Timothee Chalamet’s Biggest Non-Sci-Fi Movie Just Landed on Netflix (And It’s Better Than It Has Any Right to Be)

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Timothée Chalamet has become a big name in science fiction thanks to his role as Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. However, one of his most successful movies isn’t sci-fi at all. In 2023, the actor – who also starred in Christopher Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi film Interstellar – surprised audiences with a surprisingly good blockbuster musical fantasy, and it’s now available to stream on Netflix.

Okay, so good news for anyone who missed it in theaters – Wonka is now streaming on Netflix as of November 1st! Paul King directs this really charming musical fantasy, and Timothée Chalamet is fantastic as a young Willy Wonka, showing us how he got his start. It’s a prequel to the classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, based of course on Roald Dahl’s original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The story follows Wonka as he arrives in Europe with basically nothing but a ton of ambition and a dream to build his chocolate empire. It’s a lot of fun, and the supporting cast – including Hugh Grant, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, and Matt Lucas – are all great too.

Wonka Is Unexpectedly Good

Initially, the announcement of a Wonka movie was met with skepticism, seen by many as a needless and opportunistic sequel. However, director Paul King surprised everyone by creating a genuinely delightful and enchanting film. It reimagines Wonka’s beginnings with a fresh, creative story that both honors the classic Gene Wilder version and stands on its own. The movie is filled with heartwarming moments, brought to life by vibrant visuals, catchy songs, and a fantastic performance from Timothée Chalamet, who brilliantly portrays the young, energetic, and optimistic Willy Wonka as he begins his career.

Wonka has become one of Timothée Chalamet’s most successful films, earning both critical acclaim and over $634 million worldwide. This makes it the third-highest-grossing film of his career, following Interstellar ($641 million) and Dune: Part Two ($715 million). The movie has also been well-received by critics and audiences alike, earning a “Certified Fresh” and “Verified Hot” rating on Rotten Tomatoes with scores of 82% from critics and 90% from audiences. These high scores place Wonka among Chalamet’s ten best-rated films, and it actually shares the same audience rating as the first Dune movie.

What’s New on Netflix?

Netflix has added a bunch of new movies this month, including Wonka! Families will also enjoy films like The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and Paddington 2. Other new additions for November 1st include classics like the Back to the Future trilogy and Ace Ventura films, popular movies like Crazy Rich Asians and Elvis, and some festive Christmas titles such as A Very Vintage Christmas, Dear Santa, and Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas.

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2025-11-06 03:47