WONKA Leads International Opening With Sweet $42.3 Million
By Movieguide® Contributor
Timothée Chalamet’s WONKA has seen a delightful overseas box-office opening, bringing in $42.3 million.
The latest film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is expected to have a successful domestic run upon its release in the United States on Dec. 15, 2023.
“The Warner Bros. release got off to a hot start overseas, debuting in 37 markets, including Spain, Germany, Mexico, Japan and the U.K. — WONKA’s $11.1 million start in the latter country is the studio’s second-biggest opening of the year, ranking just behind BARBIE,” per Variety.
Chalamet took to Instagram to thank his international fans for seeing WONKA in theaters and addressed his recent Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, Comedy or Musical. He posted a series of images, including red carpet photos, a headline about the overseas opening, a graphic of his Golden Globe nomination and a behind-the-scenes photo.
“WOWWWW – actually can’t believe this!! What a week! Thank you to everyone who saw WONKA in theaters this past weekend and to the GOLDEN GLOBES for the nomination! One more week till we’re out in the US!! every good thing in this world started with a dream :),” he wrote.
He wasn’t the only one celebrating WONKA’s success on social media. Warner Bros. announced the exciting news that the film was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes via Instagram. “Wonka’s delectable delights and sweet treats are certified fresh. ?✨ #WonkaMovie – Only in Theaters Friday Grab your tickets now: link in bio,” the studio wrote.
Movieguide® celebrated its themes of good triumphing over evil. Part of the review reads:
WONKA is a very fun, funny movie, one of the most entertaining movies of the year. There are many fun and memorable songs throughout the movie, which makes it a delight to watch. WONKA shows good triumphing over evil through the magic of joy and great dreams. It also supports the little entrepreneur starting his own little business in the face of a government-sanctioned cartel. However, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older pre-teens because the cartel has bribed the police and a cathedral and its clerics with chocolate they can’t resist.
Movieguide® previously reported about the film:
Timothée Chalamet, who plays the titular character, described his movie as a “companion piece” to the 1971 film.
“This is sort of how Willy Wonka would have been before he’s sort of this mysterious, crazed figure in the chocolate factory,” he said. “This is a young, hopeful, ambitious, head-full-of-dreams Willy Wonka who won’t take no for an answer.”
King added that, although the young Wonka is much different than the Gene Wilder classic, he kept some elements to tie the two characters together.
“There’s loads of little gestures that we use. Willy says, ‘Scratch that, reverse it,’ which is a line that Gene Wilder has in the [1971] movie. Because it’s such a visual performance that Gene Wilder gives with the cane and suddenly hitting a banister when he’s walking down the steps at the beginning of ‘Pure Imagination,’ we use all of that and lean into it,” he shared.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +1