--- title: "Wonka: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wonka/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/wonka" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Wonka (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 22 reviews: 17 positive, 2 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics like it, and they like it for the same reasons. Timothée Chalamet’s earnest, guileless young Wonka draws praise in nearly every review, as does Paul King’s carrying over the warmth and daftness of his Paddington films. The songs, the production design and Hugh Grant’s Oompa Loompa are the other recurring pleasures. The reservations cluster around sweetness: several reviews find the film cosier than Dahl and miss the author’s spikier side, and a few think the plot too busy for its two hours. The spread is fairly wide for a family film. The Hollywood Reporter calls it cloying and twee, Sight and Sound finds it lacking the original’s mix of light and dark, and The Ringer argues the very idea of a prequel drains the mystery from the character. A smaller dissent runs the other way on the lead: Vulture and /Film consider Chalamet the weakest element rather than the strongest. ## Evening Standard — Nick Howells Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 December 2023. The critic praises the film as a rollicking sweet treat that makes people feel good, highlighting Chalamet’s star turn and the flawless ensemble cast including Hugh Grant’s riotous Oompa Loompa. The songs and endearing characters are singled out for making the slim plot zip along joyously. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/wonka-movie-review-timothee-chalamet-hugh-grant-olivia-colman-b1124184.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2023. Wonka is a whimsical and wonderful tale that is hard to resist, a playful and heart-tugging take on the character that is smarter than it lets on. The critic singles out Chalamet's winning, guileless performance as the earnest young Wonka for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-12-14/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-hugh-grant-roald-dahl) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. King brings his Paddington touch to Dahl, creating a flawed but fulsomely crowd-pleasing musical fantasy that is every inch a Paul King confection. The buoyant, infectious tunes and sly social subtexts stirred into the fantastical setup are highlighted as strengths that deliver anti-cynical uplift. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/wonka-review/) ## The AV Club — Courtney Howard Rating B+. 4 December 2023. Praises the film as a soul-warming musical with genuine charm, whimsy, and poignancy, highlighting the inventive songs, production design, and Chalamet's ebullient performance. Notes some undercooked supporting characters as a minor flaw. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-concocts-a-delightfully-1851064552) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. The film breezes by on a waft of ingenuity, charm and warmth, with a huge generosity of spirit embodied by Chalamet’s benevolent Wonka. King’s delightful, daffy world and committed musical numbers are singled out for praise, though it does not quite reach the heights of his Paddington films. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wonka/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 4/4/4. 5 December 2023. A visually dazzling and charming prequel musical that delivers pure imagination and progressive sensibility; Chalamet's sensational, weirdly endearing lead performance is the standout. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/wonka) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 5 December 2023. A cosy, sweeter origin story that is a magical thrill ride thanks to Chalamet's assured and likeable young Wonka; it prioritises charm and positivity over the source's cynicism. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet/) ## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2023. Paul King's prequel is a breezy, formulaic but charming musical comedy that amuses and delights while inspiring cheers. The critic singles out the exceptional performances, especially Chalamet's elegantly withholding Wonka, along with the tone and production design for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wonka-film-review-2023) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. Celebrates the film's intoxicating effervescence, masterful world-building, and Chalamet's warm, spirited performance suited to a prequel. Highlights the meticulous details, songs, and balance of whimsy with underlying menace. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-paul-king/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. The prequel is knowing, fantastical and full of heart but no classic, with Chalamet charming and earnest at its centre. King’s good-natured humour and the visually sumptuous, colourful world are praised, though fat-shaming jokes and songs that don’t quite match expectations are noted as drawbacks. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-magical-2790735) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. Wonka is a fun, rousing and impeccably staged old-fashioned musical prequel with Chalamet delivering a magnetically delightful performance as the beaming soul of effervescent goodness. The critic praises the infectious energy and lavish look but notes it is one of the squarest big-scale Hollywood musicals in decades and never fully levitates. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-1235810828/) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2023. Finds the film mostly satisfying thanks to the director's recreation of melancholy sweetness from his Paddington films and strong supporting performances, particularly Olivia Colman. Chalamet is seen as the weakest element but the overall whimsy and weird touches land well. