The team behind the superb Paddington films hit the jackpot with 2023’s Wonka. Based on an ‘early years’ concept, it tells the story of a young Willy Wonka’s arrival in a new city and his attempts to open up an amazing sweet shop. Timothée Chalamet plays our eponymous hero with grace and big dollop of naivety, as he has to do battle with a nasty cartel of chocolate makers in the city (played with zeal by Matt Lucas, Paterson Joseph and Matthew Baynton), who are determined to see him fail. A host of other great actors add to the fun, including Olivia Coleman, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins and a brilliant Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa. Wonka also has songs by Neil Hannon (from the Divine Comedy) and Joby Talbot which add to the magical, effervescent tone.

In the Guardian, Peter Bradshaw gave it a five star review: “in the hands of Brit-cinema’s new kings of comedy, writer Simon Farnaby and writer-director Paul King (who have already worked their magic on Paddington), this pre-Wonka is an absolute Christmas treat; it’s spectacular, imaginative, sweet-natured and funny.”

Film length: 1 hour 56 minutes (plus interval)