WONKA Becomes Most Successful Adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Classic Book
By Movieguide® Contributor
Thanks to its enduring popularity at the box office, WONKA has passed Johnny Depp’s CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’s worldwide box office haul.
Though WONKA had a relatively slow start when it hit theaters in December, it has enjoyed consistent popularity, never dipping below the top three spots at the box office. A month after its release, the title has now become the most popular adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic story, surpassing Johnny Depp’s 2005 performance.
WONKA currently sits at $510.5 million at the international box office, cleanly surpassing CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’s total of $474.9 million. Though Willy Wonka is an enduring character in pop culture, WONKA’s success is nonetheless surprising as the movie ran a relatively low-profile promotional campaign.
Box office success, however, is not everything when it comes to this beloved Dahl character. With two iconic renditions of Willy Wonka already inhabiting the public’s mind, Chalamet’s character is not guaranteed to become the definitive version, though it holds the box office crown.
Though beloved today, Gene Wilder’s 1971 version was a box office flop, only making $4 million worldwide during its release. It wasn’t until its run on VHS and cable that it captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences to reach the classic status it holds today.
Still, WONKA is well on its way to becoming an iconic rendition of the story. The movie’s success is special for Chalamet who took on the role to bring some light amid heavy world events.
“To work on something that will have an uncynical young audience, that was just a big joy. That’s why I was drawn to [WONKA],” the actor told Vogue in May. “In a time and climate of intense political rhetoric, when there’s so much bad news all the time, this is hopefully going to be a piece of chocolate.”
Movieguide® previously reported in WONKA:
It seems that the light-hearted flick has drawn audiences to it as well. WONKA topped 2023’s final box office weekend, earning “an estimated $24 million Friday through Sunday and $31.8 million factoring in estimates for the Monday holiday,” per AP News.
The movie followed that success by securing the No. 1 spot at the box office during the first weekend of 2024.
“In its fourth week in theaters, WONKA brought in $14.4 million, beating out the supernatural thriller NIGHT SWIM, which gathered $12 million during its opening weekend. AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM ($10.6 million) and MIGRATION ($10.25 million) battled for third as both crawled just over eight digits in their third week in theaters,” Movieguide® reported.
Chalamet thanked his fans for making the movie a success. “WOWWWW – actually can’t believe this!! What a week! Thank you to everyone who saw WONKA in theaters this past weekend,” he posted on Instagram.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
