The Lunchbox poster

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Streaming data from JustWatch

The Lunchbox

2013 · Movie · 104 min
A

MEANRANK

81/100

Averaged across 11 ratings · 184.8K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 29 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

Google: Google retired the star ratings it used to show in search results, so this one no longer updates. More on where the numbers come from →

64–97 out of 100

Split

Lowest is Criticker on 64, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 97.

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In Mumbai, a mistake by the city's famously efficient lunchbox delivery service connects a lonely housewife and a retiring widower. She sends lovingly prepared lunches to her neglectful husband, but they are delivered to the wrong man. The two begin a correspondence through notes passed back and forth in the lunchbox, forming a deep, emotional connection.

Details

Director
Ritesh Batra
Released
20 September 2013
Country
France, Germany, India, United States
Language
Hindi
Runtime
104 min
Budget
$3.4M
Box office
$17.2M
Awards
19 wins, 32 nominations

This title elsewhere

Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan

Saajan Fernandes

Lillete Dubey

Lillete Dubey

Ila's Mother

Nasir Khan

Nasir Khan

Ila's Father

Bharati Achrekar

Bharati Achrekar

Mrs. Khrishnan

Nakul Vaid

Rajeev

Awards & nominations

See all 51 →

4 major awards won · 19 wins from 51 nominations across 16 ceremonies

Producers Guild Film Awards 2014 Performer of the Year Irrfan Khan Winner
Producers Guild Film Awards 2014 Best Debut Director Ritesh Batra Winner
Producers Guild Film Awards 2014 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nawazuddin Siddiqui Winner
Critics' Week ( Cannes Film Festival ) 2013 Grand Rail d'Or (Viewers' Choice Award) The Lunchbox Winner
International Indian Film Academy Awards 2014 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nominee
International Indian Film Academy Awards 2014 Best Story Ritesh Batra Nominee
International Indian Film Academy Awards 2014 Best Actress in a Leading Role Nimrat Kaur Nominee
Producers Guild Film Awards 2014 Best Actress in a Leading Role Nimrat Kaur Nominee
Show all 51 awards across 16 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.