Release: Wonder Bean

Wonder Bean

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Sammy-Jo Ellis

Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Florence Pugh (VOICE), Willem Dafoe, Ed Harris, Zoe Saldana (VOICE), Rahul Kohli, Bob Odenkirk, Vivien Lyra Blair

Budget: $95,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $100,401,338

Foreign Box Office: $185,338,235

Total Profit: $36,081,040

Reaction: This season has had some surprising top grossing films so far with this one the second highest grossing so far. It even comes close to being the highest grossing film for writer Sammy-Jo Ellis (more on that in this round's Box Office Roundup).

"Robert Zemeckis's Wonder Bean is a visually stunning but narratively uneven blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Sammy-Jo Ellis' script is full of big ideas, but doesn't always stick the landing. The character relationships are a bit muddied at times and the plotting and pacing are both frequently clunky. A lot of the writing issues are made up for between Zemeckis's visuals and the chemistry between Jeremy Allen White and Florence Pugh (or her voice at least)." - George Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Wonder Bean is an ambitious, albeit flawed, film. The genre hodgepodge is a bit difficult to navigate at times and the purpose of some of the supporting characters seems nebulous at best. Robert Zemeckis, as usual, ensures visual appeal with his gifted direction. When the film is focused on Jeremy Allen White's Dom and the Florence Pugh-voiced Charlie in their trek across the post-apocalyptic landscape, the film succeeds. However, as the film brings in more and more elements, it begins to struggle to remain cohesive." - Cal Crowe, Washington Globe

"An adorable yet brutal film, this latest offering from Zemeckis is a compelling exploration of finding beauty in the mundane and bleak with Florence Pugh delivers a soul-touching, heartbreaking performance. While the direction and storyline may feel familiar at times, the film takes an unexpected turn in its final third, resulting in a significant narrative shift that could've easily been potential for another solid movie. Despite this, Charlie's story remains the interesting (if only) true emotional core. This marks Zemeckis' first worthy film in awhile, showcasing an ability to blend tenderness with raw intensity."- Aubrey Jade-Mitchell, The Sun (UK)

Rated PG-13 for violence, intense sequences, disturbing imagery and thematic elements