Matilda (1996)
★★★★ — Matilda (1996)
Roald Dahl's 1988 children's novel gets a lively Hollywood adaptation here, with Danny DeVito directing, producing, narrating, and co-starring alongside his then-wife Rhea Perlman. DeVito was riding reasonable momentum from his directorial outings on Throw Momma from the Train (1987) and the darker The War of the Roses (1989), and Matilda sits comfortably as his most family-friendly effort, produced through his own Jersey Films banner (the same company behind Pulp Fiction). Mara Wilson, already known to younger audiences from Mrs. Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street, takes the title role in what proved to be one of her final major film appearances. The film was a modest box office disappointment on its initial release, earning back slightly less than its $36 million budget, though strong home video performance helped build the devoted following it carries today.
One of the best kids’ films ever made. No exaggeration. It’s smart, magical, funny, and genuinely empowering without feeling forced or preachy. Matilda Wormwood is the kind of kid hero you root for from the first scene: clever, curious, and completely done with the nonsense adults throw at her. The whole film just works. Mara Wilson is perfect in the lead role. She’s got more wit and heart than most of the grown-ups in the movie combined (aside from of course the legendary Danny DeVito). The tone is offbeat and a little dark in places, but that’s what gives it weight. It doesn’t talk down to kids, it respects them enough to show that good can beat evil, even when the odds are stacked. And man, the soundtrack... I've probably hummed Little Bitty Pretty One more times than I can count, especially while trying to get my own kid to do their homework. What really makes this special is how timeless it feels. I watched it endlessly as a kid, and now my daughter went through her own Matilda phase, complete with rewatching the movie every weekend for a month. That’s the sign of something truly special. A modern fairy tale done right. No wonder it still gets love decades later.
Rating: ★★★★ | Year: 1996 | Watched: 2025-05-14
Where to watch (UK)
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