France, 1789 - just before the Revolution. When talented chef Manceron is dismissed from his prestigious position by the Duke of Chamfort, he loses the taste for cooking. But when he meets the mysterious Louise, together they decide to create the very first restaurant in France.

6.9

MagicScore

#18

I Am Love

2010

Emma has left Russia to live with her husband in Italy. Now a member of a powerful industrial family, she is the respected mother of three, but feels unfulfilled. One day, Antonio, a talented chef and her son's friend, makes her senses kindle.

6.8

MagicScore

#19

Ratatouille

2007

In one of Paris's finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling, Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down.

7.8

MagicScore

#20

MouseHunt

1997

Down-on-their luck brothers, Lars and Ernie Smuntz, aren't happy with the crumbling old mansion they inherit... until they discover the estate is worth millions. Before they can cash in, they have to rid the house of its single, stubborn occupant—a tiny and tenacious mouse.

6.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Sweet Bean?

The top films similar to Sweet Bean by MovieMagicScore are Ramen Shop (6.9), Midnight Diner (7.6), Midnight Diner 2 (7.4). Each shares drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Sweet Bean worth watching?

Sweet Bean holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.4/10 from 582 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Sweet Bean?

Sweet Bean (2015) is a drama film directed by Naomi Kawase, starring Kirin Kiki, Masatoshi Nagase, Kyara Uchida.

Where can I find more recommendations like Sweet Bean?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Ramen Shop Movies like Midnight Diner Movies like Midnight Diner 2 Movies like Kamome Diner Movies like Little Forest: Winter/Spring Movies like Little Forest: Summer/Autumn

About movies like Sweet Bean

This ranked list pairs Sweet Bean (2015), a drama film from Naomi Kawase, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Kirin Kiki take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

← Back to Sweet Bean