The fantasy musical Wonka, featuring Timothée Chalamet, led the North American box office over the weekend. Reports from Film Distributor’s Bulletin note the strong start and audience response that helped drive the film to the top slot in the United States and Canada.
Wonka posted a first weekend gross around 39 million dollars, with women comprising about half of the audience for the Roald Dahl adaptation. Observers highlight that this performance marks Chalamet’s second-highest opening behind his star turn in Dune, which opened to roughly 41 million dollars in similar markets. The movie’s early momentum underscores strong domestic interest in family-friendly fantasy adventures during the current theatrical window.
In a distant second place, The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes drew about 5.8 million dollars. While not matching the Wonka debut, the installment continues the franchise’s legacy by drawing audiences looking for high-stakes survival drama blended with familiar dystopian themes.
Third on the chart was Hayao Miyazaki’s animated feature Boy and Bird, which captured roughly 23.1 million dollars in its opening frame. The film’s 60.2 percent share indicates solid appeal among families and long-time Miyazaki fans, contributing to a robust weekend total in North American theaters.
Godzilla: Minus One followed in fourth place, adding about 4.9 million dollars to the box office. The film’s performance bolsters a slate of genre titles that continue to draw dedicated audiences seeking action and monster-filled spectacle.
Rounding out the top five, Trolls 3 delivered an impressive weekend tally of approximately 88.7 million dollars, underscoring the continued attraction of animated musicals for younger viewers and families looking for light, musical entertainment.
Wonka serves as a prequel to the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, charting the early adventures of a young Willy Wonka before he opens his famous chocolate factory. The narrative focus on origin stories in beloved franchises appears to resonate broadly with both traditional fans and a newer generation seeking origin narratives in familiar worlds.
At the premiere in Los Angeles, Timothée Chalamet appeared in a brown leather suit paired with a matching turtleneck. The fashion choice stood out on the red carpet, reflecting the film’s vintage yet contemporary mood and giving the event a stylish, newsworthy moment for attendees and fans alike.
As the calendar turns toward the new year, studios are positioning a slate of family-friendly comedies and genre titles for wider release, including markets in Canada and the United States. The weekend’s outcomes illustrate how audiences respond to a mix of nostalgic franchises, fresh musical spectacles, and action-driven narratives during peak theatrical periods.