A true Classic! The late Gene Wilder shines as Willy Wonka. The film brings the book to life.Willy Wonka was released on June 30, 1971. The film was not a big success, being the fifty-third highest- grossing film of the year in the U.S., earning just over $2.1 million on its opening weekend,although it received positive reviews from critics such as Roger Ebert, who compared it to The Wizard of Oz. But kids of today really enjoy this.