Film

Matilda 1996

Directed by Danny DeVito

  • Comedy, Family, Fantasy
  • 98 min
  • PG

Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.

Matilda Wormwood is an brilliant and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, her parents, Harry and Zinnia, fail to see that fact. As time passes, she finally starts school and has a kind teacher, loyal friends, and a terrifying, sadistic headmistress. As she becomes fed up with the constant cruelty, she discovers she has a special gift that she just might be able to use to outwit the unruly adults around her.

ComedyFamilyFantasybased on novel or bookparent child relationshipclassroomdifficult childhoodchild prodigychildhood traumadysfunctional familytelekinesisschoolteacher student relationshipused car salesmanschool principal
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  • Harm to children

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Character

Classical in form, resolved, spare and contemporary.

  • classical in formformally daring
  • resolvedopen-ended
  • sparerichly built
  • contemporarynostalgic
  • effortlessdemanding

Who loves it, who doesn't

The Comfort SeekerThe Comfort Seeker: loved by 55The Prestige HunterThe Prestige Hunter: loved by 1The Prestige Hunter: disliked by 31 / 3The Thrill ChaserThe Thrill Chaser: loved by 2The Thrill Chaser: disliked by 12 / 1The CartographerThe Cartographer: loved by 1The Cartographer: disliked by 11 / 1The OmnivoreThe Omnivore: loved by 11The EmpathThe Empath: loved by 11The Genre DevoteeThe Genre Devotee: loved by 11The ProvocateurThe Provocateur: disliked by 10 / 1loved (4★+)disliked (2.5★ or less)

33 profiled raters. Loved most by The Comfort Seekers; disliked most by The Prestige Hunters.

Where do you stand?

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  • “Would Matilda hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1996?”

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  • “Is this Danny DeVito's best work?”

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  • “Is the book better?”

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Answered from what people have written, never made up: a verdict, how much when it's a matter of degree, and the sentences that say so, quoted with their names. Reviews here first, then TMDB's reviews and the title's Wikipedia plot and reception. If nothing settles it, you can put it to the curators.