Summary

Wonka has surpassed $200 million at the global box office, making it one of only 24 films from 2023 to do so. The prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory stars Timothée Chalamet as a younger version of the eccentric chocolatier. Directed by Paul King, Wonka explores the origins of the candy maker and his encounters with the Oompa-Loompas.

Wonka has passed a major milestone at the global box office. The new movie musical, which was directed by Paddington and Paddington 2’s Paul King, is a prequel to the 1971 Roald Dahl adaptation Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Timothée Chalamet as a younger version of the titular eccentric chocolatier. Wonka opened to $39 million at the domestic box office two weekends before Christmas, at which point it had already been running in some international markets for an additional week.

Per Variety, the Wonka box office has officially passed the $200 million milestone worldwide. This news comes at the end of its second weekend in domestic theaters, during which it has added an $18 million 3-day total and a whopping estimated $26 million over the 4-day Christmas weekend. This milestone puts it in rarefied air as one of only 24 movies from 2023 to have grossed over $200 million, surpassing the totals of more than two dozen other major blockbusters of the year, including Napoleon ($190.2 million), Trolls Band Together ($186.7 million), and Scream VI ($168.9 million).

How High Can Wonka Climb Up the Chart?

The Wonka musical has turned out an impressive result already, and will likely climb even higher as its theatrical run progresses. Holiday season releases have a tendency to post strong week-on-week holds through the new year, something that the movie is already showcasing as it moves into its second full week in the U.S. This could allow it to climb quite a few places up the worldwide chart for 2023. Check out the next highest-grossing movies of the year below:

Chart Position Title Worldwide Box Office 23 The Marvels $204.9 million 22 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves $208.1 million 21 Sound of Freedom $248 million 20 Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour $250.1 million 19 The Nun II $268 million 18 The Flash $270.6 million 17 Creed III $275.2 million

It’s entirely possible that the Wonka release has already outgrossed The Marvels and Dungeons & Dragons, something that will be officially confirmed by Monday morning. Given how quickly it has been leaping up the chart, it’s also probable that it will blow past the $250 million mark by its third domestic weekend, becoming the 20th highest-grossing movie of the year. Looking at the opening weekends of some of the top movies of the year, including No. 13, Meg 2 ($30 million), and No. 9, Elemental ($29.6 million), it could also climb significantly higher over the coming weeks.

Wonka does have some major theatrical competition, however. In its second weekend, it hit No. 2 below Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but still outgrossed the other new releases, Migration, Anyone But You, Migration, and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire. However, Christmas Day will buffet the Chocolate Factory prequel with the releases of Ferrari, The Color Purple, and The Boys in the Boat, making it harder to draw audience attention. However, given its strong hold, it could potentially thrive even among such fierce rivals.

UPDATE: 2023/12/24 10:54 EST BY BRENNAN KLEIN

Wonka’s Worldwide Total Announced

Variety’s official worldwide tally for the Wonka box office comes out to a whopping $254.9 million.

Source: Variety

Wonka Wonka is a prequel film to Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and follows the origins of the legendary candy maker. From his first encounter with the Oompa Loompas to founding his deliciously magnificent headquarters, Wonka explores the character in a new light. Timothee Chalamet assumes the role of Willy Wonka himself. Release Date December 15, 2023 Director Paul King Genres Family , Adventure , Comedy Writers Paul King , Simon Farnaby Budget $125 million Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures