NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� debuted with $39 million in box office sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That made it a strong start for the -starring Willy Wonka musical that underscored the young star's draw.
Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years, so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song and dance elements of 鈥淲辞苍办补鈥� in trailers. Instead, the studio emphasized Chalamet, the 27-year-old actor who, with 鈥淲onka,鈥� notched his second No. 1 movie following 2021鈥檚 鈥淒une.鈥� The earlier film recorded a $41 million opening.
While was a sprawling and star-studded sci-fi adventure, 鈥淲辞苍办补鈥� relies chiefly on Chalamet鈥檚 charisma.
鈥淲onka,鈥� which cost about $125 million to produce and played at 4,203 locations, was also the first big Hollywood release to launch following . Chalamet hosted 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� just days after the strike ended. In , he sang to the tune of 鈥淧ure Imagination鈥� about 鈥渞eturning to this magical world where actors can promote their projects.鈥�
鈥淚t shows you the power of a star, and it also shows you the power of a star going out and working a movie,鈥� said Jeffrey Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. 鈥淗aving him out there after the strikes were over was a win for him and a win for the movie.鈥�
Goldstein expects 鈥淲辞苍办补鈥� to be the go-to choice from families over the holidays. Its main competition for kids will be Universal Pictures' animated 鈥淢igration.鈥�
鈥淲onka,鈥� directed by Paul King of 鈥淧addington鈥� and 鈥淧addington 2,鈥� is a prequel to 1971鈥檚 鈥淲illy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,鈥� with trying to open a candy store. Its ensemble cast includes Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman and Keegan-Michael Key.
Warner Bros. last revived Roald Dahl鈥檚 classic with the 2005 Tim Burton-directed 鈥淐harlie and the Chocolate Factory,鈥� starring Johnny Depp. It debuted with $56.2 million and ultimately grossed $475 million worldwide.
To reach those numbers, 鈥淲辞苍办补鈥� will need strong legs through the lucrative holiday moviegoing period. On its side are mostly good reviews (84% 鈥渇resh鈥� on Rotten Tomatoes) and positive audience reaction (an 鈥淎-鈥� CinemaScore).
Chalamet is also drawing younger ticket-buyers. Moviegoers under the age of 25 accounted for 36% of the audience, which was split evenly between 51% females and 49% males. 鈥淲辞苍办补鈥� added $53.6 million in overseas ticket sales.
鈥淐halamet is a true movie star who鈥檚 been developing his craft and his reputation over many years,鈥� says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 looking for who鈥檚 the next big movie star. Is it all about the old-school leading men? Chalamet is definitely that.鈥�
For Warner Bros., it鈥檚 the first in a trio of high-profile holiday releases, to be followed by 鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom鈥� on Dec. 22 and another musical, 鈥淭he Color Purple鈥� on Dec. 25.
The only other new wide release in theaters was 鈥淐hristmas With the Chosen: Holy Night,鈥� from Christian-theme distributor Angel Studios. It debuted with $2.9 million in sales through 2,094 theaters.
again ranked second this week with $5.8 million in its fifth week of release. The Lionsgate 鈥淗unger Games鈥� prequel, now up to $145.2 million domestically and more than $300 million globally, has held strong week after week.
Last week鈥檚 top film, dipped to third with $5.1 million in its second week of release. The latest film from the 82-year-old Japanese anime master for Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli and its North American distributor GKids.
With holdovers making up most of the top 10 movies in theaters, the weekend鈥檚 other most notable business was a group of award contenders trying to make their mark following
Yorgos Lanthimos鈥� a surreal Frankenstein-esque fairy tale starring Emma Stone, expanded into 82 theaters and grossed $1.3 million for Searchlight Pictures. The film, which will expand further in the coming weeks, is nominated for seven Golden Globes, including best comedy or musical.
starring Jeffrey Wright as a sardonic novelist, debuted in seven theaters in three cities with a $32,411 per-screen average. MGM鈥檚 鈥淎merican Fiction,鈥� nominated for two Globes, will expand to 40 theaters next week. It in September.
Jonathan Glazer鈥檚 a chilling Holocaust drama about a Nazi commandant and his family living next to Auschwitz, opened in four theaters with a $31,198 per-screen average. Nominated for three Globes, it will play in limited release before expanding in January.
Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淲onka,鈥� $39 million.
2. 鈥淭he Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,鈥� $5.8 million.
3. 鈥淭he Boy and the Heron,鈥� $5.2 million.
4. 鈥淕odzilla Minus One,鈥� $4.9 million.
5. 鈥淭rolls Band Together,鈥� $4 million.
6. 鈥淲ish,鈥� $3.2 million.
7. 鈥淐hristmas With the Chosen: Holy Night,鈥� $2.9 million.
8. 鈥淣apoleon,鈥� $2.2 million.
9. 鈥淩enaissance: A Film by Beyonc茅,鈥� $2 million.
10. 鈥淧oor Things,鈥� $1.3 million.
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
