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Fans are getting emotional over Timothée Chalamet’s performance as early reviews forWonkaare dropping in. The prequel toCharlie and the Chocolate Factorydid not meet everyone’s best expectations, especially after the first look and trailer failed to impress a mass audience. However, critics are now praising the film and its lead actor, who continues his winning streak in Hollywood.
The film is helmed by Paul King ofPaddingtonfame and explores the story of the famous chocolatier Willy Wonka as he struggles to open his first shop. Besides Chalamet, the film features a talented cast, including Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant.
Also Read:Once a Johnny Depp Bastion, Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka Predicted to Earn Less Than Aquaman 2 Despite Amber Heard Curse
WonkaHas Won Over Fans And Critics In Early Screenings
Wonkais set to hit theaters for the Christmas holidays. However, the early reviews from special screenings are out now, and the critics are in love withTimothée Chalamet. TheDuneactor is getting immense praise for his performance, with critics describing him as“charismatic”,“intoxicating”,“pitch-perfect”, and“a blast to watch”.
The movie, which made many fans shed tears, was described as a“winning confection”by Variety’s Courtney Howard. Howard praised Chalamet andHugh Grant’s performances, calling the former a“charisma factory”. Perri Nemiroff of Collider called it an“impossibly sweet film”and appreciated the sincerity of the film. Discussing Film’s Andrew Salazar praisedPaul King, the musical numbers, visual imagination, Grant’s Oompa Loompa, and Chalamet’s performance.
Critics also pointed out some negatives. Nemiroff added that a few plot points were weak, while Salazar shared that Chalamet’s characterization was often questionable. Film critic Germain Lussier enjoyed the“infinitely charming”presence of theLady Birdactor but shared that the film wasn’t as enjoyable.
I’m not a film critic and so many others are doing it on such an eloquent level, so I’ll just say this about Wonka. Wonka. GOOD! Very good. I of course cried. Give it all the golden tickets.#Wonkapic.twitter.com/wiZfWXM3X6
— Allie Moreno (@AllieMoreno_)August 24, 2025
#Wonka/#WonkaMovieis a winning confection, filled with perfect amounts of charm, whimsy & poignancy, powered by pure imagination & bright, nimble musical numbers. Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. His full committal is intoxicating. Hugh Grant in exceptional IDGAF mode.pic.twitter.com/vjKJqqY6ll
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle)July 28, 2025
#Wonkais a super charming delight powered by an exceptional & pitch-perfect performance from Timothée Chalamet. It can get quite silly and there’s a few plot points that are a tad on the thin side, but that couldn’t stop such an impossibly sweet film with a hefty & very…pic.twitter.com/1SLMmRPSGY
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff)August 02, 2025
#Wonkais far from perfect but director Paul King’s whimsical charm is undeniable. The musical numbers hit, the visual imagination is delightful, & even Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa is a scene-stealer.
Timothée Chalamet is great even if his characterization is often questionable.pic.twitter.com/iml6JKgwg4
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626)June 19, 2025
Timothée Chalamet is reason alone to see#WonkaMovie. He’s infinitely charming & a blast to watch.
The movie around him isn’t as good but it’s enjoyable. The story & tone fight against each other leaving it a bit muddled. And yet it’s filled with joy & the songs are delightful.pic.twitter.com/s1zlqtzIgv
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier)June 14, 2025
#Wonkais SHOCKINGLY good 😍🍭🍫
Paul King delivers a movie along the lines of#Paddingtonfor adults
turning Wonka into a male#MaryPoppins!
The movie manages to be its own thingand is as fun as seeing a live Broadway show!
Definitely this year’s big holiday movie!pic.twitter.com/ezj0MaLKgo
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph)Jul 19, 2025
Earlier, fans were highly critical of theDon’t Look Upactor’s casting, doubting whether he could match the legacy of Gene Wilder andJohnny Depp. Fans were not privy to Chalamet’s singing or dancing skills, but King’s reassurances in an interview made some fans turn optimistic.
Also Read:“Timothée Chalamet is so overrated”: First Clip of Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa From Wonka Gets Mixed Reactions From Fans
The Box Office Predictions OfWonkaMay Improve Due To The Positive Response
According toBox Office Pro,Wonkais expected to collect $25-$35 million in the opening weekend. The domestic total prediction ranges from $125 million to $210 million. The film is made on a production budget of $125 million, meaning the projections are nowhere near breaking even. However, the positive responses are expected to make an impact on the box office.
The biggest pulling factor for the film in theaters is Timothée Chalamet, who has garnered appeal among Gen Z audiences. The film will also ride on the IP of its predecessors, which will attract other generations of moviegoers as well. The film has no other competing releases on its opening weekend, and the subsequent week’s releaseAquaman 2is not in anyone’s good books right now.
Also Read:“Definitely not a good sign”: Josh Hutcherson’s Five Nights at Freddy’s Has Already Beaten Timothée Chalamet’s Wonka, Box Office Numbers Don’t Lie
The film will hit theaters on December 15. In the meantime, fans can enjoy the earlier films,Willy Wonka and the Chocolate FactoryandCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,now streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3020
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
