Overview
A gifted girl discovers her powers and takes a stand against her cruel surroundings.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- mischievous
- warm
- family movie night
- nostalgic rewatch
What critics said
Critics broadly found Danny DeVito’s adaptation odd, charming, and faithful to the spirit of Roald Dahl despite notable divergences from the book.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Matilda independently pursues education, protects her friends, and confronts both her parents and the principal.
The Wormwood home and school are staged with outsized props, grotesque authority figures, and fairy-tale comic logic.
Matilda’s intelligence and love of books sharply contrast with her family’s dismissive, anti-intellectual worldview.
Matilda’s powers emerge as she grows frustrated with parental neglect and the principal’s cruelty, then practices using them deliberately.
Films like Matilda, and why
The Witches
shares whimsical child empowerment, eccentric adults, comic cruelty, and warm family-fantasy appeal
The Addams Family
shares imaginative children confronting oppressive authority through playful fantasy and mischievous humor
Paddington
shares a gifted child, dysfunctional adults, school-centered storytelling, and uplifting magical comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Danny DeVito
- Release Date
- 1996-08-02
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (4974)
Cast
- Mara Wilson
- Danny DeVito
- Rhea Perlman
- Embeth Davidtz
- Pam Ferris
- Paul Reubens
- Tracey Walter
- Jean Speegle Howard
- Brian Levinson
- Sara Magdalin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Matilda about?
- A brilliant, mistreated girl discovers telekinetic powers and uses wit, courage, and compassion to challenge the cruel adults around her.
- What is Matilda like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Matilda as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Matilda violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Matilda as mild.
- What did critics think of Matilda?
- Critics broadly found Danny DeVito’s adaptation odd, charming, and faithful to the spirit of Roald Dahl despite notable divergences from the book.
- Which films are like Matilda?
- Films with a similar feel include The Witches, The Addams Family, and Paddington.
- How long is Matilda?
- Matilda runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Matilda?
- In United States, Matilda is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
