We chuckled to the notion when we first heard about Wonkaand we scratched our heads once we saw THE trailers– especially the parts revealing Hugh Grant’s Ooompa-Loompa character. But you should never doubt the power of chocolate… or of a singing, dancing Timothée Chalamet, because Wonka is a success.
Directed by Paddington And Paddington 2it’s Paul King, Wonka—released in theaters on December 15—has already crossed the $100 million mark in the United States Variety reports the film’s worldwide haul has surpassed $270 million, which is great news for Warner Bros., a studio that has another big film starring Chalamet coming in March. But at the same time Dune: part two should do well, given the success of its predecessor, Wonka‘s triumph is a little more surprising.
Maybe that shouldn’t be the case, given the timing and current box office landscape: Wonka is a family musical that follows the story of Roald Dahl’s beloved character. This makes it very attractive to people looking for something to take their children to during the winter holidays. Another musical from Warner Bros. in current version, The color purple, is also doing well; the Christmas Day release has already grossed nearly $30 million domestically. However, the news isn’t so rosy for a third Warner Bros. release. : James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which closes the current chapter of the DC Extended Universe with a bit of a whimper. It has raked in just over $50 million (a fraction of its $200 million-plus budget) since its December 22 release. Maybe WB should have made it a musical too?
Want more io9 news? Find out when to expect the latest news wonder, Star WarsAnd Star Trek exits, what is the next step for the DC Universe in cinema and televisionand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
