With the holiday season in full swing, the domestic box office is heating up with big-name movies vying for the top spot.
But in a surprising turn of events, it seems that the beloved fictional chocolatier, “Wonka,” has claimed the throne, beating out other highly-anticipated releases, including DC’s “Aquaman” sequel and the Broadway musical version of “The Color of Purple.” According to industry reports, the Timothee Chalamet-led Warner Bros. film has grossed an impressive $8.9 million, bringing its domestic total to an impressive $102.5 million.
Based on the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, “Wonka” offers a fresh take on the famed tale of the eccentric candy maker. As the third adaptation of the beloved story, this latest version has proven to have staying power after opening strong during its opening weekend with an impressive $39 million, as reported by Box Office Mojo. With Chalamet’s star power and an engaging storyline, it’s no wonder that “Wonka” has captured the hearts (and wallets) of audiences across the country.
But “Wonka” isn’t the only film making waves at the box office this holiday season. Illumination and Universal’s animated movie “Migration” – a heartwarming tale about a family of ducks – took the second spot, earning a solid $6.3 million on Wednesday alone. The film, which opened domestically on December 22, has continued to perform well, with a total of $30.6 million in domestic earnings to date. It seems that the combination of cute animals and a heartwarming storyline is a winning formula for this animated tale.
'Wonka,' With Timothée Chalamet, Crosses $100 Million at Domestic Box Office https://t.co/gWYHj2wiuC
— Variety (@Variety) December 28, 2023
On the other hand, DC’s latest offering, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” has struggled to make a splash at the box office, placing a disappointing third after earning $5.9 million on Wednesday. The film, which opened on December 22 to a lackluster $27 million, has so far only raked in a total of $52.5 million in domestic earnings. This marks yet another disappointment for DC’s beloved Extended Universe franchise, which has seen a string of underperforming films in recent years, including the highly anticipated “The Flash.”
The fourth spot on the box office chart goes to the film adaptation of Alice Walker’s celebrated novel, “The Color of Purple.” Opening on December 25, the musical has earned a respectable $3.8 million on Wednesday, bringing its total domestic earnings to $29 million. While not as strong as some of the other top-performing films, the musical has held its own during the competitive holiday season. With a star-studded cast, including Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker, as well as a beloved source material, it’s no surprise that this film continues to draw audiences to theaters.
Despite the impressive numbers, it seems that the top-performing films are still falling short compared to previous years. According to Deadline magazine, Marvel’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: The Way of the Water” both cleared a whopping $30 million in a single day post-Christmas in 2021 and 2022 respectively. This year’s top films are not even close to reaching those numbers, leaving many to wonder if the pandemic is still impacting theater attendance.
Only time will tell how these films will continue to perform. With the holiday season still in full swing and the new year approaching, there may still be time for these films to make a comeback at the box office. One thing is for sure, the competition is fierce, and audiences have plenty of options to choose from. Will “Wonka” maintain its lead, or will one of the other top contenders dethrone it? Moviegoers will have to wait and see.