Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

G

Released Jan 1, 1971

1h 40m

Kids & Family

Musical

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The last of five coveted "golden tickets" falls into the hands of a sweet but very poor boy. He and his grandpa then get a tour of the strangest chocolate factory in the world. The owner leads five young winners on a thrilling and often dangerous tour of his factory.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

Exuberant, macabre and unpredictable...

Aug 23, 2022

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 9, 2018

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Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

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.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 22, 2009

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The imaginative visuals tend to be the highlight, though the ideas intermittently seem too farfetched even for this flighty spectacle, causing the film to be far more memorable for individual elements rather than the production as a whole.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 6, 2025

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KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a classic delight for all the senses. Gene Wilder has the commendable ability to balance levity and no nonsense charm to confectionery and commentary.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 16, 2024

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Oti

For Your Reference Podcast

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory remains a timeless treasure. Its humor still sparkles, proving its enduring appeal. A heartwarming, whimsical journey that continues to delight audiences of all ages.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 16, 2024

Full Review

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Mark M

Roald Dhal's stories are very unpredictable which make them great in all aspects of the film. The strangeness and uniqueness make them stand out from every other film and this one is a masterpiece

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/25

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Bobby B

BETTER THAN 2005! This film is a classic. Its shot in vibrant, beautiful technicilour, it has amazing special effects and great songs. Even "Cheer Up Charlie" which is usually considered the worst of them is still good. That veing said, there is still some iffy vfx, random scenes and a chocloate river that looks like my toilet bowl after taco bell. Aside from thus, its just great. A must see.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

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Audience Member

One of my all-time favorite films as a child and as an adult! Wilder's unforgettable performance is forever etched in Pop Culture history as well as the come to life Chocolate Factory and shenanigans that ensue within. An entertaining masterpiece that is enjoyable for everyone!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

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Audience Member

very good film great for the little kids

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

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David W

Wonderfully weird with some great songs and one of the all time great on screen performances from the enigmatic Gene Wilder. It's a truly great film but it's elevated to classic status by a performance of bubbling energy from Wilder which constantly feels as though his character is teetering on the edge of manic. Watching this is my equivalent of curling up in front of a cracking log fire on a cold winters day it's so comforting. A thing of very, very rare beauty.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

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Yakking With F

i loved the original willy wonka and the chocolate factory with gene wilder i give it a 8 of 10 i have the dvd from 2011 and the 4k from 2021 for its 50th

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

Full Review

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Mel Stuart

Director

Gene Wilder

Willy Wonka

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Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: Trailer 1

3:11

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Synopsis

The last of five coveted "golden tickets" falls into the hands of a sweet but very poor boy. He and his grandpa then get a tour of the strangest chocolate factory in the world. The owner leads five young winners on a thrilling and often dangerous tour of his factory.

Director: Mel Stuart
Producer: Stan Margulies, David L. Wolper
Screenwriter: Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Quaker Oats Company, David L. Wolper Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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