When it comes to the much-anticipated box-office battle between Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka and Brie Larson’s The Marvels, it seems like the eccentric musical fantasy flick is already proving to be a sweet success. Chalamet has a magnetic quality to him that should not be understated. Famed for his mesmerizing roles in Little Women and Call Me by Your Name, the young star, 27, skillfully conveys the spirit of Wonka’s allure in a way that pays homage to the late, great Gene Wilder.
Remarkably, the movie that tells the story of Willy Wonka, a character from Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, made an astounding 31.2% of its budget back after its premiere, surpassing The Marvels’ 17.1%. Meanwhile, critics offered varying opinions about Nia DaCosta’s film, praising the three leads’ chemistry but criticizing the plot and tonal changes.
Also read: Timothée Chalamet’s Rare Gift to Zendaya Puts Tom Holland’s “Rizz Master” Reputation at Grave Risk
Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka Already Outperformed Brie Larson’s The Marvels
According to Deadline, the initial projection for The Marvels‘ opening weekend gross in the United States and Canada was approximately $60 million from 4,030 theaters. Following a $21.3 million opening day (which included $6.6 million from Thursday night previews), projections were revised down to between $47 and $52 million. It went on to earn $46.1 million on its opening weekend, topping the box office and achieving the highest opening weekend success for a female Black director. However, according to Deadline, this MCU film also had the lowest opening weekend ever, beating out The Incredible Hulk (2008) in that regard.
Brie Larson‘s film is currently the lowest-grossing movie in the MCU, with a global box office total of $204 million compared to a production budget of $275 million.
Meanwhile, Wonka was expected to make about $40 million from 4,150 theaters in the US and Canada during its opening weekend (via Deadline). With $3.5 million from Thursday night previews, the movie brought in $14.4 million on its opening day. As a result, it became the first live-action musical to open to a $39 million opening weekend in the post-pandemic era. The Timothée Chalamet starrer film has made $162.1 million worldwide as of December 19, 2023, against a $125 million budget.
The Marvels had a budget of $275 million, more than twice as much as Paul King’s movie’s $125 million. The Marvels therefore cost $150 million more to make than Wonka, which earned 31.2% of its budget from its opening, whereas Larson’s flick only made 17.1%.
Also read: “No”: Timothée Chalamet Answers a Johnny Depp Wonka Question Lingering on Since Ages
Wonka’s Box Office Start is Sweeter Than Expected
Warner Bros. has achieved success with Timothée Chalamet‘s Wonka. Opening in U.S. theaters this past weekend, the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory exceeded industry predictions. Due in large part to the absence of direct competition, it debuted at the top of the charts with a nearly $39 million profit.
Wonka, which is helmed by Paul King, opened earlier this month (December 15, 2023) in a number of important markets to give it a head start abroad. Currently, the movie has made $162 million worldwide, indicating that things are going well. This is a promising beginning, even with a $125 million production budget that is higher than anticipated.
The movie centers on a young Willy Wonka, who is pursuing his goal of becoming one of the best chocolate makers in the world. Although the prequel has so far received mostly positive reviews from critics, viewers have loved it and given it a solid A- CinemaScore. Rotten Tomatoes critics have largely positive things to say about the movie based on 267 reviews, 84% of which are positive, and an average rating of 7.3 out of 10. The consensus on the website is as follows:
“With director Paul King at the helm and some solid new songs at the ready, the warmly old-fashioned Wonka puts a suitably sweet spin on the classic character while still leaving some room for the source material’s darker undertones.”
Not to mention that the movie’s original songs might become popular and generate additional income and publicity. For the time being, it is a delightful first-round triumph.
The Marvels and Wonka are in theaters now.
