NEW YORK: 'Wonka' debuted with $39 million in box office sales in American and Canadian theaters over the weekend, studio estimates showed on Sunday, a strong start for the Timothée Chalamet-starring Willy Wonka musical that underscored the young star's draw.

Musicals have been tough sells in theaters in recent years, so much so that Warner Bros. downplayed the song-and-dance elements of 'Wonka' in trailers. Instead, the studio emphasized Chalamet, the 27-year-old Oscar-nominated actor who, with 'Wonka,' notched his second No. 1 movie following 2021's 'Dune.' The earlier film opened with $41 million.