The difficulty of finding vegan food that tastes just as amazing as "regular" food is just one of the reasons some don't go all in on the plant-based lifestyle. One of the first things people think of before going vegan is having to give up traditional faves like cheese. What would life be like without classics like macaroni and grilled cheese?
As someone who has tried and failed to go vegan multiple times, I understand the importance of finding a brand that doesn't taste like, "What the heck?" but instead can compete with the real thing. Fortunately, embracing the vegan lifestyle doesn't mean you have to go without your cheesy go-tos. It's all about finding the perfect brand of cheese that still makes your taste buds dance as much as your non-vegan faves.
Below are 8 of the best vegan cheese brands that will make you a believer in vegan cheese.
1.Violife
Violifefoods.com
Violife is life! It's one of those brands that is as close to the real thing as you'll get. One of the reasons it's so popular is because its texture is super close to non-vegan cheeses. The Violife lineup includes Original Flavour Slices, Original Flavour Grated, Original Flavour Creamy, and the Mediterranean Block. It prides itself on making it even easier for those who want to venture into the plant-based lifestyle to say goodbye to dairy for good and still enjoy that cheesy taste.
2.Field Roast
FieldRoast.com
Field Roast is another brand changing the game in vegan food and cheeses. While it's known for its substitute meat options like sausages, roasts, and burgers, Field Roast also offers a vegan coconut cheese that is all the buzz. It comes in Creamy Original with Chao Tofu, Coconut Herb with Black Pepper, and Tomato Cayenne with Spicy Pepper. Place it on your burger or grilled cheese to get your life right.
3.New Roots
NewRoots.com
While New Roots uses old-fashioned methods to develop its products (fermentation and aging), the process obviously doesn't include using animals to do it. Instead, its ingredients consist of organic cashew milk and Himalayan salt. You won't find much more than that in New Roots' products, making it one of the cleanest in the industry.
4.Kinda Co.
TheKindaCo.com
Ellie Brown, who discovered Kinda Co. prides herself on being a cheese addict. So you can only imagine how similar the product tastes to the real thing. From the salty Greek Style flavor to Farmhouse (which is often likened to mature cheddar) and Cranberry (known for its tangy style), Kinda Co. doesn't lack variety. The company even sells vegan spreads like the Faux Lox + Dil Creamy Spread to fulfill your taste buds.
5.Punk Rawk Labs
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It was so necessary to include this women-owned company of gourmet cheeses. Its artisanal nut cheeses are often celebrated for being so similar to the real thing. It has four flavors -- Cashew Original, Cashew Herb, Cashew Smoked (I think I can get with this one!), and nacho cheese that's created with carrot juice and peppers.
6.Daiya Foods
DaiyaFoods.com
You don't have to give up your favorite comfort foods and snacks. Daiya Foods has products like Cheddar Style Deluxe Cheeze Sticks, Chive & Onion Cream Cheeze Style Bread, and Zesty Cheddar Style Deluxe Cheeze Sauce, so you'll never have to worry about having too much dip on your chip. The Daiya Cutting Board Collection Shreds come in different options packed with flavors like cheddar, pepper jack, and mozzarella. It's soy-free and can be sprinkled on pizza, lasagna, and all your Italian faves.
7.Follow Your Heart
FollowYourHeart.com
Your charcuterie board just went vegan. Brought to you by makers of Veganaise, Follow Your Heart features block cheeses in Mozzarella, Cheddar, Nacho, and Monterey Jack. The brand has evolved as its newest products are free of soy and include flavors like Garlic Herb, Mozzarella, American, and fan-favorite Provolone.
8.Treeline
TreelineCheese.com
It's all about flavor, right? Treeline is somehow mastered creating cheeses that are packed with flavor and doesn't have the reputation of being rubbery and chewy like other vegan cheeses. Instead, Treeline has been saluted for its variety of cheeses from Herb-Garlic, Chipotle-Serrano, Scallion, and good old Sea Salt and Pepper. Plus, it just rolled out new items -- Premium New York Style Cashew Cream Cheese and Classic and Cracker Pepper.
