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What's After the Movie?
Family drama

Wonder (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Wonder (2017) movie poster

Wonder is a 2017 family drama directed by Stephen Chbosky, starring Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. It is partly based on Wonder by R. J. Palacio. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $315 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It won 1 award from 7 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

IMDb rating
7.9/10
worldwide gross
$315M
award won
1
Echo Score
75
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Wonder (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
Stephen Chbosky
Genres
Drama , Family
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Wonder About?

The premise of Wonder without spoilers, adapted from Wonder by R. J. Palacio. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

August Pullman, a boy with facial differences, enters mainstream school for the first time. His bravery and resilience spark a transformative wave of compassion and acceptance within his community. The film explores the challenges and triumphs he faces as he navigates this new environment, demonstrating the power of kindness and understanding to overcome prejudice and celebrate individuality.

Wonder Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • child
  • mother son relationship
  • interracial relationship
  • marriage
  • father son relationship
  • human deformity
  • bully
  • coney island brooklyn new york city
  • halloween costume
  • science class
  • science project
  • science fair
+38 more
  • mask
  • school suspension
  • overhearing a conversation
  • fight
  • hospital
  • standing ovation
  • school trip
  • graduation ceremony
  • applause
  • dissertation
  • note
  • middle school
  • brother sister relationship
  • peer pressure
  • talking behind someone's back
  • defending a friend
  • reference to shakespeare's hamlet
  • reference to william shakespeare
  • birth defect
  • school
  • coming of age
  • disfigurement
  • voice over narration
  • childbirth
  • camera
  • disfigured face
  • bullying
  • flashback
  • reference to star wars
  • reference to chewbacca
  • beach
  • theater
  • dog
  • halloween
  • science
  • camera obscura
  • waving goodbye
  • canoe
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Cast & crew

Wonder Cast & Characters

Jacob Tremblay leads the cast as Auggie, with Julia Roberts as Isabel and Owen Wilson as Nate. Directed by Stephen Chbosky; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Stephen Chbosky

More films directed by Stephen Chbosky, best-rated first: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Nonnas and Dear Evan Hansen.

Full filmography
Ratings

Wonder Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Wonder 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (65).

75 /100

Wonder Echo Score Breakdown

Wonder demonstrates strong emotional engagement and commendable performances alongside a few narrative shortcomings. The direction and visual design maintain a consistent warmth that underscores the story’s uplifting message, while the pacing occasionally slips into predictable or overly sentimental territory. Acting across key roles, particularly the lead, elevates the film’s character dynamics and emotional resonance. The soundtrack and production design reinforce the tone without drawing attention away from the narrative. Ultimately, Wonder offers a heartfelt and well-meaning experience that shines most in its performances but stops short of narrative innovation.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits consistent framing and a warm color palette that support its heartfelt tone. Direction maintains clear scene transitions, though occasional shifts affect pacing cohesion. Production design grounds each setting in a familiar school and family milieu, and editing choices highlight emotional beats without overstating them. Overall, the visual approach remains solid if unadventurous.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are uniformly engaging, with the lead delivering nuanced warmth and supporting roles contributing genuine interactions. Dialogue and chemistry underscore themes of acceptance and growth, though some secondary characters feel less developed. Emotional resonance remains strong, driven by credible portrayals that anchor the film’s empathetic core.

  • Story & Flow 65

    As for story and flow, the narrative structure benefits from shifting viewpoints that enhance engagement, and key turning points convey the protagonist’s challenges effectively. However, pacing occasionally drifts into predictability, and moments of overt sentiment can feel formulaic. Plot coherence remains intact, but the linear progression and familiar tropes limit the sense of surprise and originality.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, the score and sound design subtly reinforce the film’s emotional beats, avoiding dramatic excess. Musical cues integrate smoothly with dialogue, and ambient sounds enhance the school and home settings. Visually, the film favors a balanced color scheme and restrained lighting that support the narrative mood. Overall, sensory elements are effective if understated.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    When considering rewatch factor, the film’s heartfelt performances and earnest message encourage revisit, especially for viewers drawn to character-driven narratives. The balance of warmth and community themes offers comfort on subsequent viewings. However, predictable plot developments and occasional emotional manipulation may reduce the appeal of repeated viewings. Overall, it maintains modest lasting appeal.

