The film is based on two best-selling novels, namely Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 kitchen by Julie Powell and Julia Child's autobiography My Life in France.

Amy adams and Meryl Streep, the two heroines in this film, worked together on The Mystery of Child Abuse earlier. During the filming of the film, they made a performance plan for the film.

In order to play an American old lady studying and living in France in this film, Meryl Streep specially studied American English with a French accent.