8 Best Movies Like The Menu (Ranked & Where to Watch)

Karyn Kusama's The Invitation is perhaps the closest spiritual sibling to The Menu, transporting audiences to a dinner party where the dread simmers slowly before boiling over into chilling horror. Like Slowik's meticulously planned evening, Will's reunion with his ex-wife and new partner unravels with increasing psychological tension, each polite smile hiding a sinister undercurrent. The film excels at crafting an atmosphere of unease, leveraging a confined setting and escalating paranoia among guests who sense something deeply, terribly wrong. It's a masterclass in slow-burn suspense, where the final courses are served with a shocking, cult-driven revelation that will leave you reeling.

Blink Twice (2024) throws an unsuspecting cocktail waitress into a luxurious, isolated getaway with a tech billionaire, echoing the 'trapped among the ultra-rich' premise of The Menu. Directed by Zoë Kravitz, this psychological thriller delves into themes of power, perception, and the sinister underbelly of privilege. As the lines between reality and illusion blur for Frida, she finds herself caught in a disorienting, high-stakes game orchestrated by her host. The film's stylish aesthetic and unsettling atmosphere, combined with its critique of wealth and manipulation, make it a compelling watch for anyone who appreciated The Menu's dark blend of suspense and social commentary.

Michael Haneke's Funny Games is an uncomfortably brilliant exercise in psychological horror that shares The Menu's keen interest in dissecting social norms and audience complicity. While devoid of culinary delights, it similarly traps a wealthy family in their idyllic vacation home, subjected to a 'game' of escalating psychological torture by two seemingly polite young men. The film's unflinching gaze on violence and its meta-narrative elements provoke discomfort, forcing viewers to confront their own expectations and the darker aspects of human nature. It’s a brutal, incisive piece of cinema that offers a different, yet equally potent, form of class commentary and sustained dread.

Set during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, Coup! (2024) introduces a mysterious grifter chef into an isolated seaside estate, immediately striking a chord with The Menu's premise of a culinary figure infiltrating and disrupting a wealthy household. The film promises a blend of historical context, class dynamics, and psychological suspense, as this enigmatic chef claims his place among a rich family. The contained environment, the secrets simmering beneath the surface, and the potential for a power play driven by deception make Coup! an intriguing companion piece for those who enjoyed the chef-centric mystery and confined tension of The Menu.

For a dose of truly sophisticated dark satire and aristocratic comeuppance, look no further than Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949). This Ealing comedy classic, much like The Menu, meticulously skewers the upper echelons of society. It follows Louis Mazzini, who, after being disinherited, decides to systematically murder the eight members of the D'Ascoyne family standing between him and a dukedom. Its witty script, charmingly ruthless protagonist, and dry humor provide a masterclass in black comedy and class critique. It lacks the horror, but its sharp commentary on inherited wealth and elaborate, almost artistic, revenge aligns perfectly with Slowik’s grand design.

Gatlopp: Hell of a Game (2022) taps into the 'game night gone horribly wrong' subgenre, similar to how The Menu turns a dinner into a deadly performance. Four estranged friends reunite for a nostalgic evening that quickly descends into a supernatural, high-stakes drinking game where honesty and confrontation are forced. The contained setting, the escalating rules of the game, and the psychological unraveling of characters under pressure create a palpable tension. It’s a fun, albeit terrifying, exploration of friendship, secrets, and consequences, offering a more playful but equally intense variation on being trapped in a deadly social scenario.

Eating Raoul (1982) is a cult black comedy that gleefully delves into the absurd and criminal underbelly of societal striving, reminiscent of The Menu's dark satire. The film follows the prudish Blands, a couple who, fed up with the swingers in their apartment building, discover a lucrative way to fund their dream restaurant: murdering wealthy deviants and selling their bodies to a cannibalistic chef named Raoul. Its cynical humor, grotesque premise, and scathing critique of materialism and morality make it a deliciously twisted companion piece for those who appreciate The Menu's more outlandish, satirical elements and willingness to push boundaries.

While a much lighter affair than The Menu, Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978) offers a charming and quirky take on the dangers lurking within the world of haute cuisine. This mystery comedy revolves around a series of bizarre murders targeting Europe's most renowned chefs, each death mirroring their signature dishes. It's a delightful whodunit that intertwines culinary passion with a playful sense of peril. Though it lacks The Menu's biting social commentary and psychological dread, its unique premise connecting food, murder, and high-stakes culinary artistry makes it a fascinating, if tonally different, predecessor in the realm of food-centric thrillers.