To his surprise, Deep Roy played every Oompa Loompa, repeating the same movements several hundred times. While these were then put together digitally, each Oompa Loompa represents a separate performance by Roy. In recognition, Roy's salary was raised to $1 million.
Forty squirrels were trained for the scene where they pounce upon Veruca Salt in the nut-shelling room.
Johnny Depp was so impressed with Freddie Highmore's performance in Finding Neverland (2004) that he recommended Tim Burton observe him for the role of Charlie Bucket.
Roald Dahl was well-known for expressing his distaste for greedy children, spoiled children, ignorant children, and televisions. This gave him a basis for Augustus, Veruca, Violet, and Mike.
Nestlé provided 1,850 bars of real chocolate.
Billy Burton: a baby in a stroller as Charlie finds a recently thrown away newspaper explaining the third and fourth ticket finders. This film was Billy's film debut.
Tim Burton: [Alfred Hitchcock] When Mike Teavee is teleported into the television, the shower scene from Psycho (1960) is re-enacted. Freddie Highmore starred as Norman Bates in Bates Motel (2013), a prequel to Psycho.
Tim Burton: [The Wizard of Oz (1939)] When Willy opens the door to reveal the inside of the factory to the five kids and their guardians, the change from the pale colors outside of the factory to the bright, overly saturated world of the factory is an homage to Dorothy entering the land of Oz. Both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are huge fans of the 1939 movie.
Tim Burton: [black and white stripes] Found on the sleeves of the Oompa Loompa swimsuits during the Augustus Gloop song, and the black-and-white striped candy in the main candy room.
Tim Burton: [distorted female face] When Violet turns into a blueberry, her face discolors and her cheeks puff up.