Matilda (1996 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Matilda

| image = Matildaposter.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Danny DeVito

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|Matilda|Roald Dahl}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = David Newman

| narrator =

| cinematography = Stefan Czapsky

| editing = {{Plainlist|

}}

| studio = {{Plainlist|

TriStar Pictures
Jersey Films

}}

| distributor = Sony Pictures Releasing

| released = {{Film date|1996|08|02|United States}}

| runtime = 98 minutes{{cite web|title=Matilda (PG)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/CVF066321 |work=British Board of Film Classification|date=August 14, 1996|access-date=July 24, 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $36 million{{mojo title|matilda|Matilda}} Accessed September 29, 2020.

| gross = $47 million{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|page=14|title=Top 100 worldwide b.o. champs|date=January 20, 1997}}

}}

Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy film co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl. The film stars Mara Wilson as the title character, with DeVito himself (who also served a dual role as the narrator), Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles. The plot centers on the titular child prodigy who develops psychokinetic abilities and uses them to deal with her disreputable family and the tyrannical principal of her school.

Matilda was released in the United States on August 2, 1996, by Sony Pictures Releasing under their TriStar Pictures label. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise being directed towards its faithfulness to the novel and DeVito's direction. Despite this, the film was a box office disappointment, grossing $47 million on a $36 million budget, but Matilda subsequently attained greater popularity after being released on home video.{{cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/182379-mara-wilson-isnt-backing-away-from-matilda-anymore|title=Mara Wilson Is Done Backing Away From 'Matilda'|first=Rachel|last=Simon|work=Bustle|date=September 13, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2023|archive-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324213303/https://www.bustle.com/articles/182379-mara-wilson-isnt-backing-away-from-matilda-anymore|url-status=live}}

Plot

Six-year-old Matilda Wormwood is neglected and mistreated by her parents, Harry and Zinnia, who even refuse to enroll her in school, and her older brother, Michael. Smart and independent, Matilda finds solace in books at the local library. After Harry destroys one of Matilda's library books and forces her to watch mindless television, Matilda becomes angry, and the television explodes.

Harry sells a car to Miss Agatha Trunchbull, the tyrannical principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School, in exchange for admitting Matilda as a student. The other students warn Matilda about Trunchbull's abusive disciplinary methods, which include throwing students out the window and locking them in an iron maiden known as the Chokey. Matilda's teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey, notices the ease with which Matilda answers middle school multiplication questions and requests Matilda be moved to a higher class, but Miss Trunchbull refuses; the Wormwoods are not interested either. Later, Matilda discovers her father is under surveillance by the FBI over his illegal dealings such as purchasing stolen car parts. Her parents refuse to believe her warning, as Zinnia flirts with the two agents who pose as speedboat salesmen.

Discovering the car from Harry to be faulty, Miss Trunchbull locks Matilda in the Chokey as punishment. Miss Honey rescues Matilda, and Matilda's friend Lavender puts a newt in Miss Trunchbull's water jug. Miss Trunchbull accuses Matilda, who angrily telekinetically tips the glass over, splashing the newt onto Miss Trunchbull. Matilda is unable to reproduce her powers to Miss Honey during a test. Miss Honey invites Matilda to tea and reveals her past: her mother died when she was two, and her father Magnus invited his wife's stepsister, Trunchbull, to live with them and look after her, but Trunchbull abused her. Magnus died, apparently by suicide, when Miss Honey was five and left everything to Miss Trunchbull in his will. Matilda and Miss Honey sneak into Miss Trunchbull's house to retrieve some of Miss Honey's belongings, but Miss Trunchbull unexpectedly returns and they narrowly escape.

Matilda practices her telekinetic powers and drives away the FBI agents. She returns to Trunchbull's house and wreaks havoc while posing as the vengeful spirit of Magnus, but Miss Trunchbull uncovers Matilda's ruse upon finding her hair ribbon. The next day, Miss Trunchbull visits Miss Honey's class and demands that Matilda confess while threatening to lock her away permanently. Matilda, again posing as Magnus' ghost, telekinetically writes a message on the blackboard. The message accuses Miss Trunchbull of murdering him and demands that she return Miss Honey's house and money and leave town, threatening to murder her as retribution if she does not do so. Miss Trunchbull becomes terrified and attacks the students in a rage, but Matilda protects them and they force Miss Trunchbull out for good.

