charlie and the chocolate factory movie reviews

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Parents' guide to, charlie and the chocolate factory (2005).

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Poster Image

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 33 Reviews
Kids Say 149 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Cynthia Fuchs , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Bright, spirited, and edgy version of Willy Wonka.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Some physical and emotional abuses of mean children; Willy has mildly scary flas

At least one use of "hell."

Any Positive Content?

Charlie demonstrates curiosity and integrity, as well as strong love for his fam

Several kids and parents are repeatedly rude, narcissistic, and unpleasant, but

Characters gain insight into lots of different personalities and backgrounds.

Violence & Scariness

Some physical and emotional abuses of mean children; Willy has mildly scary flashbacks of his dentist father, featuring horrible headgear for his braces.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Charlie demonstrates curiosity and integrity, as well as strong love for his family.

Positive Messages

Several kids and parents are repeatedly rude, narcissistic, and unpleasant, but Charlie is a bright spot.

Educational Value

Parents need to know that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a colorful kids' adventure that -- like the book -- includes some intense scenes. Obnoxious children are ridiculed visually and in words by the Oompa Loompas and dispatched. One girl blows up into a giant blueberry, another boy is sucked into a tube, the other girl is attacked and pinned down by squirrels who proceed to throw her down a garbage chute. In one early scene, dolls burn up and their eyeballs pop out. The movie is much closer in dark tone to the book than its cinematic predecessor. Willy Wonka himself seems to disdain families. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say (33)
Kids say (149)

Based on 33 parent reviews

Age appropriate is the real question, regardless of my enjoyment or lack there of.

Am i the only one, what's the story.

In CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, young Charlie Bucket ( Freddie Highmore ) wins a chance to tour Willy Wonka's ( Johnny Depp ) chocolate factory, with four other children, when he purchases a chocolate bar that has a "golden ticket" inside. The group of children and guardians tour the factory, where they will see the top-secret, magical processes by which Willy Wonka makes his delicious candy. Specifically, they see the Oompa Loompas (all played by a digitally multiplied and reduced Deep Roy ) make the candy and mete out judgments against misbehaving children.

Is It Any Good?

Portrayed in broad, cartoonish strokes, the kids' cruelties in the film serve as comedy, though they're not always funny, and each child-parent set reveals its dysfunction. Indeed, the non-Charlie children are so loathsome that their various "punishments" seem deserved. These are staged as song-and-dance numbers by the Oompa Loompas, modeled after scenes that some parents will recall from other venues, for instance, Esther Williams musicals, the Who's guitar-smashing rock shows, Hair , Psycho , 2001: A Space Odyssey , The Fly , and even Tim Burton and Depp's Edward Scissorhands , in Willy's flashbacks to his troubled relationship with his dentist father ( Christopher Lee ). There are some current-day references, some of which fail miserably (the Oprah appearance comes to mind), while others are merely annoying and serve to break the film's dreamlike power.

The film's strangeness is often fun, in particular Depp's white-faced makeup, frisky line readings (check his explanation: "Everything in this room is eatable; even I'm eatable, but that's called cannibalism and frowned on in most societies"), and weird affect. But the narrative rhythms are uneven, and Charlie, especially, is undeveloped, more an emblem of goodness than a full-on character. While the novel maintains a more or less steady focus through Charlie's perspective of all these crazy goings-on, the film is less coherent. It skips about to cover multiple storylines, including Willy's memories and the four bad children's separate exploits, all eventually pulled together by Charlie's good-boy summary of what matters most, his cozy family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the characters' relationships with their parents in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . How do Willy's difficulties with his dentist father affect him as an adult? How does his fear of his father's disapproval lead him to rebel? How does Charlie's good relationship with his parents and grandparents allow him to feel self-confident, trusting, and generous?

How does the film compare Charlie (as the good child) with bad children (rich, spoiled, greedy, materialistic)? How does the movie show that selfish, silly parents produce selfish, silly children?

