Top 25 Outdoor Movie: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Original)
The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory debuted in 1971 and instantly became a family favorite with its memorable music and the imaginative world of Mr. Wonka. The film is next on our list of Top 25 Outdoor Movies of All Time, but before we tell you why, here’s the original trailer:
The film (based on the 1964 novel) is set in London, England, and follows Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and his life as a poor boy with high spirits.
An announcement is made that Mr. Wonka (Gene Wilder) has hidden five golden tickets inside his Wonka bars, and that the children who find them will be given a tour of his secret candy factory, plus a lifetime supply of chocolate. Charlie wants more than anything to find a golden ticket, and just when he gives up hope, he discovers one inside a chocolate bar.
Charlie chooses his Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) as his tour companion, and they set off on an adventure of music and imagination that will leave the entire community in awe.
As an outdoor movie feature, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will bring back memories for parents and grandparents, and create new ones for the younger generation seeing it for the first time. The bright colors and memorable music look and sound great on the big screen, and will without a doubt bring out a big crowd.
The film’s musical narrative will leave everyone humming “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” and “Pure Imagination.” If it’s available, Willy Wonka makes a perfect sing-along movie. Pre-show activity ideas are endless: you could hide several golden tickets in candy bars at the concession stand, and the lucky winners could receive prizes from local or sponsoring businesses.
There are endless costumes audience members could wear from the movie, so a costume contest would work out well with this film. The Master of Ceremonies could even dress up as Willy Wonka himself! The sky is the limit for concessions, with everlasting gobstoppers, chocolate bars, and all kinds of candy working well to raise revenue and make the night more fun for everyone. Willy Wonka can be licensed through Swank Motion Pictures. See the film’s licensing details on Swank’s website.
If anyone has screened Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an outdoor movie, please tell us your story by emailing sales@openaircinema.us, or by posting a comment below. And if you have any outdoor-movie story to tell, let us know — we’d be excited to share it with the thousands of readers of this blog.