Miss Honey moves back into her father's house. Harry, Zinnia, and Michael come to take Matilda and flee to Guam to avoid the FBI. Matilda refuses to go, saying she would rather stay with Miss Honey. Zinnia expresses remorse at never having understood Matilda, and she and Harry sign the adoption papers. Matilda goes on to live happily with Miss Honey, who becomes principal of Crunchem Hall.

Cast

Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood, a 6-year-old girl with special powers
Katelyn and Zoey Rosen as Baby Matilda (uncredited)
Kayla and Kelsey Fredericks as 9-month-old Matilda
Amanda and Caitlin Fein as 2-year-old Matilda
Sara Magdalin as 4-year-old Matilda
Embeth Davidtz as Jennifer Honey, the kind teacher who inspires Matilda
Amanda and Kristyn Summers as 2-year-old Jennifer
Phoebe Garcia-Pearl as 5-year-old Jennifer
Pam Ferris as Agatha Trunchbull, the abusive principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School and Miss Honey's step-aunt.
Danny DeVito as Harry Wormwood, Matilda's car salesman father
DeVito also narrates the film
Rhea Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood, Matilda's bingo-obsessed mother
Brian Levinson as Michael Wormwood, Matilda's older brother
Nicholas Cox as 6-year-old Michael
Paul Reubens and Tracey Walter as Bob and Bill, two FBI agents investigating Harry's illegal car business.
Kiami Davael as Lavender, Matilda's best friend at Crunchem Hall Elementary School
Jacqueline Steiger as Amanda Thripp, Matilda's timid classmate at Crunchem Hall Elementary School
Jimmy Karz as Bruce Bogtrotter, Matilda's chocolate-cake devouring schoolmate at Crunchem Hall Elementary School
Kira Spencer-Hesser as Hortensia, a schoolmate at Crunchem Hall Elementary School
Jean Speegle Howard as Mrs. Phelps, the librarian
Marion Dugan as Cookie, the school cook at Crunchem Hall Elementary school
Jon Lovitz as Mickey (uncredited), the game show host of "The Million Dollar Sticky"

Production

In November 1993, Universal Pictures won a screen adaptation of Matilda by Roald Dahl, written by writers Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, following a heated bidding war between Universal and Columbia Pictures.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/u-secures-rights-to-dahl-book-116062/|title=U secures rights to Dahl book|date=November 23, 1993|work=Variety|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213022530/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/u-secures-rights-to-dahl-book-116062/|url-status=live}} Following disagreements between Danny DeVito and Bregman-Baer Productions over budgetary concerns, Universal put Matilda into turnaround, with Columbia's sister company TriStar Pictures picking up the project.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/matilda-waltzes-to-tristar-99124472/|title='Matilda' Waltzes To TriStar|date=February 26, 1995|work=Variety|access-date=February 12, 2023|archive-date=February 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213022521/https://variety.com/1995/film/features/matilda-waltzes-to-tristar-99124472/|url-status=live}}

Miriam Margolyes confirmed that she auditioned for the role of Agatha Trunchbull during a filmed interview with Jo Brand for the UK television special, Roald Dahl's Revolting Rule Book, which was hosted by Richard E. Grant and aired on September 22, 2007. This documentary commemorated Dahl's 90th birthday and also celebrated his impact as a children's author in popular culture.{{cite AV media|title=Roald Dahl's Revolting Rule Book (TV Movie) |date=September 22, 2007 |publisher=Scarlet Television}} Margolyes went on to play Aunt Sponge (another Dahl villainess) as well as the voice of the Glowworm in James and the Giant Peach, also released in 1996.

DeVito and cinematographer Stefan Czapsky made heavy use of wide-angle lenses and exaggerated perspective, in a manner similar to the films of Terry Gilliam.