Plot

Wonder Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Wonder from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

August (“Auggie”) Pullman, portrayed by Jacob Tremblay, is a bright and spirited 10-year-old boy residing in Brooklyn alongside his parents, Julia Roberts as Isabel, his father Owen Wilson, older sister Olivia (“Via”) played by Izabela Vidovic, and their beloved dog, Daisy. Auggie was born with a rare facial deformity known as mandibulofacial dysostosis, or Treacher Collins Syndrome, which led to 27 surgeries, enabling him to see, smell, speak, and hear. Until now, he has been home-schooled, but it is finally decided that he will face the challenges of middle school at Beecher Prep.

Full summary

The whole story of Wonder, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Wonder Box Office & Budget

Wonder grossed $315 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 16 times what it cost. $132.4 million came from the US and Canada and $182.6 million (58%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$315M

16× its budget

US & Canada
$132.4M
International
$182.6M
Budget
$20M
US & Canada 42% Rest of the world 58%
Awards

Wonder Awards & Nominations

Wonder won 1 award from 7 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2018, with 1 win from 6 nominations.

1 win7 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Wonder Trailers & Videos

15 videos: 3 trailers and 12 clips.

All 15 videos
Wonder (2017 Movie) Official Trailer – #ChooseKind – Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson
  • Trailer Wonder (2017 Movie) Official Trailer #2 - “Brand New Eyes” – Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson
  • Trailer Wonder (2017 Movie) Final Trailer – “You Are A Wonder” – Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson
  • Clip Wonder (2017 Movie) – Meet Mom (Julia Roberts)
  • Clip Wonder (2017 Movie) – Meet Dad (Owen Wilson)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Wonder?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Auggie's full name?

Cars

Cars in Wonder

18 cars on screen, including the 1996 Freightliner FS-65 and the 1990 International 3000-Series.

All 18 cars
  • 1996 Freightliner FS-65 in Wonder 1996 Freightliner FS-65 Minor role
  • 1990 International 3000-Series in Wonder 1990 International 3000-Series Minor role
  • 2007 NovaBus LFS in Wonder 2007 NovaBus LFS Minor role
  • 2008 Orion VII NG HEV in Wonder 2008 Orion VII NG HEV Minor role
Details

Wonder Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “奇迹” and “Mirakel”.

Also known as
  • 奇迹
  • Mirakel
  • Thayma
  • Thavma
  • Extraordinario
  • Cudo
  • Чудо
  • Merveilleux
  • ワンダー 君は太陽
  • Mucize
  • 원더
  • ワンダー 君は太陽:2017
+21 more
  • Extraordinário
  • Wunder
  • Az igazi csoda
  • פלא
  • (Ne)obyčejný kluk
  • Θαύμα
  • 奇迹男孩
  • 奇蹟男孩
  • Čudo
  • Brīnums
  • Диво
  • Cudowny chłopak
  • Wonder - Encantador
  • Цуд
  • Gerumo stebuklas
  • Obyčajná tvár
  • ชีวิตมหัศจรรย์วันเดอร์
  • Minunea
  • Điều Kỳ Diệu, საოცრება
  • أعجوبة
  • Väike ime

Seen Wonder?

FAQ

Wonder FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Wonder, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Wonder?

Wonder runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Wonder released?

Wonder was released on November 17, 2017.

Who directed Wonder?

Wonder was directed by Stephen Chbosky.

More films by Stephen Chbosky

Who is in the cast of Wonder?

Wonder stars Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, Julia Roberts as Isabel and Owen Wilson as Nate, among 18 credited actors.

How much did Wonder make at the box office?

Wonder grossed $315 million worldwide ($132.4 million domestic, $182.6 million international) on a budget of $20 million.

How is Wonder rated?

Wonder has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 66 on Metacritic, 81% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Is Wonder based on a book?

Yes. Wonder is partly adapted from Wonder by R. J. Palacio.

What awards did Wonder win?

Wonder won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Action Movie at the Critics' Choice 2018.

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