Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp both gave memorable performances as Willy Wonka, but who was better in the role?

Willy Wonka is an incredibly iconic character from the literary world as one of the main characters in Roald Dahl's classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which has been turned into two great movies. The world is incredibly exciting, and Willy Wonka is one of the reasons for that.

The character has been played originally, by Gene Wilder, and then again by Johnny Depp in the remake. Both men took on the exact same role, but both men played it incredibly differently. The differences are very clear to see between them, and everyone has a favorite. Because the two performances are so different and divisive, in this list, we will take a look at them both and reveal who made the better Willy Wonka.

10 Johnny Depp: His Backstory

One of the major elements that stand out from Johnny Depp's version of Willy Wonka is the fact that his backstory is detailed quite heavily. We learn about the character's backstory and where he came from with his father being a dentist.

It wasn't something that everyone enjoyed, but getting a deeper understanding of where this wacky character comes from was certainly interesting. It added an emotional element that was lacking from the original with the character and really did help.

9 Gene Wilder: The Original

Anytime a movie gets remade, it is always going to be tough for it to be better than what the original did. There are many comparisons that can be made between the two movies and all of the characters, but often people just look back to the origins of it all and struggle to look past it.

That's especially true when the original movie is so entertaining. That also happens to be the case when it comes to Willy Wonka, as Gene Wilder's performance is so seemingly perfect that most people simply cannot look past it to compare.

8 Johnny Depp: An Iconic Look

The physical appearance of Willy Wonka is well depicted within the original book, and that is where both characters take their inspiration. However, both versions of the character have very different looks, even though there are a few similarities, mainly being in the color scheme.

However, out of the two appearances, it is Johnny Depp's who is the most iconic, which helps his version of the character stand out more. It is Depp's version that you will often see people dressed up as, and that's because the outfit is so unique.

7 Gene Wilder: The Big Entrance

After years of Willy Wonka's factory being closed to the masses, the decision to open up the gates to a lucky few individuals is a major deal. It creates mass hysteria within the movie and when it comes to making a big entrance in the film, Gene Wilder does it better.

His classic stumbling walk that turns into a roll as he immediately welcomes his visitors is an iconic scene that really is hard to top. It instantly sets up his character without having to say a word; that's how good it is. We know he's a little crazy and over the top right from the start.

6 Johnny Depp: His Character Acting

Johnny Depp has made a career out of amazing character acting, putting on specific performances that turn all of his characters into something truly unique. Whether it be Edward Scissorhands, Jack Sparrow, or Willy Wonka, he is able to turn any performance into something so iconic.

Johnny Depp just brings some amazing work to this role, from the voice he puts on to over the top actions. He is just perfect when it comes to characters like this, being able to push everything to its absolute limit, which makes it such a fun performance to watch as it suits this wacky world.

5 Gene Wilder: Pure Imagination

While there are many great songs throughout both movies, the originals "Pure Imagination" really is the standout for the franchise. Gene Wilder's singing voice really is a joy to listen to, and this song adds so much to the movie and his character.

It's a shame it wasn't part of the remake because it is a fantastic song, but perhaps the fear was it couldn't be topped. His song just makes the movie a little more exciting overall and helps Willy Wonka as a character feel more likable.

4 Johnny Depp: Closer To The Book

Whenever a book is adapted into a movie, the pressure is always on for it to deliver in terms of what the fans expect the character to be like, both in appearance and personality. While both versions of the character were spot on in appearance, it is Johnny Depp's version that is closer in terms of personality.

Because of that, many people instantly consider him to be the best version of the character. He is more standoffish and less warm to the children, which is explained through his backstory. That's exactly how his character is in the book, and therefore this version is more realistic.

3 Gene Wilder: Creepier

Even though this is a children's movie, there are some very dark elements in both of them. The character itself can be quite creepy at times, and there are plenty of darker scenes within the films. While this isn't something that everyone enjoys, it really does make the movie feel like fun for all the family.

The scene where he takes everyone on the boat, in particular, is very creepy, and it adds a different edge to his version of the character that Johnny Depp's doesn't really have.

2 Johnny Depp: A Deeper Character

Willy Wonka is one of the two main characters in both the movies, with only Charlie Bucket being more important than him. Because of that, Willy Wonka is a well-developed character in both films that is excellently fleshed out. However, out of the two, Johnny Depp's version is a deeper character.

Overall, his version of Willy Wonka is explained more and has more of a deep connection with Charlie because of his history.

1 Gene Wilder: A Warmer Character

What has to be remembered when thinking about the Willy Wonka character is the fact that it comes from a children's film and book. Because of that having him be a warmer character makes a lot of difference, and when it comes to the two of them, Gene Wilder is certainly the kindest.

While Willy Wonka is always quite a distant character anyway, out of the two actors, his portrayal is certainly a nicer one. That extra warmth just makes the character easier to connect to as fans find him more fun overall, which is crucial in a children's film.

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