Pam Ferris (Miss Trunchbull) incurred several injuries during the production of the film. The climactic scene where she is whacked by blackboard erasers required her to keep her eyes open, causing chalk dust to get caught in her eyes and necessitating several trips to the hospital to get her eyes washed out. The scene where Trunchbull whirls Amanda Thripp (Jacqueline Steiger) by her pigtails required a harness to support the little girl, the wires of which were threaded through the pigtails and then looped around Ferris's fingertips to give her grip. As she swung her around, the centrifugal force grew too great and tore the top part of Ferris's finger, requiring seven or eight stitches.{{cite news|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-09-29/9-fascinating-facts-from-behind-the-scenes-of-matilda/|title=9 fascinating facts from behind the scenes of Matilda|work=Radio Times|date=26 September 2016|access-date=2018-01-04|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109024005/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-09-29/9-fascinating-facts-from-behind-the-scenes-of-matilda/|url-status=live}}

The Crank House, in Altadena, stood in for Miss Trunchbull's house.{{cite news |url=http://www.complex.com/style/2014/10/the-real-world-locations-of-iconic-movie-homes/home-alone |title=The Real-World Locations of Iconic Movie Homes |first=Andrew |last=Lasane |work=Complex |date=2014-10-22 |access-date=2018-01-04 |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620065400/https://www.complex.com/style/2014/10/the-real-world-locations-of-iconic-movie-homes/home-alone |url-status=live}} The exterior of Matilda's house is located on Youngwood Drive in Whittier,{{cite news|url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2013/07/08/whittiers-film-highlights-include-back-to-the-future/|title=Whittier's film highlights include 'Back to the Future|author=|work=Whittier Daily News|date=July 8, 2013|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405100126/https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2013/07/08/whittiers-film-highlights-include-back-to-the-future/|url-status=live}} while the library she visits is the Pasadena Public Library on East Walnut Street in Pasadena.{{cite book|title=The Library as Place in California|last=Russo|first=Stacy Shotsberger|publisher=McFarland & Company|year=2008|isbn=9780786431946|page=108}}

Suzie Wilson, Mara Wilson's mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 1995 during filming, and later died on April 27, 1996, four months before the film's release.{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141113,00.html|title=Lessons in Courage|work=People|date=April 29, 1996|volume=45|issue=17|first=Gregory|last=Cerio|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425155113/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141113,00.html|url-status=dead}} The film was dedicated to her memory. DeVito revealed that, prior to her death, he had shown her the final edit of the film so that she was able to see Mara's performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/danny-devito-matilda-mara-wilson-suzie-wilson-breast-cancer-20221118.amp.html|title=Danny DeVito gave incredible gift to Matilda star's dying mum|website=LADbible|date=November 18, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418134518/https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/danny-devito-matilda-mara-wilson-suzie-wilson-breast-cancer-20221118.amp.html|url-status=live}}

Music

Two songs are featured in the film.{{cite web |title=Matilda |url=https://ringostrack.com/en/movie/matilda/32225 |website=Ringostrack.com |access-date=4 July 2023 |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704220607/https://ringostrack.com/en/movie/matilda/32225 |url-status=live}} One of them, "Send Me on My Way" by Rusted Root, is played twice: when four-year-old Matilda is left alone at her house, making pancakes, and at the end of the film, set to a montage of Matilda and Miss Honey playing at Miss Trunchbull's former house. The other song is Thurston Harris's "Little Bitty Pretty One", played when Matilda is dancing in the living room while using her telekinetic powers. The film's original score was composed by David Newman, a frequent collaborator of DeVito.{{cite web |title="Spirited Away": Interview with David Newman |url=https://www.colonnesonore.net/contenuti-speciali/interviste/425-david-newman-exclusive-interview.html |website=ColonneSonore.net |access-date=4 July 2023 |date=May 6, 2009 |archive-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819103840/http://colonnesonore.net/contenuti-speciali/interviste/425-david-newman-exclusive-interview.html |url-status=live}}

Release

=Box office=

Matilda was released on August 2, 1996. It made $8.5 million at the US box office in its opening weekend, ranking in third place behind A Time to Kill and Independence Day.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern-court-drama-top/124170103/ |title=Court drama tops box office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506225823/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern-court-drama-top/124170103/ |date=August 5, 1996 |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |page=8 |newspaper=The Oshkosh Northwestern |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}} The film grossed $33.5 million in the United States and Canada and $47 million worldwide against a production budget of $36 million.

