With months before the release of its anticipated follow-up, the endearing Wonder finds new success on Netflix, as it makes the streamer’s top 10 movies in the US. The 2017 coming-of-age film was an adaptation of the 2012 novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio and starred Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay. Wonder saw solid reviews and box office success, scoring an 86% critical score and an 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and making $315 million globally on a mere $20 million budget. Now, the movie’s success continues on one of the biggest streamers.

Wonder has made Netflix’s top 10 list in the US. The feel-good drama was released on Netflix on June 8th, and it’s currently ranked at no. 7 in its first week on the list. Sitting at number one is the Glen Powell-led Hit Man, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie continues its top 10 streak for the twenty-sixth week in a row.

Wonder Deserves the New Success It’s Found on Netflix

The 2017 Movie Does A Great Job Showcasing The Subject Matter.

Wonder doesn’t stray away from the heartwarming story of its source material by Palacio, resulting in a wholesome film that champions those living with physical deformities. The coming-of-age family drama touches on the ill-treatment of those who are considered different with heartbreaking scenes where August, also known as Auggie, is bullied by his classmates because he has Treacher Collins syndrome. One character in particular, Julian, a character who’s getting his own spin-off, is especially nasty towards Auggie, being the main catalyst to Auggie’s tribulations.

Much of Wonder’s success may be due to the talented cast, including Roberts, but the big factor, on top of its delicate subject matter, is director Stephen Chbosky. Chbosky is mostly known for both writing the original bestselling book and writing and directing The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Being no stranger to making faithful adaptations, Chbosky was able to channel that same energy into Wonder, staying faithful to Palacio’s work while adapting it for a new medium.

Ultimately, Palacio’s striking source material and Chbosky’s graceful handling of Wonder led to its critical and commercial success, which continues with its ranking on Netflix. The film’s success also led to the adaptation of White Bird, a graphic novel by Palacio that both serves as a prequel and sequel, which should be released in October this year. While Chbosky won’t be returning to direct, it’s hopeful that the follow-up to Wonder will be just as heartwarming as the original.

Wonder is still available to stream on Netflix.

Source: Netflix