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MUSICAL fantasy film Wonka surpassed $150 million at the global box office in its opening weekend, and is on track to gross even more.
Wonka took the number one slot over the likes of Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with its more than promising start, according to industry analysts.
On November 28, the film was premiered in London at the Royal Festival Hall, in Southbank Centre, and was later released in the United Kingdom on December 8, and the US on December 15, by Warner Bros Pictures.
The highly-grossing film starring Timothée Chalamet, is a prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The film tells the story of Willy Wonka in his early days as a chocolatier, and follows him to the big city to open his chocolate shop in the unlikely hope that it will bring back his late mother.
However, as the film goes on, Willy comes to a realisation that though his mother will not return, she will be there with him emotionally, supporting him in his chocolate endeavours.
The film holds an impressive 84 per cent ‘Certified Fresh’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Paul King, the British writer and director of Paddington fame, the movie features stars including Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Tom Davis, Rich Fulcher, Rakhee Thakrar, Natasha Rothwell, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, and Mathew Baynton.
Timothée Chalamet is the third Wonka iteration to grace the silver screen. He follows in the footsteps of Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp, who took on the character in 1971 and 2005, respectively.
Despite a stunning start, the film faces tough competition in the weeks ahead, with the launches of Anyone But You, Migration, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which will be followed by Ferrari, The Color Purple, and The Boys in the Boat on December 25.
