“Wonka,” the musical featuring Timothée Chalamet in the iconic role, has had an impressive start at the U.S. and Canadian box office, raking in $39 million during its opening weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday. The film’s success signals a strong draw for Chalamet, marking his second No. 1 movie following the 2021 hit “Dune.”
Despite the recent challenges faced by musicals in theaters, Warner Bros. strategically downplayed the song and dance elements in promotional material, focusing instead on Chalamet’s star power. “Dune,” a sprawling sci-fi adventure, and now “Wonka,” relying on Chalamet’s charisma, showcase the actor’s ability to pull audiences.
With a production cost of about $125 million, “Wonka” is the first major Hollywood release post the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, and Chalamet’s visibility post-strike, including a hosting stint on “Saturday Night Live,” has been seen as beneficial for the film.
Jeffrey Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ distribution chief, emphasized the influence of a star’s involvement, stating, “It shows you the power of a star, and it also shows you the power of a star going out and working a movie.”
“Wonka” is a prequel to the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” with Chalamet portraying a young Wonka. The film, directed by Paul King, features an ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, and Keegan-Michael Key.
The success of “Wonka” is anticipated to continue over the holiday season, with families expected to choose it as their go-to entertainment. The film’s competition for younger audiences includes Universal Pictures’ animated “Migration.”
As Warner Bros.’ first of three high-profile holiday releases, “Wonka” is followed by “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on Dec. 22 and the musical “The Color Purple” on Dec. 25.
Other notable releases include “Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night,” which debuted with $2.9 million, and the ongoing success of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
In the landscape of award contenders, films like Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction,” and Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” are making their mark after receiving Golden Globes nominations.
As holdovers dominate the top 10 movies, the weekend’s performances signal a mix of box office triumphs and the emergence of award-worthy contenders. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.
Top 10 Movies (Estimated Ticket Sales):
- “Wonka” – $39 million
- “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” – $5.8 million
- “The Boy and the Heron” – $5.2 million
- “Godzilla Minus One” – $4.9 million
- “Trolls Band Together” – $4 million
- “Wish” – $3.2 million
- “Christmas With the Chosen: Holy Night” – $2.9 million
- “Napoleon” – $2.2 million
- “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” – $2 million
- “Poor Things” – $1.3 million
