All 3 Willy Wonka Movies, Ranked Worst To Best

Warning: This post contains mild spoilers for Wonka

With Wonka now out in theaters, it’s time to take a look back on all three Willy Wonka films and rank them. It has been several decades since Roald Dahl’s famous child’s book was adapted to the big screen, first with 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, then in 2005 with Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and, finally, this year’s prequel starring Timothée Chalamet as Wonka. Each of the films included music, a quirky version of Willy Wonka, and the famed golden ticket. And while the quality of the films and their entertainment value varies, they’ve each brought joy to audiences in some way.

First published in 1964, it wasn’t long before the story was brought to life in live-action. Gene Wilder was the first to don Willy Wonka’s hat and waltz around his chocolate factory, and his performance is still remembered with great reverence and nostalgia to this day. Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory changed things up a bit while still maintaining the essence of the story. Starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reverted to Dahl’s original title, and featured Wonka’s father. Wonka may be the third film in the franchise, but it’s a prequel to the first movie, exploring Willy Wonka’s origins before opening his factory.

3 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Quirkiness abounds, but Tim Burton’s take is a bit too offbeat to be the best

Coming in third is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The film, which was met with a fresh Rotten Tomatoes score, but a mostly negative audience score, has long been polarizing. Burton’s take on the story put Willy Wonka front and center, lessening its focus on Freddie Highmore’s Charlie. And while Depp’s version of the character looked the most polished, his interpretation of Willy Wonka was less endearing and a bit more creepy. What perhaps hurts the film the most is its use of flashbacks, which reveal Willy Wonka’s past, and a reunion with his father that comes off a bit clunky and distracts from the present story.

The flashbacks especially don’t do anything for the film’s pacing. Burton’s filmmaking style is loud and clear throughout, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is decidedly less magical, whimsical, and charming than the two other films in the franchise. The CGI is also not its strongest attribute, and the musical numbers, while welcome, fall short. Still, Burton’s adaptation has its strengths. It’s more accurate to the source material, and the costumes and production design are excellent, with a story that brings some mystery to the film.

2 Wonka

Wonka’s sweet friendship with Noodles is what sells the prequel

Directed by Paddington 2’s Paul King, Wonka is set a couple of decades before Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The film is the closest in style to the original adaptation, and the songs it features are occasionally catchy and playful. What gives Wonka a step up is the central relationship between Chalamet’s Wonka and Calah Lane’s Noodles, an orphan who is stuck working at Mrs. Scrubbit’s laundromat with no hope of leaving. Through Noodles’ eyes, one can see the appeal of the eccentric Wonka, and the film brings the chocolatier’s dreaminess and can-do attitude to the forefront.

The world Wonka occupies is bright, fantastical, and hopeful despite the Chocolate Cartel’s villainous schemes, and the decision to make them more cartoonish antagonists is a bright spot. Wonka’s original songs are also fun. That said, the film can be overly saccharine, and critics are mixed on Chalamet’s portrayal of Willy Wonka and his ability to sing. But Wonka can also be endearing when it wants to be, and its family-friendly appeal gives it a leg up with audiences compared to its predecessor.

1 Willy Wonky and the Chocolate Factory

Nothing tops Gene Wilder’s performance as Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory may have been released in 1971, but it stands the test of time and remains the best of the three Willy Wonka films. Yes, there may be some nostalgia involved, but the songs are catchy and there’s an air of charisma and a deep sense of wonder that permeates the film. Gene Wilder plays Willy Wonka with a gleam in his eyes, and his idiosyncrasies are magnetic rather than creepy. The actor is easily able to pull viewers into the world of Willy Wonka, a magical fantasy that is simultaneously fun and bizarre.

He’s central to the movie, but it doesn’t take away from Peter Ostrum’s Charlie or his journey throughout the film. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory may not be fully faithful to Dahl’s book, but the creative liberties it takes benefit the overall film. The characters are generally memorable, the execution unique, and the film’s got a lot of style that doesn’t overshadow the plot or its lessons. The film is also visually captivating, and its set and production design work in tandem, adding to the worldbuilding and making it look less outdated. The first Willy Wonka film isn’t perfect, but it’s still extraordinary in its own way.