Timothée Chalamet's 'Wonka' takes box office by storm with $39 million opening
economictimes.indiatimes.combox office, Timothée Chalamet's fantasy musical, "Wonka," has proven to be a crowd-pleaser, raking in an impressive $39 million during its opening weekend. Despite its $125 million budget, the family film's promising start bodes well, especially given the holiday season's tendency to foster enduring success rather than explosive openings. Notably, Warner Bros. can take heart in the film's «A-» CinemaScore and the favorable 83% «fresh» rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating both audience and critical approval.
Industry expert David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research remarked on the positive trajectory, stating, "‘Wonka’ has the right tone for the holidays, and momentum is very good." The film's resonance extends beyond domestic borders, as it has already amassed $43 million in the international box office, with an additional $53.6 million from 77 markets, bringing its global earnings to an impressive $150 million.
As the third actor to play the renowned Willy Wonka after Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, Chalamet's interpretation of the character further strengthens his star power. The Paul King-directed prequel explores Willy Wonka's early years before Charlie Bucket earned a golden ticket, and it stars Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa, Olivia Colman, and Keegan-Michael Key.
«Wonka»'s global triumph stands in stark contrast to its box office rivals. With an extra $6.1 million in its fifth weekend, «The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes» took second place and reached a $300 million global total. «The Boy and the Heron» fell to third position and made an additional $5.1 million over the course of the weekend. Meanwhile, Universal and
