Wherever you go, you will listen, hear, watch, or read about Disney. After all, it has been a big company for a while, and according to our expectations and how they continue to grow, it seems this will just get “worse.”
Now, Disney is quite famous for its classics. Mickey Mouse, Princesses’ movies, animated films, and many others. Among them, Alice in Wonderland has a special place in many people’s hearts.
It isn’t only a classic but also a movie that makes you think a lot when you grow and understand the film much better.
Since it is such a famous story, you would expect it to have more than one version, and you’re right with it. However, we will focus on the most recent one: the 2010 movie.
We will go over the details of the movie, why it is part of the people’s favorites nowadays, and why Disney hit the spot with it as well, but something we’re always looking up: the money earned for both the company and people involved.
Going Back in Time: Alice in 1865
Even if we want to focus on one of the versions, we have to take some time going back and knowing how everything started.
Why? Because many make a horrible yet straightforward mistake: believe the story is original from Disney.
Alice in Wonderland is inspired by the novel of the English author, Lewis Carroll, which was only a pseudonym since his real name was Charles Dodgson.
The novel is named “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Still, everyone knows it as Alice in Wonderland alone, which is why you will find many references even when you don’t type the specific name of the novel.
This novel was published on November 26, 1865, by Macmillan. It is essential to mention that the book includes illustrations that John Tenniel created.
We want to make this clear because he isn’t only part of the novel but also why the first print of it was held due to his objections with the print quality, leading to a new edition released in December 1865.
However, a new edition with 1866 was printed not long after.
In the original edition, text blocks were included in the binding, but they were removed and sold to the New York publishing house of D. Appleton & Company.
The binding in this new version was exactly the same as the one published by Macmillan in 1866 except for who published it and other details.
During this version, every single novel run out in no time and was a sensation amount people. Both with children and adults.
What Is the Movie About?
Before getting to the plot, Alice in Wonderland has a 1951 animated musical fantasy film that can be considered the same as the 2010 version (or more like vice versa).
Therefore, whenever you’re looking for this movie, you might find yourself with this version before anything else.
The novel’s plot will always be the original, but keep in mind that the movie versions and storyline have changes and other additions or characteristics.
Therefore, we cannot focus on the novel’s actual plot, but what we can tell you is that it’s entirely based on it with only some adjustments and changes as expected.
Now, the story centers on Alice, who is haunted by a strange recurring nightmare and mourns the loss of her father.
She finds herself confronted by Hamish, Lord Ascot’s son, who proposes marriage to her. Unsure of how to proceed, she pursues and follows a rabbit wearing a blue waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch.
In the process, she falls into a deep rabbit hole under a tree. When there, she opens a small door and drinks from a bottle marked ‘Drink Me.’ (also called Pishsalver).
She then appears in a forest called Wonderland, where she meets the White Rabbit, a Dormouse, a Dodo, Talking Flowers, and identical twins who seem to know her.
Alice suggests it is all a dream. Meanwhile, the rest argue about whether Alice is “the correct Alice.” This argument between the other characters will play an essential part in the story.
All of them mention to Alice that, The White Queen, who is the Red queen’s sisters, must be slain by the Red Queen’s Jabberwocky at ‘Frabjous Day,’ and she must help to prevent it, which has been foretold by Absolem the Blue Caterpillar and his Oraculum. To do so, she must restore the power of the White Queen.
The story overall follows her getting to understand how she is supposed to stop the prophecy. In the process, she meets a significant character: the Mad Hatter.
Questions like, “Is she the correct Alice?” “How to stop the prophecy,” “Is the Queen of Hearts bad?” and many others are answered along the way.
The focus, in fact, is not only the adventures Alice goes through but rather the final message of the movie according to her character development and how things turned out to be.
Compared to the novel and the 1951 animated film, the most significant difference lies in Alice’s age.
In the 2010 version, she is 19, while in the novel and another film, she is described as a young girl that should be around 14.
The Team Behind the Movie
There’s a lot of production behind films that include many people as actors and actresses and fiction and special effects.
This is why this live-action (since we can call it that way after it came out when an animated movie was already made) was quite challenging.
Besides, more than being a complete fantasy movie, it also included a dark theme that differs from the original piece.
The movie was directed by Tim Burton, while Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.
Producers were Richard D. Zanuck, Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd, and Jennifer Todd.
Despite what many believe, Walt Disney Pictures was the leading production company behind it, but not the only one.
Roth Films, The Zanuck Company, and Team Todd were involved, and why you can find the previous producers involved in the film.
However, it was distributed by Walt Disney Studios.
As for the actors and actresses, you might find some names that ring a bell:
- Johnny Deep as the Mad Hatter.
- Mia Wasikowska as Alice.
- Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen.
- Anne Hathaway as the White Queen.
And many voice actors like Stephen Fry as Cheshire and Alan Rickman as Absolem, the Caterpillar.
How Much Did Alice in Wonderland Gross?
Like most live-action movies from Disney, people have expectations.
It is tough to meet them when you already have an original novel (in this case) that is amazing and a previous film that is part of Disney’s classics since it was produced by Walt Disney as well.
However, this also helps to bring more people to watch it.
In fact, we are part of the group that was quite excited about the movie just because of the background. We wanted real characters despite how disappointed you can be from live-actions.
But enough of that. You get the point.
Well, what we can tell you is that the movie was quite popular. It grossed $334.1 million in North America (USA) and $691.2 worldwide.
This leaves the movie with a total of $1.025 billion, which is a significant achievement considering that the film’s budget was set at $200 million.
It was so successful that it was the second-highest-grossed film of 2010.
It is all thanks to what we previously mentioned, but the actors involved in the movie also helped to bring it popularity.
Johnny Deep and Helena Bonham Carter are loved by many, while Anne Hathaway had an outstanding reputation at the time as well.
Besides, Tim Burton is known for his fantastic animated films and other movies and as a great professional in the industry.
But What About the Cast?
If you’re wondering if the actors and actresses involved earned just as much money as Disney did with the movie, you’re kind of on a good track and no at the same time.
In the industry, everything depends on experience, popularity, and talent.
Therefore, you can expect some to be well-paid while others have to accept their salaries most of the time, or just earn what they are worth at the moment.
In the case of Alice in Wonderland, Johnny Deep was the highest-paid for the previous factors mentioned.
He earned about $68 for the role, which was outstanding… Until you consider that he only spoke nearly 700 words in the entire film.
Actress Mia Wasikowska earned $250.000 for the movie only (when you compared it to the previous actor).
While others like Anna Hathaway earned $400,000, this was before her popularity went up, and it isn’t close to what she earns nowadays.
Famous actress Helena Bohman earned millions as well during the movie following her successful role in Harry Potter and other films.
Crazy & Weird Facts About the Movie
- Anne Hathaway was actually offered the role of Alice.
- Tim Burton used to hate Alice’s character on screen. The director called her an “annoying, odd little girl.”
- Mia Wasikowska had to audition five times for the leading role.
For the 1951 film, Sterling Holloway voiced the Cheshire Cat. For the 2010 version, Stephen Fry did the honors. However, both voice actors have also voiced Winnie-the-Pooh on different occasions (they seem to be the perfect match in similitudes).
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