When Nonnas drops on Netflix today (May 9, 2025), don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re being wrapped in a warm hug from your grandmother!
Directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Liz Maccie, the film is based on the real-life story of Joey Scaravella, who turned his grief into a celebration of family by hiring Italian grandmothers to cook at his Staten Island restaurant, Enoteca Maria.
For Vince Vaughn (who plays Joey), Nonnas is more than just a role. It’s personal: he has Italian, Irish, English, Lebanese, and German heritage.
As Vaughn told Screen Rant, Nonnas resonated with him deeply. “I was raised with my granny in the house,” he said, adding that the multigenerational themes struck a chord. “You realize the impact of being in a very different stage of life… searching for that bond, that connection.” His performance is not only a tribute to Scaravella but a reflection of his Italian roots and the women who helped raise him.
For Vaughn, this is storytelling through the lens of lived experience.
Nonnas feeds the soul with love, loss, and legends
In Nonnas, Vaughn plays Joey, a middle-aged man mourning the death of his mother. He finds solace not in therapy but in memory, by recreating family recipes and reconnecting with the women who once filled his childhood kitchen with aromas and warmth.
What follows is a culinary and emotional journey. With the help of four unforgettable grandmothers (played by Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Lorraine Bracco), Joey transforms a run-down restaurant into a sanctuary of love, laughter, and lasagna.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Vaughn brings “unforced sincerity” to the role, delivering a performance that feels grounded and earnest.
Director Chbosky avoids the caricature trap of “ain’t-these-old-gals-something” comedies, instead crafting a space where age is honored, not ridiculed. “This was really a celebration and a spotlight and a send-up to all of them and their craft,” Vaughn added about his co-stars.
It’s not just the actresses getting their due. It’s the nonnas themselves.
These women are artists in their own right, sharing stories, flavors, and life lessons through the meals they create. The film’s mantra is that one does not grow old at the table. And that sentiment surely rings true.
Vince Vaughn’s message about what really matters
At its core, Nonnas is about connection: how food becomes a language of love across generations.
Vince Vaughn praises Scaravella for building something lasting. “I was really impressed with him. He’s a real artist,” he said after visiting Enoteca Maria. Meeting the man behind the story helped Vaughn anchor his performance in something tangible and timeless.
Though fans are buzzing about the Dodgeball 2 tease he dropped in the same interview, Nonnas is where Vaughn’s heart is right now. “I like movies that are exploring things in life… meaningful relationships and bonds,” he said. And it shows.
Vince Vaughn isn’t just playing Joey Scaravella. He’s channeling every Sunday dinner, every wisecrack from a grandmother, and food that felt like home.
