Why?

We know this is the quintessential question. After all, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a well-loved movie based on the wonderful book Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Parents love it, children love it, heck, we even love it.

That does not mean it is perfect.

Our goal is to expose the dark underbelly of the story. To reveal once and for all the truth about the only real villain in the movie (and no, it is not Slugworth). It is Grandpa Joe.

We are going to break down his flaws and point them out with carefully gathered evidence from the canonical sources: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Why Now?

With the release of a new, albeit inferior, edition, we feel it is important to call attention to the truth before another generation of movie-goers can be lulled into believing that Charlie's grandfather is anything other than a ratbag industrial spy bastard.

We think once you read our evidence, you'll understand why it is we feel so strongly about this topic. More importantly, we're convinced you'll agree with us.

It is, as Mr. Wonka would say, All there, black and white, clear as crystal...1

Standards

Unlike certain major news organizations, everything we present will be verifiable. You will be able to see what we have seen and read what we have read. That does not mean you will come to the same conclusions, but we think you will.

Although the footnotes make our sources clear, we also provide a visual cue to identify our sources:

Any quote or observation with this symbol comes primarily from observing the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Any quote or observation with this symbol comes primarily from observing the 2005 movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

This symbol indicates the material presented came primarily from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

This symbol means the material came from the theatrical adaptation Willy Wonka Junior.

Clearly since the movie is based on the book there are many elements present in both works. In most cases, we gave preference to the movie in this case since readers are more likely to be familiar with the movie than the book.

Footnotes and Sources

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971, Mel Stuart, US, 100 mins).

Thus far 785075 people have learned the truth about Grandpa Joe, including 72 who found out today.