Home › Books made into movies › Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971): Film vs Book
Film · 1971 · Directed by Mel Stuart · Starring Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum
About the film
A candy maker opens his strange factory to five lucky children.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookSongs are added and the plot is changed in several places. The film is a musical fantasy, while the book is sharper and funnier.
Read or watch first?
Enjoy the film for Gene Wilder, then read the book for Dahl's wicked wit.
What the book gives you
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A joyful dose of wonder and mischief, with a kind-hearted hero and a magical factory beyond imagination. A story that makes you smile.
Who will like it: Families and anyone who loves imaginative, playful stories full of sweets and surprises.