How does Charlie demonstrate curiosity and integrity in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

In theaters : July 15, 2005
On DVD or streaming : November 8, 2005
Cast : Freddie Highmore , Helena Bonham Carter , Johnny Depp
Director : Tim Burton
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Warner Bros.
Genre : Family and Kids
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters
Character Strengths : Curiosity , Integrity
Run time : 115 minutes
MPAA rating : PG
MPAA explanation : quirky situations, action, and mild language
Last updated : April 23, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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What to watch next.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Poster Image

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

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Edward Scissorhands

The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Reviews

While Wilder's Wonka had the pensive perfume of bittersweet chocolate, Depp's Wonka is that weird white chocolate--not really what you have in mind when you want to eat chocolate but can be an acquired taste and definitely part of the culinary craft.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 27, 2023

Credit Burton for going the practical route; it visually grounds the otherwise fantastical film. Surprisingly Depp's unhinged and frequently bizarre performance works more often than not.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 12, 2023

... for all of the flights of fantasy, Burton never quite finds the heartbeat that warmed the original classic with Gene Wilder, partly because this Willy Wonka is so disconnected and distracted, unable to relate to anyone...

Full Review | Aug 19, 2023

Marrying extreme set design and sublime casting... Burton's film showcases his usual interest in gothic effects and the original Willy Wonka's psychedelia.

Full Review | Feb 3, 2020

A delightful treat filled with stunning visuals and a lot of fun performances, headlined by Johnny Depp.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Nov 19, 2019

A movie giddily drunk on its own sheer different-ness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 5, 2019

Somehow everything comes up smelling of rose-scented chocolate... Burton outdoes himself and it's the inside of the chocolate factory and its community of singing Oompa-Loompas that scintillate.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 25, 2019

By fleshing out the backgrounds of the factory's most peculiar characters and allowing Dahl's unique mixture of charm and menace to guide him, Burton has created a film that is sharp, scary, and, surprisingly, quite heartwarming.

Full Review | Feb 6, 2018

It was once a place for pure imagination. Now, under Tim Burton's care, it's a madhouse again.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Nov 12, 2017

Depp, whose Wonka seems to be a cross between Michael Jackson and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari's somnambulist Cesare, delivers an engaging surface performance, though I far prefer the more measured madness of Gene Wilder's interpretation.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Mar 4, 2015

Predictably twisted scenery, a bland story, a horrible alteration of Wonka, and an ending that's anything but pleasing...

Full Review | Sep 8, 2012

Adults and kids alike will take macabre delight in the punishment of naughty children. Burton and co make smart and funny additions to this classic tale.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 27, 2011

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is quite simply, wonderful; a brilliantly imagined story that will win old fans and new fans alike.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 26, 2011

The Nut Room scene, complete with squirrels, is unreservedly brilliant, a tour de force of electronic wizardry.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 13, 2008

One of the best family films in a while and one of the year's stronger films to date.

Full Review | Jan 15, 2008

Poised to become a new cult classic to replace the old one.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Sep 24, 2007

The material plays to [Burton's] strengths ... he's more interesting as a stylist than a storyteller.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Sep 20, 2007

Depp's Wonka exudes none of the gravity required for the role. It's as though he didn't take the role seriously. Rather than an intimidating candyman teaching brats a lesson, this Wonka is simply a freak.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 14, 2007

Possibly the first Hollywood movie to design a fairy tale of sorts around globalization, the film conjures a mythic Brit multinational instead of the usual imperial realm, asa basically high caloric magical kingdom.

Full Review | Apr 19, 2007

There's a lot of cool stuff on display here, but it lacks the consistent creative vision--or, if you like, the pure imagination--of the original film.

Full Review | Mar 1, 2007

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Review

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“ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ” is like the everlasting gobstopper it so gleefully describes. It never loses it flavor and gets a little dangerous. Director Tim Burton and his favorite muse, the awesomely talented Johnny Depp, hit the honey pot with their version of the Roald Dahl beloved children’s book. This accomplishment is no easy feat. Gene Wilder immortalized the character of Willy Wonka in the classic 1970 film adaptation; to say that Depp had big shoes to fill is an understatement. Comparisons would inevitably be drawn between the two films and remakes rarely live up to the original. Here is an exception. Burton and Depp strike the perfect balance between paying tribute and being creative. They add a different, more complex tone to the film without losing anything. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is quite simply, wonderful; a brilliantly imagined story that will win old fans and new fans alike.

