Wonder (film)

Wonder is a 2017 American family drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Jack Thorne, Steven Conrad, and Chbosky. It is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio and stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Noah Jupe, Izabela Vidovic, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs.
The film, which follows a boy with Treacher Collins syndrome trying to fit in, was released in the United States on November 17, 2017, by Lionsgate. It received positive reviews from critics and audiences, with many praising Tremblay and Roberts' performances, Chbosky's direction, writing, musical score and faithfulness to Palacio's novel; the film grossed $305 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. At the 90th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Plot.
August "Auggie" Pullman is a 10-year-old boy living in a brownstone in Brooklyn with his mother, Isabel; father, Nate; older sister, Via; and dog, Daisy. He was born with a rare medical facial deformity, which he refers to as "mandibulofacial dysostosis", and has undergone 27 surgeries in order to see, smell, speak and hear. Auggie has been home-schooled, but as he approaches fifth grade, his parents decide to enroll him in Beecher Prep, a private school. Before the school year begins, Auggie meets with Mr. Tushman, the principal, who arranges a tour for him with three other students: Jack, Julian, and Charlotte. When school starts, Auggie is ostracized, but soon forms a close friendship with Jack.
For Halloween, Auggie dresses in a Ghostface mask and cloak from last year when he doesn't have enough time to change to the Boba Fett costume he was planning to wear. He walks through school upbeat and confident due to the anonymity his costume affords him. However, as he enters his homeroom, he overhears Jack, who does not recognize him, joining Julian and his friends Amos, Miles, and Henry, in making fun of him behind his back by saying that "[he] would kill [himself] if [he] looked like Auggie." He becomes sick, forcing his mother to abandon her mother-daughter day with Via to bring him home. Though she is hurt, Via convinces Auggie to go trick-or-treating with her, as she has been rejected by her best friend, Miranda.
Auggie forms a new friendship with a girl named Summer and confides in her about his split with Jack. When Jack asks Summer why Auggie is avoiding him, she only gives him the clue "Ghostface". Realization soon dawns on him, and he resolves to partner with Auggie instead of Julian and Amos for the school science fair to make it up to the former. When Julian confronts Jack in the hallway and calls Auggie a freak, the two begin fighting, which is broken up by their homeroom teacher, Mr. Browne, and another teacher. After suspending Jack for two days, Mr. Tushman reads Jack's letter about defending Auggie. Jack then apologizes to Auggie via "Minecraft", telling Auggie he said what he said only to gain favor with Julian's friend group, and they reconcile.
Meanwhile, Via signs up for her school’s drama club after meeting a boy named Justin, with whom she soon begins a romantic relationship. Via is selected as Miranda's understudy for the lead role in the school's production of "Our Town," but on opening night, Miranda learns that Via's family is in attendance while her own is not, so she feigns illness in order to let Via take her place. Via gives a moving performance that earns her a standing ovation, and she and Miranda reconcile.
Auggie's popularity and circle of friends grow bigger over the course of the year, especially after he and Jack win the science fair, but he continues to be harassed by Julian and his friends until Mr. Browne notices. Mr. Tushman later confronts Julian and his parents with the evidence, including hate notes and a class picture with Auggie photoshopped out. Julian's mother admits that she was the one who deleted Auggie from the picture, defends Julian's actions, and asserts that the students should not be exposed to Auggie. Despite her threats to pull their funding from the school, Mr. Tushman suspends Julian for two days, forcing him to miss an upcoming nature retreat. As they leave, Julian becomes distraught when his mom declares he will not be back in the fall; he apologizes to Mr. Tushman.
At the nature retreat, Auggie and Jack are threatened by a trio of seventh graders from another school, but Amos, Miles, and Henry defend the two.
At the year-end graduation ceremony, Auggie thanks his mom for enrolling him in school. Isabel tells him "You really are a wonder, Auggie." Auggie is given the Henry Ward Beecher Medal for his strength and courage throughout the school year. The movie ends with everyone cheering Auggie as he delivers a voiceover narration telling the viewers (and quoting the last precept Mr. Browne gave in class) "Be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. And if you really want to see what people are, all you have to do is look."
Production.
Development.
On November 27, 2012, it was announced that Lionsgate was developing a feature film adaptation of R. J. Palacio's debut novel "Wonder", and were in talks with John August to write the screenplay. Mandeville Films' David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman produced the film.
On May 8, 2013, Jack Thorne was hired to adapt the novel after August had departed from the project. In October 2014, John Krokidas was reported to be directing the film, though in April 2015, Paul King was hired to direct instead. Steven Conrad was writing the script at that time.
Casting.
On April 14, 2016, Jacob Tremblay was cast to play the lead role, Auggie Pullman, while Julia Roberts was in talks to play Auggie's mother. On May 5, 2016, Roberts' casting was confirmed, and Stephen Chbosky was set as the film's director.
On June 27, 2016, Owen Wilson joined to play Auggie's father. On July 11, 2016, newcomer Noah Jupe joined the cast as Auggie's best friend at school, and on July 15, 2016, Daveed Diggs was cast as Mr. Browne, an English teacher at the school.
On August 19, 2016, Sônia Braga joined the cast, portraying the role of Roberts's character's mother.
Visual effects.
Tremblay's prosthetic makeup, designed and created by Arjen Tuiten, took an hour and a half to apply. It consisted of a skull cap with prosthetic ears attached, a facial prosthetic that covered Tremblay's face, and a wig to tie it all together.
Filming.
Filming took place in several locations in British Columbia, Canada, and Coney Island, New York, from July 18 to September 13, 2016.
Music.
Marcelo Zarvos composed the film's score.
Bea Miller composed a song for the film, "Brand New Eyes". It was released on August 3, 2017.
"Wonder" author R. J. Palacio has often credited Natalie Merchant's song "Wonder", from her 1995 album "Tigerlily", as the inspiration for her best-selling book and at Merchant's invitation, the song was featured on the soundtrack. The song is played during the film's end credits.
Release.
Lionsgate had initially scheduled "Wonder" to be released in the United States on April 7, 2017. On February 13, 2017, it was announced that the release date had been pushed back to November 17, 2017. "Wonder" had its world premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles on November 14, 2017.
Reception.
Box office.
"Wonder" grossed $132.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $173.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $305.6 million, against a production budget of $20 million. "Deadline Hollywood" calculated the film made a net profit of $55.3 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.
In the United States and Canada, "Wonder" opened alongside "Justice League" and "The Star", and was initially projected to gross around $9 million from 3,096 theaters in its first weekend. However, after grossing $740,000 from Thursday night previews and receiving a large number of group ticket sales, weekend projections were upped to $15 million. Weekend projections were again increased, this time to $28 million, after the film made $9.4 million on its first day. The film went on to debut to $27.1 million, finishing second at the box office, behind "Justice League". In its second weekend, the film dropped just 17.7%, grossing $22.7 million and finishing third at the box office.
Critical response.
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 85% based on 190 reviews, and an average rating of 7.05/10. The site's critical consensus reads, ""Wonder" doesn't shy away from its bestselling source material's sentiment, but this well-acted and overall winsome drama earns its tugs at the heartstrings." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale, one of fewer than 90 films in the history of the service to receive the grade.
Some reviewers criticized the decision to cast an actor without the condition as Auggie as undermining the film's message.
Musical adaptation.
It was announced on April 9, 2019 that a musical adaptation of the film is in the works for Broadway. Jill Furman ("Hamilton") will produce, R. J. Palacio will write the book for the stage production.