Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

All Critics (224) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (182) | Rotten (40) | DVD (44)

It's nearly impossible to fathom the grand act of sabotage that Johnny Depp has committed upon the source material as its reclusive chocolatier.

August 17, 2007 Full Review | Comments (3)

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out New York

Top Critic

As the star who's framed in the center of nearly every shot he's in, Depp is a constantly surprising Willy Wonka.

May 12, 2006 Full Review | Comments (2)

Ken Tucker

New York Magazine

Top Critic

It's nearly impossible to fathom the grand act of sabotage that Johnny Depp has committed upon the source material as its reclusive chocolatier.

February 9, 2006 Full Review | Comments (6)

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Top Critic

I wonder if even children will respond to the peculiarly humorless and charmless stylistic eccentricities of Mr. Burton and his star, Johnny Depp.

July 28, 2005 Full Review | Comment (1)

Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

You can't help feeling that a fantasist as accomplished as Burton can manage this kind of project with his eyes shut. The trouble is that, from film to film, his dreams are starting to look the same.

July 18, 2005

Anthony Lane

New Yorker

Top Critic

It's got a gorgeous wrapper and a nut in the center, but it's not very sweet.

July 17, 2005 Full Review

Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Top Critic

[Depp is] ever the most watchable of freaks, even if he is slipping in and out of accents, looking perplexed at his slight lines and, most frustratingly, hinting at the mad -- okay, madder -- memorable turn that might have been.

November 7, 2012 Full Review

Luke Goodsell

Empire Magazine Australasia

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

September 8, 2012 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

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.

May 27, 2011 Full Review

Film4

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

April 26, 2011 Full Review

Julian Roman

MovieWeb

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

June 13, 2008 Full Review

Amber Wilkinson

Eye for Film

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

January 15, 2008 Full Review

Garth Franklin

Dark Horizons

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

September 24, 2007 Full Review | Comments (7)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

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

September 20, 2007

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

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.

July 14, 2007 Full Review | Comments (9)

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

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.

April 19, 2007 Full Review

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

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.

March 1, 2007 Full Review | Comments (2)

Ethan Alter

Film Journal International

full review in Greek

October 3, 2006 Full Review

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

If anything cramps Depp, and the film's sense of fun, it is the weight that is placed on reconciliation between Wonka and his father.

September 28, 2006 Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

Sight and Sound

A funny and sweet adventure for kids and parents, thanks to Burton's ability to stir the imagination and tell a sweepingly charming story.

September 11, 2006

Todd Hertz

Christianity Today

Soft-spoken, eccentric and just a little sadistic at times, Depp makes for an all-original Wonka, and not a rehash of Wilder's infamous work.

May 12, 2006 Full Review

Bob Grimm

Sacramento News & Review

Finally a worthy, excellent remake.

January 17, 2006 Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

[Tim Burton] commands his environments with such exacting precision that one can't help but lose oneself in the intricate layers of sets and costumes.

December 31, 2005 Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

• 1. Mrs. Beauregarde: Violet! You're turning... violet!
  – Submitted by Mike R (5 months ago)
• 1. Violet Beauregarde: Let's be friends.
  2. Veruca Salt: Best friends.
  – Submitted by Mike R (5 months ago)
• 1. Charlie Bucket: Why hold on to it, Why not start a new piece?
  2. Violet Beauregarde: Because I'd never be a champion, I'd be a loser, like you.
  – Submitted by Matthew D (7 months ago)
• 1. Willy Wonka: That's just it, isn't it. I make the candy I fell like, but now I fell terrible so the candy's terrible! You're very good.
  – Submitted by Matthew D (7 months ago)
• 1. Mrs. Bucket: Oh well, nothing goes better with cabbage than cabbage.
  – Submitted by Matthew D (7 months ago)
• 1. Violet Beauregarde: Look mother, I'm much more flexible now.
  2. Mrs. Beauregarde: Yes, but you're blue.
  – Submitted by Matthew D (7 months ago)

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