Story perspectives

A24’s “Tony” Biopic Opens Aug 7, Expands Nationwide

8/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

A24’s biopic “Tony” about Anthony Bourdain opens limited theaters on Aug 7 2026 and expands nationwide on Aug 21 2026.
The film stars Dominic Sessa as a 19-year-old Bourdain and Antonio Banderas as chef Ciro at the Flagship.
The Bourdain estate approved the film, saying it does not summarize a life and follows director Matt Johnson’s vision.
A24 and OpenTable co-hosted a pre-release screening for hospitality workers on Aug 3 2026 at the Angelika Film Center.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 Nora Ephron released *Julie & Julia*, the first major motion picture based on a blog, pairing Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Julia Child with Amy Adams’s chronicling of cooking 524 recipes in 365 days. Its critical success (77 % Rotten Tomatoes) sparked a wave of culinary biopics, establishing chefs as marketable cultural icons for later projects.

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Story summary

A24’s biopic “Tony” about Anthony Bourdain opens limited theaters on Aug 7 2026 and expands nationwide on Aug 21 2026.
The film stars Dominic Sessa as a 19-year-old Bourdain and Antonio Banderas as chef Ciro at the Flagship.
The Bourdain estate approved the film, saying it does not summarize a life and follows director Matt Johnson’s vision.
A24 and OpenTable co-hosted a pre-release screening for hospitality workers on Aug 3 2026 at the Angelika Film Center.

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