# The Lunchbox (2013) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-lunchbox-2013/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 74% |
| Critic Score | 96% |
| Audience Score | 88% |
| Metascore | 76/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.8/5 |
| IMDb | 7.8/10 |
| Director | Ritesh Batra |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Runtime | 104 min |
| Festival premiere | Cannes 2013 |

## Quick answer

The Lunchbox (2013) earns a 74% Celluloid Score — Recommended. A mistaken dabba delivery sparks one of Indian indie cinema’s tenderest epistolary romances. Metascore 76/100. Directed by Ritesh Batra.

## Critics consensus

A mistaken dabba delivery sparks one of Indian indie cinema’s tenderest epistolary romances.

## Synopsis

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.

## Cast

Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Lillete Dubey, Nasir Khan, Bharati Achrekar, Nakul Vaid, Yashvi Punneet Nagar, Denzil Smith, Shruti Bapna

## Accolades

Premiered at Cannes 2013.

## Common questions

**Is The Lunchbox worth watching?**
The Lunchbox holds a 74% Celluloid Score. A mistaken dabba delivery sparks one of Indian indie cinema’s tenderest epistolary romances.

**What is The Lunchbox about?**
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.

**Who directed The Lunchbox?**
The Lunchbox (2013) was directed by Ritesh Batra.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Lunchbox?**
74% — the average of five public sources: critics 96%, audience 88%, Metascore 76/100, Letterboxd 3.8/5, and IMDb 7.8/10.

**Where can I watch The Lunchbox?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The Lunchbox page for current options.

---
Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/the-lunchbox-2013.md