=Home media=

The film was released on VHS in pan and scan and LaserDisc in widescreen on December 17, 1996, from Columbia TriStar Home Video.{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-12-19-9612190090-story.html|title=Ironic 'Matilda' Can Be Enjoyed by Both Adults and Children|work=Hartford Courant|date=19 December 1996|first=Susan|last=Dunne|access-date=November 2, 2018|archive-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209125037/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-12-19-9612190090-story.html|url-status=live}} On June 2, 1997, it was released on a bare-bones dual-sided DVD containing fullscreen and widescreen.{{fact|date=December 2024}} Another DVD rendition with more special features{{what|date=December 2024}} was released on June 7, 2005.{{fact|date=December 2024}} In 2012, Danny DeVito hosted a Matilda reunion, where some of the cast reenacted scenes from the film. With the 2023 release of the film on Blu-ray in 2013, footage from the reunion was included as an extra.{{cite web | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/watch-matilda-cast-members-reenact-scenes-as-grown-ups | title=Watch "Matilda" Cast Members Reenact Scenes As Grown-Ups | work=BuzzFeed | date=December 2, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2024 | last=Epstein | first=Leonara | quote=Guess what: Matilda is being released on Blu-ray. Over the years, Matilda has become something of a cult classic, so fans will be pleased to know that there are some fantastic extras. One extra includes footage of a cast reunion that Danny DeVito hosted last summer. One of the activities at this glorious event included some live reenactments of scenes — which, unsurprisingly, is a bit awkward when you see Bruce Bogtrotter replaced with a grown man, but is nevertheless completely engrossing.}}{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/02/mara-wilson-matilda-reunion-just-heartwarming_n_4373341.html | title=Mara Wilson On 'Matilda' Reunion: It Was 'Just Heartwarming' | publisher=BuzzFeed, Inc. | work=HuffPost | date=December 2, 2013 | accessdate=December 22, 2024 | quote=Wilson, who spoke of her "mutual breakup" with the film industry, dished on the "Matilda" reunion footage, which is included on the latest Blu-ray edition of the 1996 movie. "Oh my gosh, that was so much fun," Wilson said. "We shot it in Danny DeVito's backyard. We had a tea party and it was wonderful." "We had a big chocolate cake, of course," Wilson continued, referencing the cake that Bruce (Jimmy Karz) is forced to eat the entirety of in the film.}} In September 2023, a 4K restoration of the film was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, which included a Dolby Vision master, HDR10 grades, and a Dolby Atmos audio mix.{{fact|date=December 2024}}

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Matilda has an approval rating of 92% based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Danny DeVito-directed version of Matilda is odd, charming, and while the movie diverges from Roald Dahl, it nonetheless captures the book's spirit".{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1072107-matilda/ | title=Matilda | work=Rotten Tomatoes | access-date=September 16, 2023 | archive-date=March 21, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321190913/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1072107-matilda | url-status=live}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 72 out of 100 based on reviews from 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/matilda |title=Matilda Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021024457/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/matilda |url-status=live}} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on a scale of A to F.{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=Matilda (1996) B+ |work= CinemaScore |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= 2018-12-20}} Writing for Empire, Caroline Westbrook gave the film a rating of three stars and praised DeVito's clever direction.{{cite magazine |date=January 2000 |last=Westbrook |first=Caroline |title=Matilda |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/roald-dahl-matilda/review/ |magazine=Empire |access-date=June 7, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602215827/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/roald-dahl-matilda/review/ |url-status=live}}

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised the film's oddity, gave it three stars out of four, and wrote: {{cquote|Trunchbull is the kind of villainess children can enjoy because she is too ridiculous to be taken seriously and yet is mean and evil, like the witch in Snow White. And since most children have, at one time or another, felt that their parents are not nice enough to them, they may also enjoy the portrait of Matilda's parents.{{cite web | date=August 2, 1996 | last=Ebert | first=Roger | title=Matilda | url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/matilda-1996 | work=RogerEbert.com | publisher=Ebert Digital LLC | access-date=April 6, 2017 | archive-date=April 21, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421153514/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/matilda-1996 | url-status=live}}}}