The highly anticipated prequel musical "Wonka" has made a promising start at the North American box office, earning $14.4 million across Friday and preview screenings. Playing in 4,203 locations, the film is benefiting from premium ticket prices in large format auditoriums like Imax, making it an attractive choice for moviegoers.

Heading into the weekend, "Wonka" was projected to have a $35 million debut, which would have been considered decent for the Warner Bros. release. However, considering its hefty $125 million production budget and intense marketing campaign, the opening falls slightly short of expectations. The promotional push, led by star Timothée Chalamet, marks the first fully-fledged promotional effort for a feature film since the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Despite the slightly lower opening, "Wonka" can take solace in surpassing recent musical offerings that have struggled at the box office, such as Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" and Warner's own "In the Heights." The clever marketing strategy of downplaying the film's song-and-dance elements seems to have resonated well with early audiences. In fact, the film received a solid "A-" grade from Cinema Score, a research firm that measures audience satisfaction.

The positive reception from audiences, combined with favorable reviews from critics, will be crucial in maintaining momentum for "Wonka" throughout the holiday season. The film aims to secure an extended run among family audiences, but faces stiff competition from other musicals such as "The Color Purple" and the DC Comics sequel "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," both from Warner Bros., as well as Universal and Illumination's animated offering "Migration."

Alongside Timothée Chalamet, "Wonka" boasts an impressive cast that includes names like Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, and the digitally transformed Hugh Grant as an Oompa-Loompa. Directed by Paul King, known for his work on the beloved "Paddington" films, "Wonka" has high expectations to deliver a compelling and imaginative prequel story.

In other box office news, "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is expected to secure the second spot with another notable drop below 40% in its fifth week of release. The adaptation of the young adult dystopia series has proven to be a standout performer this fall, pushing its total earnings to around $145 million and potentially surpassing the $150 million mark by the end of the weekend, a milestone achieved by only 15 other North American releases this year.

Meanwhile, Hayao Miyazaki's animated film "The Boy and the Heron" is slipping to third place, projected to earn approximately $5.1 million during its second weekend. Distributed domestically by GKids, the Studio Ghibli production is expected to reach a domestic total of $22 million by the end of the weekend, showcasing the enduring popularity of Miyazaki's work.

In fourth place, the Japanese import "Godzilla Minus One" continues its success, with an estimated additional $5 million in earnings. The kaiju period piece has now surpassed $30 million in North America, an impressive result for a foreign language feature, especially one featuring the iconic 50-meter-tall reptile.

Rounding out the top five is Universal's "Trolls Band Together," the latest installment in the DreamWorks Animation franchise. The film is projected to have a solid hold, experiencing only a 34% drop in earnings, with an estimated $4 million in its fifth weekend. With a domestic total set to surpass $90 million, achieving the $100 million mark might be challenging due to holiday competition and an upcoming digital release on Tuesday. However, considering the lively and tenacious nature of the Trolls franchise, it remains a possibility.

As the holiday season progresses, "Wonka" and the other films vying for audience attention will continue to navigate the competitive box office landscape. With mixed expectations, the success of these films will rely on their ability to captivate and entertain moviegoers during this festive time of year.