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-wonka-is-pretty-good.html) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2023. The film is a bright, light and nice musical origin story with talented performers having a pleasant time. The critic praises Chalamet's enthusiastic performance as the wide-eyed innocent Wonka but complains that it is overly busy and overstays its welcome at two hours. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/14/movies/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet.html) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2023. The film is overly sweet and lacks depth or the original's mix of light and dark, despite strong visuals and Chalamet's impish performance; Hugh Grant's Oompa Loompa provides welcome weirdness. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/wonka-sickly-sweet) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. The critic finds the film cloying and hopelessly twee, criticizing its strained whimsy and aggressive charm that wears the viewer down. Some inventive production elements and supporting performances are noted but ultimately outweighed by the sugary excess. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-paul-king-1235708988/) ## Screen Daily 4 December 2023. A whimsical, frequently funny musical origin story guided by Chalamet's peculiar yet endearing performance; it brings comic sweetness like the Paddington films but risks cloying whimsy. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/wonka-review/5188255.article) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide 10 December 2023. The critic calls the film an effervescent pleasure and intricately charming treasure trove, praising Paul King's formula of sweet-natured storytelling and Timothée Chalamet's fresh-faced, perky performance as the young Wonka. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/10/wonka-review-paul-king-paddington-director-timothee-chalamet-charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-prequel-roald-dahl-olivia-colman-hugh-grant) ## The Telegraph 8 December 2023. The critic describes the film as one of the best times you'll have in the cinema this year, highlighting its velvety sweetness, inventive caper plot and Paul King's focus on texture and flavour. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-hugh-grant/) ## The Times — Tom Shone Rating ★★★☆☆. 10 December 2023. The critic finds the film a cuddly, franchise-friendly version of Dahl that lacks the author's spiky wit, though it provides an enjoyable if undemanding two hours as a Christmas treat. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/this-willy-wonka-is-as-cuddly-as-paddington-bear-2xrq8rstd) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2023. The critic finds this origin story of Willy Wonka a charming and original musical that feels fresh while capturing the spirit of Roald Dahl. Timothée Chalamet’s performance as the inventive candy maker is singled out as a highlight that makes the film a spirit-lifting delight for all ages. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/12/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-brings-charm-musical-talent-origin-story-roald-dahls-classic-1235650170/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 4 December 2023. The critic praises the film's joyful, musical nature and Chalamet's charming performance as a singing and dancing Wonka, comparing it favorably to Paddington films for its warmth and humor. They note some plot weaknesses but overall find it a sweet, festive treat. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-sweet-song/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 4/5. 4 December 2023. The review highlights the film's charm, heart, and visuals as a sweet origin story with strong songs and Chalamet's impish charisma; praises Hugh Grant's comic turn but notes it's not perfect due to some narrative bumps and a fat suit gag. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-3553138) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 7/10. 4 December 2023. The critic praises the film's spirit, optimism, and Chalamet's buoyant performance as young Wonka, along with Paul King's direction bringing warmth and wonder. They single out the overly busy plot with too many storylines and characters as the main weakness. [Read the review](https://collider.com/wonka-movie-review/) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Rating 7/10. 4 December 2023. The critic praises the whimsical story, production design, supporting cast, and themes but complains that Timothée Chalamet's performance as Wonka feels inauthentic and dilutes the magic. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1461478/wonka-review/) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 13 December 2023. The review finds the film pleasant and enjoyable with strong production design but ultimately frivolous and too sanded-down compared to the 1971 original, lacking mystery and peril. It singles out the shift to making Wonka a straightforward protagonist and the emphasis on dreams as the key shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23998867/wonka-movie-review-timothee-chalamet/) ## The Ringer Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2023. The piece argues that the prequel's premise undermines Wonka's appeal by revealing too much about a mysterious character, despite good intentions and affection for the source material. It singles out the tired cliché of filling in the backstory as a fundamental flaw. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2023/12/20/movies/willy-wonka-movie-prequel-timothee-chalamet-review-analysis) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew 4 December 2023. The critic finds the film hugely likeable family entertainment that is sparkling and better than expected for an origin story. They single out the production design, musical sequences, and ensemble cast for praise, while noting some quibbles with the final act and reliance on the 1971 film. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/wonka-review-the-origins-of-willy-wonka-stand-up/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wonka.md