Box office upset: Wonka takes lead over Aquaman in year-end surprise
Box office upset: Wonka takes lead over Aquaman in year-end surprise – Wonka’s unexpected performance at the box office against a franchise as established as Aquaman points to the unpredictability of the film market.
By Megan Sauer
In an unexpected cinematic victory for the close of 2023, the movie Wonka has managed to surpass Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom at the box office during New Year’s weekend.
Timothée Chalamet, in the lead role of Wonka, has led the box office over the four-day weekend, projecting a take of $33 million, while Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom comes in second with $26 million, according to information from The Hollywood Reporter and Comic Book.
Both productions are owned by Warner Bros., which also scores another success with The Color Purple, ranked third and grossing a respectable $16.2 million during the holidays.
Wonka, a prequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, has received mostly positive reviews from experts, consolidating itself as the surprise of the season.
Timothée Chalamet, recently nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in Wonka, stands as the box office winner and the title of most handsome man of 2023, according to the TC Candler portal.
This achievement represents a significant change, since Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , the long-awaited sequel to the 2018 hit, had led the box office during the December long weekend.
However, Wonka managed to reclaim the throne in the ensuing days, achieving a cumulative gross of US$102.5 million in North America as of last Wednesday.
The film, directed by Paul King and starring Chalamet as eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka, focuses on the character’s early days and the challenges he faced to become the world’s foremost chocolatier.
The plot takes place in an unnamed European city, where Wonka arrives with the intention of opening his chocolate shop in the Gourmet Galleries.
On the other hand, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom , directed by James Wan and starring Jason Momoa ( Game of Thrones, Aquaman, Dune ), has faced mixed reviews and a less enthusiastic reaction than its predecessor.
Despite its financial success with a worldwide gross of US$132 million, the film has received negative evaluations from critics, who consider it inferior to its predecessor.
The end-of-year film event also saw ¡Patos!, the Illumination and Universal production, climb to second place behind Wonka.
The family film earned $6.3 million on Wednesday, bringing its total to $30.6 million at the box office. In third place is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom with US $5.9 million.
Wednesday’s 52 percent decline in revenue compared to 2019 has been a sign that the film industry continues to face challenges, despite occasional successes.
The pandemic continues to impact audience preferences and movie theater attendance, highlighting the need for studios and exhibitors to adapt.
The unexpected performance of Wonka at the box office compared to a franchise as consolidated as Aquaman points out the unpredictability of the film market and the ability of innovative productions to gain ground, even in competition with major blockbusters.
