Matilda (1996)
-
90% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
65% of users liked it
(357,862 ratings)
Based on the book Matilda, by British children's author Roald Dahl, this film moves the setting from the U.K. to the U.S.; otherwise it follows the original closely. Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) is an extremely curious and intelligent little girl who is very different from her low-brow,… More Based on the book Matilda, by British children's author Roald Dahl, this film moves the setting from the U.K. to the U.S.; otherwise it follows the original closely. Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) is an extremely curious and intelligent little girl who is very different from her low-brow, mainstream parents (Danny DeVito and real-life wife Rhea Perlman), who quite cruelly ignore her. As she grows older, she begins to discover that she has telekinetic powers. Not until a teacher shows her kindness for the first time does she realize that she can use those powers to do something about her sufferings and help her friends as well. Villains from the awful Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), headmistress of her miserable school Crunchem Hall, to her parents and older brother begin to feel her ire. Look for Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) in a small part as an FBI agent investigating Matilda's shady father. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Directed By
- Danny DeVito
- Written By
- Roald Dahl, Nicholas Kazan
- Genres
- Comedy, Kids & Family
- In Theaters
- Aug 2, 1996 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 5, 1997
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
-
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
Offbeat fantasy gem, but too dark for young kids.
-
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Not awful and certainly not great, Matilda is a strange little flick, but that's not to say your 9-year-old daughter won't get a solid kick out of it.
-
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
DeVito gleefully preserves Dahl's dark comic tone, which should delight both kids and parents.
-
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Slick kids movie that preserves Roald Dahl's gleeful nastiness.
-
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
Dark, beautiful adaptation of Roald Dahl story is uncompromising, entertaining and moving.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Danny DeVito
as Harry Wormwood
-
Rhea Perlman
as Mrs. Wormwood
-
Mara Wilson
as Matilda Wormwood
-
Pam Ferris
as Agatha Trunchbull
- Emma Davidtz
-
Embeth Davidtz
as Miss Honey
-
Paul Reubens
as Bob FBI Agent
-
Jean Speegle Howard
as Miss Phelps
-
Brian Levinson
as Michael
-
Jon Lovitz
as Million $ Sticky Host
-
Fred Scialla
as Stand-In
-
Tracey Walter
as Bill FBI Agent
-
Kiami Davael
as Lavender
-
Kira Spencer Hesser
as Hortensia
- R.D. Robb
- Sara Magdalin