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I had the chance to sit down with the film’s director, Mark Anthony Green, to talk about what inspired this gripping story, how Ayo Edebiri brought something unexpected to the role, and what it was like creating such an immersive world. From cult-like devotion to the dark side of fame, Opus doesn’t just entertain—it makes you think. And according to Mark, that’s exactly the point.
"Best Time Ever"
Opus Movie Screening
Photo by Eric Charbonneau/A24 via Getty Images
Right off the bat, I asked Mark Anthony Green to sum up Opus in just three words. His answer? "Best time ever." Which, if you've seen the trailer, might sound a little ironic considering how intense the film is. But Mark laughed at my skepticism and added, "A little skepticism keeps us all safe."
And honestly, after watching the movie, I might be side-eyeing any future press trips myself.
The Inspiration Behind the Madness
With Opus tackling themes like power, isolation, and the cult of celebrity, I had to know—what sparked the idea for this film?
“There’s this thing I’ve been seeing, and that I think we all have been seeing—how tribalism and idolizing certain figures has become part of people’s identities,” Mark explains. “It’s pushed us away from each other, and it’s become more divisive. I started writing this film six years ago because of that. And, you know, sometimes when you work on a movie for that long, the thing you were grappling with becomes less relevant. But this? This has only become a bigger problem.”
And yet, Mark made one thing clear—while Opus has plenty of social commentary woven into it, the priority was making a wild, entertaining ride. "You described the film as wild, and that’s the highest compliment to me," he says. "I wanted it to be fun, and I wanted people to walk away talking about it."
Ayo Edebiri Like You’ve Never Seen Her Before
Ayo Edebiri
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Ayo Edebiri is best known for her comedic chops, but Opus throws her into a completely different arena. So, what made her the perfect choice for this dark, gripping role?
“The great thing about a talented actor like Ayo is they live for being uncomfortable and being challenged,” Mark says. “And Ayo is one of the most talented amongst the talented. People like that, they don’t shy away from something different—they run toward it.”
Mark couldn’t stop raving about her performance, admitting that even after seeing the film “two trillion times,” he still catches new details in her acting. "She makes these weird, brilliant choices, and I’m still in awe of what she did in this film," he says.
And beyond her skill? Mark just loves everything about her. “She’s gorgeous, she’s original, she’s always in a scene, even if it’s not her moment. I love her skin complexion, her background, her sense of humor. I started out as a fan, and now I’m her biggest fan.”
The Cult-Like Energy and Twisted Twists
Opus has a heavy psychological thriller vibe, with a mysterious, cult-like energy running through it. I asked Mark if any real-life events or films inspired its eerie tone.
His answer? “We recorded John Malkovich, The-Dream, and Nile Rodgers in a Boston studio before filming even started. That was the first moment this whole experiment really felt real. John hit a note, and everyone in the room just kind of looked around like, ‘Holy sh*t.’ It was electric. That alchemy of talent coming together—I’ll never forget it.”
And as for those jaw-dropping twists? Mark was very intentional about keeping the audience on edge. “I wanted every scene to make you question what’s real and what’s not,” he says. “If you think you know what’s going to happen, you’re wrong.”
A Fast and Furious Filmmaking Process
For such a visually stunning and layered film, you’d think Opus had a massive budget and months of shooting time. Nope.
“We shot for 19 days,” Mark reveals. “Which is nothing.”
And yet, the film doesn’t feel rushed at all. That’s thanks to an all-star crew, from the cinematographer to the costume designer. “We didn’t have an excess of resources, but we had incredibly talented people who overdelivered,” he says. “The film has a gravitas that our budget doesn’t reflect, and I’m so proud of that.”
Shoutout to the hair and makeup team, too—because Ayo’s hair was laid flawlessly the entire time. “And that’s not easy when you’re shooting out of order and on such a tight schedule,” Mark laughs. “It was an insane puzzle, but the crew made it work.”
Go See "Opus"—Like, Right Now
If you love thrillers that keep you guessing, Opus is a must-watch. It’s smart, stylish, and just unsettling enough to stick with you long after the credits roll. Plus, Ayo Edebiri in a leading thriller role? We need more of this.
So, consider this your official announcement: Grab your friends, your popcorn, and maybe a nightlight—because Opus is in theaters now, and you don’t want to miss it.
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Feature image by Eric Charbonneau/A24 via Getty Images