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Matilda

A little magic goes a long way.
1996 | 98m | English

(189460 votes)

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Popularity: 6 (history)

Details

Matilda Wormwood is an exquisite and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia misunderstand her because they think she is so different. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a sadistic headmistress. As she gets fed up with the constant cruelty, she begins to realize that she has a gift of telekinetic powers. After some days of practice, she suddenly turns the tables to stand up to Harry and Zinnia and outwit the headmistress.
Release Date: Aug 02, 1996
Director: Danny DeVito
Writer: Nicholas Kazan, Roald Dahl, Robin Swicord
Genres: Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Keywords child prodigy, teacher student relationship, based on novel or book, childhood trauma, schoolmarm, parent child relationship, telekinesis, based on young adult novel, difficult childhood, school
Production Companies Jersey Films, TriStar Pictures
Box Office Revenue: $33,500,000
Budget: $36,000,000
Updates Updated: Aug 07, 2025 (Update)
Entered: Apr 13, 2024
Trailers and Extras

International Posters

Full Credits

Name Character
Mara Wilson Matilda Wormwood
Danny DeVito Harry Wormwood / Narrator (voice)
Rhea Perlman Zinnia Wormwood
Embeth Davidtz Miss Honey
Pam Ferris Agatha Trunchbull
Paul Reubens FBI Agent
Tracey Walter FBI Agent
Jean Speegle Howard Miss Phelps
Brian Levinson Michael Wormwood
Sara Magdalin Four-Year-Old Matilda
R.D. Robb Roy
Gregory R. Goliath Luther
Fred Parnes Waiter
Kiami Davael Lavender
Leor Livneh Hackel Julius Rottwinkle
Jacqueline Steiger Amanda Thripp
Jimmy Karz Bruce Bogtrotter
Michael Valentine Nigel HIcks
Liam Kearns Charles
Mark Watson Magnus
Kira Spencer Hesser Hortensia
J.C. Alexander Nearby Boy
Malone Brinton Older Boy
Marion Dugan Cookie
Joshua Alvarez Child at Assembly
Max E. Blum Child at Assembly
Erin M. Gray Child at Assembly
Misty L. Oppenheim Child in Assembly
Christopher Shepard Hughes Child in Assembly
Rachel Snow Child in Assembly
Craig Lamar Traylor Child in Classroom
Jennifer Key Child in Classroom
Marty Bautista Child in Classroom
Anthony Hernandez Child in Classroom
Raina Cease Child in Classroom
Jonathan Osser Child in Classroom
Vinnie Buffolino Child in Classroom
Marcella Sassano Child in Classroom
Johnny Thomas III Child in Classroom
Shannon Hughes Child in Classroom
Christel Khalil Child in Classroom
Cassie Colaw Child in Classroom
Austin Stout Child in Classroom
Cindy Tran Child in Classroom
Jonathan Feyer Child in Classroom
Alissa Graham Newborn Matilda
Amanda Graham Newborn Matilda
Trevor Gallagher Newborn Matilda
James Gallagher Newborn Matilda
Kayla Fredericks Nine-Months Old Matilda
Kelsey Fredericks Nine-Months Old Matilda
Amanda Fein Toddler Matilda
Caitlin Fein Toddler Matilda
Nicholas Cox Six-Year-Old Michael
Amanda Summers Two-Year-Old Miss Honey
Kristin Summers Two-Year-Old Miss Honey
Phoebe Garcia-Pearl Five-Year-Old Miss Honey
Kathy Barbour Million $ Sticky Showgirl
Donna Spangler Million $ Sticky Showgirl
Marianne Curan Million $ Sticky Contestant
Penny Holland Million $ Sticky Contestant
Richard E. Coe Million $ Sticky Contestant
Sabrina Bryan Girl (uncredited)
Trevor Coppola Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Simon Jones Shellhammer (uncredited)
Jon Lovitz Million $ Sticky Host (uncredited)
Kira Spencer Cook Hortensia (as Kira Spencer Hesser)
Name Job
Ve Neill Makeup Department Head, Key Makeup Artist
Cara Giallanza First Assistant Director
R.A. Rondell Stunt Coordinator
Jeff 'JJ' Dashnaw Stunts
Janek Sirrs Digital Supervisor
Nicholas Kazan Screenplay
David Rubin Casting
Renee Rousselot Casting
Philip Toolin Art Direction
Jane Ruhm Costume Design
Jennifer Polito Set Decoration
Yolanda Toussieng Key Hair Stylist
Lucia Mace Hairstylist
Marge Piane Second Assistant Director
Michael Lantieri Special Effects Supervisor, Special Effects
Laura Dash Stunts
Janet Brady Stunts
May Boss Stunts
Rusty Hanson Stunts
Larry Nicholas Stunts
Dianne L. Wilson Stunts
Robin Tracey Sherwood Stunts
Roald Dahl Novel
David Newman Original Music Composer
Stefan Czapsky Director of Photography
Lynzee Klingman Editor
Gary Archer Prosthetics
Dana Dru Evenson Stunts
Robin Swicord Screenplay
Eddie Hice Stunts
Danny DeVito Director
Kent W. Luttrell Stunts
Deep Roy Stunts
François Duhamel Still Photographer
Bobby Porter Stunts
Brent White Editor
Bill Brzeski Production Design
Edouard F. Henriques III Makeup Artist
Name Title
Michael Peyser Executive Producer
Nicholas Kazan Co-Producer
Martin Bregman Executive Producer
Liccy Dahl Producer
Stacey Sher Producer
Michael Shamberg Producer
Robin Swicord Co-Producer
Danny DeVito Producer
Organization Category Person
Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 4 75 164 46
2024 5 88 171 53
2024 6 60 91 49
2024 7 55 83 35
2024 8 62 82 41
2024 9 49 56 37
2024 10 65 157 44
2024 11 70 101 51
2024 12 67 129 52
2025 1 58 86 45
2025 2 43 66 9
2025 3 19 64 3
2025 4 11 18 8
2025 5 11 13 9
2025 6 9 11 8
2025 7 10 12 8
2025 8 7 9 6
2025 9 7 10 6

