Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Matilda

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Matilda PG,  1996,  1h 33m,  Kids & Family/ Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Matilda: Trailer 1 Matilda: Trailer 1 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - They Named Her Matilda Matilda: Official Clip - They Named Her Matilda Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Pigtail Hammer Throw Matilda: Official Clip - Pigtail Hammer Throw Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - And the Trunchbull Was Gone Matilda: Official Clip - And the Trunchbull Was Gone Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - I Will Get You, Agatha Matilda: Official Clip - I Will Get You, Agatha Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - I'm Smart, You're Dumb Matilda: Official Clip - I'm Smart, You're Dumb Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - It's a Newt Matilda: Official Clip - It's a Newt Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - A Loving Family Matilda: Official Clip - A Loving Family Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Escape from Trunchbull Matilda: Official Clip - Escape from Trunchbull Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Little Bitty Pretty One Matilda: Official Clip - Little Bitty Pretty One Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Bruce vs. Chocolate Cake Matilda: Official Clip - Bruce vs. Chocolate Cake Now Playing View more videos
Watchlist 90% 105 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 250,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 105 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
This film adaptation of a Roald Dahl work tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). Worse, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal at Matilda's school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.
Matilda

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Danny DeVito-directed version of Matilda is odd, charming, and while it diverges from Roald Dahl, it nonetheless captures the book's spirit.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Mike Clark USA Today Aug 3, 2026
2/4
Danny DeVito's movie of Roald Dahl's children's horror family is less frightening than it is coarse and overblown. Go to Full Review
Jane Horwitz Washington Post Aug 3, 2026
Terrific acting, a sharp, perceptive script and whimsical design make this a corker both children and adults can enjoy. Go to Full Review
Judy Gerstel Toronto Star Jul 29, 2026
4/5
The real stars of the movie are the undiluted sensibility of Dahl, the wit and wisdom of the screenwriters and director, and the glorious creativity of the designers. Go to Full Review
Gissane Sophia Lady Geeks Media Oct 15, 2026
5/5
Matilda is rare in that it’s genuinely so sensational still that for someone like me, the chance to review it 30 years later feels like a specific kind of gift I can’t put into words. Go to Full Review
David Elliott Copley News Service Aug 5, 2026
3/4
It's a little laborious in tone, but the effects are not overdone, and not only girls will thrill to Matilda's brisk, rallying pluck. Go to Full Review
Holly McClure Orange County Register Aug 5, 2026
C+
The problem with "Matilda" is that DeVito went overboard with verbal abuse and cruelty to children. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Draco W Apr 27, 2019 Charming, funny, faithful to the source material's spirit and having enjoyable performances with a villain that's over-the-top enough for the audience to have fun watching but being known as inflicting cruel punishments on little kids for the pettiest of reasons to prevent people from rooting for her, Matilda is an enjoyable Roald Dahl adaptation. I can see why most of the people who like this movie REALLY consider it a bad idea to talk smack about it seeing how Doug Walker, who didn't like the movie, can't make a Nostalgia Critic episode out of it because of this movie's fans. See more
Harry S Jan 26, 2019 DeVito is eternal when we die he will live on DeVito is us he lives within us all even when the universe stops existing he will live on See more
Abraham P Jan 2, 2019 Touching, suspenseful, and funny; "Matilda" is a rare kid's flick that will win hearts both young and old. Sure, Matilda doesn't have any weaknesses (physically), but when it comes to her thoughts, we all can relate to her since we want the best in life and prove everyone wrong about their doubts. For an actor who mostly play bad guy roles, Danny Devito did an excellent job n capturing the innocense the movie was based on. Parents you are warned though. This film can get a little dark at times. See more
Ron G Dec 12, 2018 By: Desiree Meyers Today, I am reviewing ï¿ 1/2Matilda.ï¿ 1/2Â? I just watched this this movie and I really enjoyed it. Itï¿ 1/2(TM)s about this girl who has a terrible life, but amazing powers. This movie came out July 28, 1996. It has about 8 different settings and they are in the hospital, her house, her school, outside, Miss. Honeyï¿ 1/2(TM)s house, Miss. Trunchbullï¿ 1/2(TM)s house, her dadï¿ 1/2(TM)s car shop, and a restaurant. The main characters are Matilda, Miss. Honey, Harry, and Miss. Trunchbull. I loved the part almost at the end. Iï¿ 1/2(TM)m not going to tell you it because it would be considered a spoiler. My least favorite part was where Miss. Trunchbull made Bruce ( a friend of Matildaï¿ 1/2(TM)s) eat a nasty looking cake in front of the whole school!! I think anyone who loves comedy would enjoy this film. I would give this movie a 5 out of 5. This film is rated PG. I believe it was a wonderful movie because there wasnï¿ 1/2(TM)t a dull moment. See more
Leia W Oct 19, 2018 Matilda may have a crummy start with her family life, but it gets even better throughout the movie with the help of her teacher and friends. See more
Kylo S Oct 15, 2018 Matilda es un clásico que por mas años que tenga logra cautivar a la audiencia por su inocencia y mensaje cargado de positivismo la impecable dirección de Danny DeVito convierte a este film de culto en una de las cintas infantiles que debes ver antes de morir. See more
Read all reviews
Matilda

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Matilda

Matilda: Official Clip - They Named Her Matilda Matilda: Official Clip - They Named Her Matilda 1:29 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Pigtail Hammer Throw Matilda: Official Clip - Pigtail Hammer Throw 3:00 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - And the Trunchbull Was Gone Matilda: Official Clip - And the Trunchbull Was Gone 2:59 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - I Will Get You, Agatha Matilda: Official Clip - I Will Get You, Agatha 2:52 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - I'm Smart, You're Dumb Matilda: Official Clip - I'm Smart, You're Dumb 2:58 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - It's a Newt Matilda: Official Clip - It's a Newt 3:00 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - A Loving Family Matilda: Official Clip - A Loving Family 3:32 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Escape from Trunchbull Matilda: Official Clip - Escape from Trunchbull 3:14 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Little Bitty Pretty One Matilda: Official Clip - Little Bitty Pretty One 2:36 Now Playing Matilda: Official Clip - Bruce vs. Chocolate Cake Matilda: Official Clip - Bruce vs. Chocolate Cake 4:07 Now Playing View more videos
The Parent Trap 90% 70% The Parent Trap Watchlist TRAILER for The Parent Trap Charlotte's Web 75% 67% Charlotte's Web Watchlist The Fox and the Hound 77% 78% The Fox and the Hound Watchlist Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey 86% 72% Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey Watchlist Spy Kids 92% 48% Spy Kids Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis This film adaptation of a Roald Dahl work tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a gifted girl forced to put up with a crude, distant father (Danny DeVito) and mother (Rhea Perlman). Worse, Agatha Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), the evil principal at Matilda's school, is a terrifyingly strict bully. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull's wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.
Director
Danny DeVito
Producer
Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Screenwriter
Roald Dahl, Nicholas Kazan, Robin Swicord
Distributor
TriStar Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Jersey Films, TriStar Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 2, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$33.1M
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Surround
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings