Sign up
Trailer+1 trailer

The Lunchbox

2013Movie1 h 44 min

DramaRomance
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Letterboxd4.1/5Metacritic767.9Rotten Tomatoes97%87%

A profoundly sad, romantic drama movie about everyday modern life and the mind.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Can you fall in love with someone you have never met?

A mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system (Mumbai's Dabbawallahs) connects a young housewife to a stranger in the dusk of his life. They build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. Gradually, this fantasy threatens to overwhelm their reality.

Feels like

  • Indian Romance
  • Epistolary
  • Missed Connections
  • Mumbai Setting
  • Melancholic
  • Food Culture
  • Slow Burn
  • Social Commentary
  • Intimate Scale

Cast

7 of 7

Crew

Directed by
Ritesh Batra
Written by
Ritesh Batra
Produced by
Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Arun Rangachari
Music by
Max Richter

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 20, 2013 · 1 h 44 min · Drama, Romance

Released
September 20, 2013
Runtime
1 h 44 min
Genres
Drama, Romance
Original language
Hindi
Also spoken
English
Made in
France, Germany, India, United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$17 million
Available in
123 countries

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Lunchbox?"

Questions about The Lunchbox

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Lunchbox?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Lunchbox from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 118 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Lunchbox worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 7.8, Letterboxd 4.1 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 76).

Is The Lunchbox good for date night?

and 2 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

Yes: romance is 8 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is The Lunchbox plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Lunchbox a box office hit?

Budget$3 million
Box office$17 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $3 million to make and earned $17 million worldwide, 5.1 times its budget.

Is The Lunchbox in English?

HindiEnglish

No, it was made in Hindi, with some English.