Sweet Success: A History of Willy Wonka Music on Billboard Charts

The soundtrack to the Gene Wilder-starring movie hit No. 4 on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart – in September 2016, sparked by the release of its 45th-anniversary edition. The film introduced such franchise classics as “Pure Imagination,” sung by Wilder, “(I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket” and “Oompa Loompa” admonishments.

Also among the movie’s venerable songs, written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley: “The Candy Man,” performed in the film and on its soundtrack by actor Aubrey Woods. Covered by Sammy Davis Jr., the song soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in June 1972, following its three-week reign on Adult Contemporary that June.

German-born Michael Bollner, who played gluttonous Augustus Gloop in the film, which Mel Stuart directed, reflected to Billboard about his role at a 2011 Chiller Theatre Expo 40th-anniversary cast reunion. “The movie itself is not so famous in Germany, but the songs are very famous,” he mused. “Everybody knows the songs – it’s crazy.”

He added, “I still love the chocolate.”

The soundtrack to the Tim Burton-directed, Johnny Depp-starring movie hit No. 3 on the Soundtracks chart and No. 76 on the Billboard 200 in August 2005. The set was helmed by Danny Elfman and includes songs named after the movie’s characters, including Wonka, Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt and Mike Teavee.

By then, Willy Wonka lore had infused pop culture for over 30 years – Futurama, Family Guy and South Park, among other TV shows, have paid tribute to songs from the franchise, while the band Veruca Salt tallied two top 10s on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart in the ‘90s: “Seether” and “Volcano Girls.” On the opening night of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tour in April 2022, she covered “Seether.” “This made our day, @oliviarodrigo,” the band beamed back.

Dahl’s story was adapted as a musical, starting in London in 2013. Sparked by its Broadway premiere in April 2017, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical original Broadway cast recording hit No. 5 on the Cast Albums chart that July.

Wonka marks the latest musical franchise to the addition. (Scratch that; reverse it.)

“I didn’t want it to just become a musical where people are singing dialogue to each other for no discernible reason. I felt like it was more like a movie with songs than a musical,” King said ahead of the movie’s premiere.

King added that Chalamet has a “beautiful singing voice,” and that his vocal skills “reminded me of Bing Crosby. There’s quite a range, because [Wonka’s songbook] does go from a couple of bigger, showstopper-y sort of things to moments of real, pure emotion. He can do it all … I’m going to sound like a crazed fan.”