Fans rave about Wonka and admit they cried over Timothee Chalamet’s performance after critics hailed the movie as ‘surprisingly good’

Moviegoers are raving about Wonka, Roald Dahl’s big-screen chocolatier origin story.

The embargo on reviews and comments was lifted on Tuesday evening when the world premiere took place in London, prompting a flood of positive tweets from fans.

Those lucky enough to attend a preview screening of the film, which opens generally in Europe on December 8 and in the US on December 15, have praised lead actor Timothée Chalamet as “creepy” and “charming.”

“I’m not a film critic and so many others do it on such an eloquent level, so I’m just saying this about Wonka. Wonka. GOOD! Very good. Of course I cried. Give it all the golden tickets,” one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

‘#WonkaMovie was so cute!! I really enjoyed it and would definitely watch it again. Timothée Chalamet was whimsical as Willy Wonka, and Calah Lane as Noodle was great! Don’t expect Charlie or golden tickets. This film is about Willy and how he became a famous chocolatier!’ added another.

‘I loved #Wonka, everyone else did too, right? It’s so tender and entertaining with Colman, a great villain, and Chalamet proving he can sing too. Plus great songs and visuals. Take all your children with you.’

Another wrote that “it absolutely rules.”

Others felt justified in their early hopes for the film, despite criticism of trailers and promotional materials.

‘People who are surprised that Wonka is good… I never doubted Paul King, director of Paddington! Not for a second!!’ one fan posted.

‘WONKA should be shouted from the rooftops because it was written by the same team that wrote/directed PADDINGTON and PADDINGTON 2, Paul King and Simon Farnaby. It’s real, not saccharine, and yes, I cried. It has fast-moving Billy Wilder-style comedic dialogue.”

Other moviegoers worried that the film would not live up to the 1971 adaptation of Dahl’s novel starring Gene Wilder.

“Okay, I can finally say it. The embargo has been lifted @RealChalamet is Woknalicious in #Wonka I’m old so I love the original film, but this is a new story with amazing energy and joy and it’s just as delightful. It made me laugh and smile and I can’t wait to see it again,” said one delighted fan.

Those lucky enough to see a preview of the film, which opens on December 8 in Europe and December 15 in the US, have praised lead actor Timothée Chalamet.

Critics have also added their praise to the film, with Collider senior producer Perri Nemiroff writing, “#Wonka is a super-charming delight, powered by an exceptional and pitch-perfect performance from Timothée Chalamet.”

‘It can get quite silly and there are a few plot points that are a bit on the thin side, but that couldn’t prevent such an impossibly sweet film from warming my heart with a large and very effective dose of sincerity.’

Film critic Courtney Howard of Variety/The AV Club called Wonka “a winning confection, filled with perfect amounts of charm, whimsy and poignancy, powered by sheer imagination and bright, nimble musical numbers.”

‘Timothée Chalamet is a charisma factory. His complete dedication is intoxicating,” Howard added.

‘Hugh Grant (as Oompa-Loompa) in exceptional IDGAF mode.’

IndieWire chief film critic David Ehrlich simply put wrote: ‘Wonka good. Paul King, king.”

Roger Ebert, associate editor Robert Daniels, “surprisingly especially enjoyed WONKA,” calling Timothée “a truly gifted comedic actor, who cleverly used his star persona for laughs.”

‘The staging is good and there is a lot of heart and idiosyncrasy in it. However, I didn’t like the barrage of fat jokes. Bad form in a wonderful film,’ Daniels scoffed.

Critics have also added their praise to the film, with Collider senior producer Perri Nemiroff writing: ‘#Wonka is a super charming delight (photo Olivia Colman)

Variety/The AV Club film critic Courtney Howard called Wonka “a winning confection, filled with perfect amounts of charm, whimsy and poignancy (photo by Sally Hawkins)

The film had its world premiere in London on Tuesday evening with lead actor Timothee Chalamet pictured on the red carpet.

Willy Wonka’s origin story – based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – opens in UK theaters on December 8 and US theaters on December 15.

Wonka also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant and newcomer Calah Lane.

Chalamet earned $9 million to play the titular character after beating out Tom Holland, Donald Glover, Ezra Miller and Ryan Gosling for the role.

The eccentric genius, who enjoyed punishing naughty children, was memorably created by Gene Wilder in Mel Stuart’s 1971 film beloved classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.