NEW YORK — “Wonka” debuted with $39 million in field workplace gross sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, in keeping with studio estimates Sunday. That made it a powerful begin for the Timothée Chalamet -starring Willy Wonka musical that underscored the younger star’s draw.
Musicals have been robust sells in theaters lately, a lot in order that Warner Bros. downplayed the track and dance components of “Wonka” in trailers. Instead, the studio emphasised Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor who, with “Wonka,” notched his second No. 1 film following 2021’s “Dune.” The earlier movie recorded a $41 million opening.
While “Dune” was a sprawling and star-studded sci-fi journey, “Wonka” depends mainly on Chalamet’s charisma.
“Wonka,” which price about $125 million to supply and performed at 4,203 places, was additionally the primary huge Hollywood launch to launch following the tip of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike.
Chalamet hosted “Saturday Night Live” simply days after the strike ended. In his opening monologue, he sang to the tune of “Pure Imagination” about “returning to this magical world where actors can promote their projects.”
“It shows you the power of a star, and it also shows you the power of a star going out and working a movie,” stated Jeffrey Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “Having him out there after the strikes were over was a win for him and a win for the movie.”
Goldstein expects “Wonka” to be the go-to alternative for households over the vacations. Its principal competitors for teenagers can be Universal Pictures’ animated “Migration.”
“Wonka,” directed by Paul King of “Paddington” and “Paddington 2,” is a prequel to 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” with Chalamet starring as a younger Wonka attempting to open a sweet retailer. Its ensemble forged contains Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman and Keegan-Michael Key.
Warner Bros. final revived Roald Dahl’s basic with the 2005 Tim Burton-directed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” starring Johnny Depp. It debuted with $56.2 million and in the end grossed $475 million worldwide.
To attain these numbers, “Wonka” will want sturdy legs via the profitable vacation moviegoing interval. On its facet are largely good evaluations (84% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) and optimistic viewers response (an “A-” CinemaScore).
Chalamet can also be drawing youthful ticket-buyers. Moviegoers below the age of 25 accounted for 36% of the viewers, which was cut up evenly between 51% females and 49% males. “Wonka” added $53.6 million in abroad ticket gross sales.
“Chalamet is a true movie star who’s been developing his craft and his reputation over many years,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “Everybody’s looking for who’s the next big movie star. Is it all about the old-school leading men? Chalamet is definitely that.”
For Warner Bros., it’s the primary in a trio of high-profile vacation releases, to be adopted by “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” on Dec. 22 and one other musical, “The Color Purple” on Dec. 25.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”