"An Insult": Why Gene Wilder Didn't Like Tim Burton's Willy Wonka Remake (2024)

Back in 2013, iconic actor and comedian Gene Wilder revealed what he thought about Tim Burton's movie adaptation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and his opinions were far from positive. From 1961 to 2005, Gene Wilder had a successful career as a Hollywood actor, writer, and filmmaker. In 1971, he starred in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and now, it's widely considered to be one of Gene Wilder's best movies. This was the very first on-screen adaptation of the classic children's book by Roald Dahl.

Since being published in 1964, Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has received numerous Willy Wonka adaptations. Though Gene Wilder's movie was the first, other projects have followed, including Tim Burton's adaptation in 2005 and the more recent Willy Wonka origin story, 2023's Wonka. Each iteration of this beloved tale adds something new to the story, yet not everyone has been a fan of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory films. In fact, Gene Wilder made a rare appearance in 2013 and told interviewers exactly what he thought about Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Gene Wilder Didn't Agree With Remaking Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory's Success Versus Charlie And The Chocolate Factory's

When asked about 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake, Gene Wilder revealed that he thought the new movie was "an insult." Wilder's main argument was that he didn't understand why Hollywood needed to go back and make the same movie over again. He said, "It's all about money. It's just some people sitting around thinking: 'How can we make some more money?'" (via HuffPost.) Despite Tim Burton's fresh new take, Wilder felt that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was just a cash grab.

Whether that was the case or not, the effort paid off. In 1971, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory grossed $4 million on a $3 million budget. Though the movie is incredibly popular and has a long-lasting legacy, it didn't actually perform very well at the box office. On the other hand, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was an overwhelming success. On a budget of $150 million, the 2005 film made $475 million at the box office. This is an exponential increase from Gene Wilder's movie, making his argument somewhat valid. The filmmakers did make significantly more money the second time around.

What Gene Wilder Has Said About Tim Burton's Willy Wonka Remake

Tim Burton's Willy Wonka Changes Explained

Gene Wilder also had a few comments about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory versus Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Wilder noted that he thought Johnny Depp was a good actor, but revealed that he wasn't a fan of Tim Burton's choices. Wilder explained, "He's a talented man, but I don't care for him doing stuff like he did." In this way, Wilder not only resented why Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was made, but also disliked the direction Tim Burton took it in.

Notably, Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is highly stylized. Burton gave the movie a very slick and colorful ambiance, and made the movie's most iconic moments even more intense and out there. Of course, Burton's style is not for everyone, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Burton's most successful films. Regardless, of Gene Wilder's opinions, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has an impressive legacy of its own.

Source: HuffPost

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

PG

Adventure

Comedy

Family

Fantasy

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

In this movie based on the Roald Dahl novel, Charlie Bucket's life changes forever when he finds a Golden Ticket, allowing him to tour the famous Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory along with four other contest winners.

Director

Tim Burton

Release Date

July 15, 2005

Writers

Roald Dahl , John August

Cast

Johnny Depp , Freddie Highmore , David Kelly , Helena Bonham Carter , Noah Taylor , Missi Pyle , James Fox , Deep Roy , Christopher Lee