Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
91%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
2 wins & 3 nominations total
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is strange yet comforting, full of narrative detours that don’t always work but express the film’s uniqueness.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a classic movie that will always hold a special place in our hearts. Sure, some critics may say it’s not as good as the Burton remake, but let’s be real, nothing beats Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka. From the catchy musical numbers to the psychedelic visuals, this movie is a trip down memory lane. And who wouldn’t want to visit a chocolate factory with a river made of chocolate? It’s a childhood dream come true. So grab some candy and settle in for a sweet and whimsical adventure with Willy Wonka.
Production Company(ies)
Anonymous Britdoc Foundation Final Cut for Real
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Nördlingen, Bavaria, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1971
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 38m
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Language(s):English, French, German, Italian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1971 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 21, 2005
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear, Julie Dawn Cole, Leonard Stone, directed by Mel Stuart, written by Roald Dahl, produced by Stan Margulies, David L Wolper, fantasy, G rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by James Berardinelli, Roger Ebert, Chuck Bowen, Variety Staff, Steven D Greydanus, Peter Canavese, Stephen Silver, Matt Brunson, Allison Rose, Douglas Davidson, John Mahoney, critic reviews, Willy Wonka, chocolate factory, golden tickets, grandpa, Veruca Salt, Mr Henry Salt, Mr Sam Beauregarde, musical numbers, childhood favorite, family movie, imagination, eccentric, bizarre, confectionery genius, Roald Dahl, iconic performance, whimsical tour, Oompa Loompa, Candy Man, Pure Imagination, impressive visuals, unique story, cinematic classic, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $616,173
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,056,125
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,173
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 551,377
US/Canada gross: $573,368
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,704,880
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,825
US/Canada opening weekend: $526,633
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,321,387
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,119
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $3,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $24,617,070
Production budget ranking: 1,258
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,256,292
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$32,817,238
ROI to date (est.): -87%
ROI ranking: 1,936
Jack Albertson – Grandpa Joe
Peter Ostrum – Charlie Bucket
Roy Kinnear – Mr. Henry Salt
Julie Dawn Cole – Veruca Salt
Leonard Stone – Mr. Sam Beauregarde
Director(s)
Mel Stuart
Writer(s)
Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl
Producer(s)
Stan Margulies, David L. Wolper
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
2 wins & 3 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (5)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, like many childhood favorites, is better left in the past and allowed to reside in memories. As an adaptation of Dahl’s story, it’s inferior to the Burton remake.
June 30, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Probably the best film of its sort since The Wizard of Oz. It is everything that family movies usually claim to be, but aren’t: Delightful, funny, scary, exciting, and, most of all, a genuine work of imagination.
July 9, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The passages in the mysterious factory, which should be Charlie’s and our release from the oppression of the earlier scenes, are just as ugly as everything that’s come before, so there’s no contrast.
December 22, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Chuck Bowen
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
An okay family musical fantasy.
August 14, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Aspires to the whimsy and fantasy of The Wizard of Oz but doesn’t really capture the magic… more a fond tribute to ‘pure imagination’ than a triumph of it.
July 16, 2005 | Rating: C+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
Every time you watch it you’re newly impressed by its heartfelt story line, unfussy direction, wit and humor (with Gene Wilder giving a performance for the ages). Warner 4K HD blu-ray.
July 18, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Canavese
Celluloid Dreams
all it took was memorable musical numbers, one of the movies’ greatest comedic performers in the lead role, and a great deal of influence from the psychedelic undercurrents of the time when it was made. (50th anniversary)
July 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
Where it reigns supreme is in its casting of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.
July 3, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Wilder brought a kindness and gentleness to the main character while infusing Wonka with a whimsical, childlike innocence.
June 29, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
We all know who can sprinkle a sunrise with dew, who can make all your childhood wishes come true: the one and only candy man, Willy Wonka.
June 28, 2021
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
The film makes exceptionally shrewd use of references children can understand and appreciate.
January 9, 2020
John Mahoney
Los Angeles Free Press
he casting of Gene Wilder in the title role is the key: there is a crazed, yet knowing, glint in his eye that suggests the world of corporate confectionery is more sillier and sinister than we will ever know.
September 20, 2018 | Rating: 4.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)…
Plot
The world is astounded when Willy Wonka, for years a recluse in his factory, announces that five lucky people will be given a tour of the factory, shown all the secrets of his amazing candy, and one will win a lifetime supply of Wonka chocolate. Nobody wants the prize more than young Charlie, but as his family is so poor that buying even one bar of chocolate is a treat, buying enough bars to find one of the five golden tickets is unlikely in the extreme. But in movieland, magic can happen. Charlie, along with four somewhat odious other children, get the chance of a lifetime and a tour of the factory. Along the way, mild disasters befall each of the odious children, but can Charlie beat the odds and grab the brass ring?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka is considered iconic and one of his strongest performances of his career.
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