Freddie Highmore, reuniting with Depp from “Finding Neverland”, plays the good hearted Charlie. He lives with his parents and both sets of grandparents in a shack near Willy Wonka’s massive factory. They’re dirt poor with holes in their mittens and cabbage soup for every dinner. Each night, Charlie listens to his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) tell him of working in the great candy factory before Willy Wonka shut it down. Competitors had stolen his secrets and everyone lost their jobs. But soon the factory started running again with seemingly no new workers. Willy Wonka vanished from sight and became a great mystery. Then comes the stunning declaration that Willy Wonka will allow five extremely lucky children a day’s visit to his factory. The children would be picked by winning a golden ticket hidden in a Wonka chocolate bar. Four spoiled and rotten youngsters, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregard, and Mike Teavee claim the golden tickets. Charlie has almost given up hope when he wins the final ticket. The five children meet in front of the factory gate for their tour with the mysterious Willy Wonka. Who has also promised an incredible prize to the child he deems most worthy.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ’s success is due to the parts adding up perfectly. Everything clicks together so well. The production design is amazing, gigantic sets dripping with detail. The characters wear these goofy costumes and are plastered in make-up to reflect the artificial candy look of the film. Danny Elfman’s score, along with the hilarious Oompa Loompa songs, flawlessly meshes with the action on screen. Tim Burton gets the lion’s share of credit for orchestrating everything. He had a unique vision for this story and really does a magnificent job realizing it. Burton has directed some terrible films in recent years, who could forget “Planet of the Apes”, but returns to his early career brilliance with this film. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory easily rivals “Beetlejuice” and “Edward Scissorhands” as his best work. Burton proves that he’s still got what it takes to make a great movie.

Johnny Depp takes the character of Willy Wonka and makes it his own. He plays him as a spectacularly bizarre genius incapable of normal behavior. Willy Wonka has been cooped up inside his factory for twenty years. There are some very funny scenes where he has to refer to flash cards to hold a simple conversation. Without revealing too much, the main difference between this film and the 70’s version is the addition of a back story about Wonka’s childhood. It gives him a lot more depth and we can see why he became the man he is. I thought the flashback scenes were cleverly done and defined his motivations. Depp continues to prove he’s one of the best. It’s tragic that he’s never won any major awards for his work. He continually pushes himself as an actor and the role of Willy Wonka is a prime example.

I was surprised by how heartfelt and honest the movie was. It delivers a good message and does it in an entertaining, different way. There are going to be some people who will criticize the film for its dark tone. Yes, it is much darker than the other film but is also a lot funnier. It has an edge to it and that’s a part of the charm. Every good children’s story has a part that gets a little creepy. I think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is balanced in its approach. It’s a great film on every level and not to be missed in the theater.

Movie and TV Reviews
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Cast & crew
User reviews

Metacritic reviews

Charlie and the chocolate factory.

100 Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman Those Oompa-Loompas are the beat, and soul, of Burton's finest movie since "Ed Wood": a madhouse kiddie musical with a sweet-and-sour heart.
100 Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington A peach of a story delightfully imagined by Dahl and lushly realized by Burton. It's full of witty or awesome scenes, flights of fancy and characters either totally, lovably sweet or outrageously, humorously rotten.
80 The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt Here's a film about kids and for kids that has not lost touch with what it is like to actually be a kid.
80 Dallas Observer Bill Gallo Dallas Observer Bill Gallo A perfect marriage of author and director.
75 ReelViews James Berardinelli ReelViews James Berardinelli Lovers of Dahl's book will almost certainly appreciate what Burton has wrought.
75 Rolling Stone Peter Travers Rolling Stone Peter Travers Depp and Burton fly too high on the vapors of pure imagination. But it's hard to not get hooked on something this tasty.
70 Variety Todd McCarthy Variety Todd McCarthy Entertaining and fabulously imaginative in many ways, this second bigscreen rendition of the late author's modest morality tale on the wages of unbridled excess sports excesses of its own.
70 The A.V. Club Scott Tobias The A.V. Club Scott Tobias There's little wrong with Charlie, but it needs the Burton of old to animate its candy-colored universe with mischief and awe. Instead, he remains trapped like Wonka in a hermetic house of wonders, and the movie suffocates along with him.
70 Village Voice Ed Park Village Voice Ed Park Fun and nourishing, Charlie's the topsy-turvy equivalent of a three-course dinner in a single stick of gum.
60 Time Richard Schickel Time Richard Schickel This is rather a thin tale, not much thickened by Burton's direction or Depp's playing. There's a distance, a detachment to this film. It lacks passion.
See all 40 reviews on Metacritic.com
See all external reviews for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory