Logo What's After the Movie

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover 1990

In the midst of London's culinary elite, Albert Spica's crass behavior at a posh French restaurant drives away patrons. His wife Georgina's disgust with his antics masks her own secret desires, which she indulges in stolen moments with a discreet admirer. But when Spica discovers their illicit trysts, he unleashes a devastating retribution that threatens to destroy everything.

In the midst of London's culinary elite, Albert Spica's crass behavior at a posh French restaurant drives away patrons. His wife Georgina's disgust with his antics masks her own secret desires, which she indulges in stolen moments with a discreet admirer. But when Spica discovers their illicit trysts, he unleashes a devastating retribution that threatens to destroy everything.

Does The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover have end credit scenes?

No!

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

Explore the complete cast of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

See how The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

62

Metascore

7.2

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

Take the Ultimate The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Quiz: Test your knowledge on the dark and twisted narrative of 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover'.

Who is the main antagonist in the film?

Awards & Nominations for The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


6th Independent Spirit Awards 1991

Nomination

Best Foreign Film

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

See more

Read the complete plot summary of The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


English gangster Albert Spica has seized control of the upscale Le Hollandais restaurant, which is managed by the talented French chef, Richard Boarst. Known for his obnoxious demeanor, Spica frequently disrupts the dining experience for both the staff and patrons with his entourage of thugs. Despite losing customers due to his antics, he remains unfazed by their absence.

Accompanying Spica is his unwillingly elegant wife, Georgina, who soon attracts the attention of a modest regular at the restaurant, the bookshop owner Michael. Under the watchful eye of her husband, Georgina engages in a secret affair with Michael, assisted by the restaurant staff. When Spica uncovers the betrayal, Georgina seeks refuge at Michael’s bookshop. Food is discreetly delivered to her by a young employee named Pup, a boy soprano whose singing brightens their grim circumstances. However, Spica discovers Pup’s connection to Georgina and brutally tortures the boy. In a cruel twist, he finds the name of the bookshop written inside a book Pup was carrying.

In his vengeful pursuit, Spica’s henchmen raid Michael’s bookstore while Georgina is visiting Pup in the hospital. They execute a horrific punishment on Michael, force-feeding him pages from his own books until he meets a tragic end. When Georgina returns, she is shattered to discover Michael’s lifeless body.

Consumed by anguish and fury, she implores Boarst to prepare a meal from Michael’s remains, an unthinkable act that he ultimately agrees to. Armed with this macabre dish, Georgina rallies together all those whom Spica has wronged throughout the story and confronts her husband at the restaurant. In a dramatic standoff, she forces Spica to ingest a bite of Michael’s cooked body. He complies, retching in horror. In the climactic moment, Georgina ends Spica’s reign of terror by shooting him in the head, denouncing him as a cannibal.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

See more

Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (HD) Trailer

The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover

Cars Featured in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

See 2 more

Explore all cars featured in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Dodge

1973

Dart

Ford

1983

Transit MkII

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


female nudityadulterous wifefemale full frontal nudityallegoryfoodextramarital affairsex scenefemale rear nuditycheating wifedark comedygangsterboy sopranostray dogpublic humiliationadulterysexualitysex in a kitchencannibalismabusive husbanddomestic violencemale nuditymale pubic hairpubic haircigarette smokingchild in jeopardybreast fondlingsingingfull frontal nudityfemale pubic hairforced cannibalismurinating on someonesex in a restroom stallreading a bookstabbed with a forkboysociopathsexual assaultmetaphorclothes torn offbathroomhusband wife relationshipurinationsymbolismsurrealismbrutalityeroticamale full frontal nuditywoman with a gunmale rear nuditydog feces

© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.