Exploring the Sweet Journey of Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Unless you live in a bubble, you know the name Willy Wonka. But do you know how he got his start? Wonka attempts to fill you in on the famous chocolatier’s backstory. In this Wonka Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this prequel to the original movie with your children.

The classic movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, was released in 1971 and starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The origin story, Wonka, is set about 25 years before Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

To find out more information on how I conduct movie reviews, check out my movie review guidelines.

Wonka Christian Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

Based on the extraordinary, iconic character at the center of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of the best-selling children’s books of all time, “Wonka” tells the wondrous story of how a young chocolate-maker, armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, manages to change the world, one delectable bit at a time.

My Synopsis:

Before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the young Wonka was a chocolate maker, magician, and inventor. This is the tale of how Wonka started his chocolate factory despite being poor. This young man dreams of producing chocolate and selling it at a chocolate shop at the Galeries Gourmet alongside famous chocolatiers, Slugworth, Prodnose, and Fickelgruber. However, they have a chocolate cartel and bribe the police and even the clergy to help them maintain their chocolate empires. 

Meanwhile, Wonka is a dreamer and doesn’t give up easily. Furthermore, he convinces his new found friends to help him along the way.

Wonka Christian Review – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

Very little foul language. Someone utters, “Oh my Lord.”

One use of d-mn. 

There are other instances of crude or mean language such as a girl is called a spoiled brat, and use of the word butt. Another person is called a “stupid old hag.” 

Additionally, a man gets “a little sick in his mouth” when the word poor is said.

Violence:

A young girl is thrown in a pigeon coop as punishment a few times. 

People are held captive in a laundry and forced to work to pay off exorbitant rent by the unscrupulous Mrs. Scrubbit. Additionally, people are held at gunpoint. 

A man holds a person’s head underwater several times. Furthermore, two people are locked in a vault, and chocolate pours in. They are nearly drowned. 

A chocolate shop is destroyed and set on fire. People are poisoned with chocolate – they grow facial hair, and/or their skin turns different colors, such as green.

The big clock in the town square has a woman and man (think cuckoo clock) come out. The woman hits the man in the head with a frying pan each time the clock chimes. Additionally, the Oompa Loompa hits a person on the head with a frying pan.

Spiritual Content:

Willy Wonka has a magical hat similar to Mary Poppin’s carpet bag. He pulls out everything from a teapot, a chocolate pot, a drinking glass, an alarm clock, and even a candlestick from this top hat.

Clerics, priests, and monks are portrayed in a negative light. Underneath the Cathedral is a secret lair for the chocolate cartel.

People enter a confessional in a Catholic Church. However, it is used as a passageway into the secret basement.

Willy makes a “pinky promise” with Noodles. He says, “That is the most solemn vow there is.”

Finally, a person says, “We all know one day we should be judged for our sins,” “Judgment has come,” and “I’m a sinner.”

Adult Content:

A comment is made, “If you want to make her sigh, show her some thigh.” The male character wears lederhosen and bends over to show his rear to a female character. Those two characters kiss and flirt. 

Furthermore, there are a few scenes where they “woo” each other. They both wear the woman’s silky robes. However, the one the man wears is shorter.

Several times, people drink alcohol filled drinks. 

References are made to Wonka’s late mother.

Other Content:

Willy Wonka gives out candy that causes people to hover in the air. However, he says that eventually it will pass out their rear and they will come down.

Additionally, there are other chocolates that cause people to sleep, hair to grow, and skin change colors.

Furthermore, a man overeats chocolate and by the end of the movie he has gained considerable weight. 

A funeral is held in a church and they show a coffin carried by pall bearers.

Finally, it is revealed that Wonka “stole” cocoa beans from the Oompa Lompas. He did not realize that he was stealing at the time, and he makes amends.

Positive Content:

People come together to help Wonka fulfill his dreams. There is the encouragement to use your imagination, maintain hope and keep dreaming. 

My favorite quote from this movie is, “Every good thing in this world started with a dream.”

Wonka Christian Review – My Viewing Recommendations

Wonka is delightful, whimsical and has some new musical numbers. Furthermore, some of the scenes are breathtaking and Timothée Chalamet plays a kinder, gentler Wonka than Gene Wilder’s version. Overall, there is a lighter atmosphere to this film. I expect it to be one of this season’s best family movies at the box office.

However, it is a little long for the youngest kids. Therefore, my age recommendation is 6-7 and up.

About the Movie:

Rating: PG for some violence, mild language, and thematic elements.