Trending Position


Year Month High Avg
2025 9 267 656
Year Month High Avg
2025 8 292 712
Year Month High Avg
2025 7 459 824
Year Month High Avg
2025 6 298 782
Year Month High Avg
2025 5 487 815
Year Month High Avg
2025 4 442 680
Year Month High Avg
2025 3 78 660
Year Month High Avg
2025 2 953 970
Year Month High Avg
2025 1 566 865
Year Month High Avg
2024 12 301 795
Year Month High Avg
2024 11 421 729
Year Month High Avg
2024 10 358 682
Year Month High Avg
2024 9 782 844
Year Month High Avg
2024 8 774 881

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Reviews

Ruuz
8.0

Hold on to this gem tightly, because movies like _Matilda_ will probably never get made again. _Final rating:★★★★ - Very strong appeal. A personal favourite._ ...

Jun 23, 2021
FilipeManuelNeto
9.0

**An excellent family comedy with some social criticism in the mix.** The film is one of the most famous family comedies of the 1990s, adapting the story of the same name by Roald Dahl for the screen, where a girl, who was born into an idiotic family unable to understand it, decides to win the ri ... ght to go to school and to learn, which their parents do not value. However, at school, she comes across a cruel and sadistic headmistress who will become her biggest adversary, while her teacher becomes her best friend. It's a very good and enjoyable film, with a nice comedy genre and some fantasy. The characters are reasonably well done, albeit a bit artificial in their conception, and the cast is very good. Mara Wilson, despite her youth, shone in the lead role and guaranteed the start of her acting career. Danny DeVito, who also ensures an effective and well-executed direction, does a very intelligent job as an actor, being well assisted by Rhea Perlman. And while Embeth Davidtz delivers a good performance, it's Pam Ferris's overwhelming and committed performance as a villain that steals our attention, in a work that is as iconic and striking as it is histrionic and over-the-top. It may go unnoticed, in the midst of the comedy and lightness of the film itself, but I felt that there is here, well marked in the Wormwoods, a harsh sarcastic critique of a certain American middle class: like many American families, they learned to do everything, or almost everything, in front of the television screen, and they do not value each other, being in every respect a largely dysfunctional family. He's a crook, she's vain, vain and addicted to gambling, the eldest son doesn't seem to have any prospects for the future or know what he wants from his own life. As a family, they value nothing but easy money, as evidenced by the weird TV show style they adore and the cheap, tasteless decor of their home. Despite everything, they think they are much smarter than others for being that way. Technically, it's a low-key film. The cinematography is in line with what one would expect in a comic film of this decade, prolific in good comedies, and the sets and costumes are good and convincing, particularly the school. The film has some special, visual and sound effects, most of which do their job well, without demerits. The soundtrack, composed by David Newman, doesn't bring anything really remarkable.

Jun 21, 2022