I spoke to three critics who attended a screening of Paul King’s “Wonka” yesterday morning. The consensus is “not good.” A critic tells me it was “tonally way off” and another called it a “mess.” It was to be expected. Right now, “Wonka” is being projected to have an opening of $25 million. That’s below expectations, especially with a $125 million budget stamped to its name.
A US theatrical rollout is starting Sept. 30 in NYC, will expand to Los Angeles and other markets on Oct. 9 and then roll out nationally via a plan that forgoes selling the film to a studio or independent distributor.