Release Date: December 15, 2023

Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Genre: Fantasy/Musical

Studio: Village Roadshow Pictures, Domain Entertainment, A Heyday Films Production, a Paul King Confection

Director: Paul King

Written by: Simon Farnaby & Paul King

Based on Characters created by Ronald Dahl

Produced by: David Heyman, Alexandra Derbyshire, Luke Kelly

Edited by: Mark Everson

Music: Original Songs by Neil Hannon

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Cast of Wonka:

Willy Wonka played by Timothée Chalamet

Young Willy Wonka played by Colin O’Brien

Oompa Loompa played by Hugh Grant

Bleacher played by Tom Davis

Mrs. Scrub it played by Olivia Colman

Noodle played by Calah Lane

Slugworth played by Paterson Joseph

Prodnose played by Matt Lucas

Fickelgruber played by Matthew Baynton

Chief of Police played by Keegan-Michael Key

Father Julius (Priest) played by Rowan Atkinson

Abacus Crunch played by Jim Carter

Lottie Bell played by Rakhee Thakrar

Piper Benz played by Natasha Rothwell

Larry Chucklesworth played by Rich Fulcher

Willy’s Mother played by Sally Hawkins

Office Affable played by Kona Holdbroook-Smith

Gwen nice, Mistress of the Keys played by Ellie White

Jenkins played by Rufus Jones

Basil, Zoo Security Guard played by Simon Farnaby

Ship’s Engineer played by Gustave Die

Ship’s Captain played by Murray McArthur

Map Seller played by Paul G. Raymond

Shoeshine Boy played by Bertie Caplan

Dorothy Smith played by Tracy Ifeachor

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I watch Wonka?

Wonka was released into theaters on December 15, 2023. At that time, it did not have a streaming date. When it begins streaming, you can expect to find it on Video on Demand (for rent or purchase) such as Amazon, YouTube, and AppleTV.

Furthermore, I expect it to begin streaming for free on Max since Max is owned by Warner Bros.

Is there an end-credit scene for Wonka?

There is an early mid-credit scene that is worth staying for. It is doubtful you will miss it because the Oompa Loompa tells you it is coming.

How old is Wonka candy?

Wonka Candy was launched by Breaker Confections in 1971 to coincide with the release of the original film. This Chicago-based candy company produced candy from the movie such as Everlasting Gobstoppers and Super Skrunch Bar. 

However, in 1980, Breaker Confections changed its name to Willy Wonka Brands. Then in 1988, the Wonka brand was purchased by the Nestlé Company. 

Eventually, the Wonka brand was sold to the Italian-based candy company Ferraro in 2018.

Will Wonka stream on Disney+? 

Wonka is not a Disney movie, so it will not be streaming on Disney+.

Will Wonka be streaming on Peacock?

It is doubtful that Wonka will be streaming on Peacock.

How much did it cost to produce Wonka?

The production cost for Wonka was $125 million. 

How many Willy Wonka movies are there?

The first film, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, was released in 1971 and starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. 

The second film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released in 2005 and was produced by Tim Burton. Willy Wonka was played by Johnny Depp in this installment. Furthermore, it is a remake of the original film.

Finally, the third film, Wonka, was released in 2023 and stars Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka and Hugh Grant as an Ooompa Loompa.

Fun Facts About Wonka 2023

Roald Dahl wrote the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and he also wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Additionally, he wrote The BFG.

Director Paul King also wrote and directed the Paddington Movies. Additionally, he also worked with director David Heyman on Paddington. 

Chocolates created for Wonka include 900 Hoverchocs, 80 Silver Linings, 85 Big Night Outs, 150 Giraffe Milk Macaroons, 400 Forth Second Sweets, 200 Hair Repair Éclairs, and 80 Mamma’s Wonka Bars.

Additionally, all items eaten in the movie were actually created to eat such as blue ball flowers, red roses, chocolate teacups, purple and orange mushrooms, cherry blossoms, bees, tree park. 

EASTER EGGS:

In a nod to the original movie, you can find the following:

-The songs “Oompa Loompa” and World of “Pure Imagination” are used in both films. 

-People are forced to work in a laundry in Wonka. Additionally, Charlie’s (played by Peter Ostrum) mom washed clothes for a living in the original movie.

-Noodles is told she will get a lifetime supply of chocolate if she helps Wonka. In the original film, the prize Willy Wonka was given out was a “lifetime supply of chocolates.”

-In the original film, Gene Wilder’s Wonka says, “Good day, sir,” to Charlie and his grandfather. The Oompa Loompa in 2023, Wonka says the same line.

-When Willy Wonka goes to the laundry house for a place to sleep, he signs a contract and doesn’t read the fine print. Likewise, in the original film, Wonka tells Charlie’s grandfather, Grandpa Joe (played by Jack Albertson) that he didn’t read the fine print, and he violated the contract and gets nothing.

—Willy reverses lines such as “Quiet down and listen up.” He then says, “Strike that, reverse it!” Gene Wilder’s Wonka often said that line in the original film.

Are the hoverfly chocolates a nod to the fizzy lifting drink in the original film?

-Charlie and Grandpa Joe burp to come down from flying after drinking fizzy lifting drinks. However, in Wonka (2023) they need to fart to come back down to earth after eating hover fly chocolates.

-The phrase “Good deed in a weary world” was used in both the 1971 film and the 2023 film.

-At the end of the 1971‘s Willy Wonka film, Willy, Charlie, and Grandpa Joe get in a glass elevator which crashes through the ceiling of the factory, and flew over the city. However, in the 2023 film, Willy and Noodle dance float over the city, holding balloons and dancing across a building with glass ceilings.

-Gene Wilder’s Wonka encloses “golden tickets” in Wonka bars. In the 2023 film, Wonka’s mom puts a “golden ticket” in a chocolate bar for Wonka on his birthday.