Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022)
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A neglected child discovers she has psychokinetic abilities and uses them to stand up to her tyrannical parents and a cruel headmistress.
The story
Matilda Wormwood is a sweet child who loves reading but is neglected and mistreated by her parents. When authorities discover she hasn't been properly schooled, she is sent to Crunchem Hall, a school run by the tyrannical and cruel headmistress, Miss Agatha Trunchbull. At school, Matilda meets Miss Jennifer Honey, who notices the girl's intelligence. While navigating the injustices of her home life and the harsh punishments of Trunchbull's school, Matilda begins to develop psychokinetic abilities. She must decide how to use these powers to protect herself and her classmates from the adults who mistreat them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Matilda Wormwood is born to neglectful parents who fail to provide her with an education. When she is sent to Crunchem Hall, she encounters the terrifying Miss Trunchbull, who rules with iron-fisted punishments like the 'Chokey.' Matilda befriends Miss Honey and begins to show signs of telekinesis, using it to retaliate against her father and eventually stand up to Trunchbull. After a series of events involving a chocolate cake and a story about an acrobat, Matilda uses her powers to confront Trunchbull directly. She eventually discovers that the story she told Miss Honey was actually the truth of Honey's life. Matilda uses her telekinesis to write on a blackboard as a ghost, demanding Honey's freedom and throwing Trunchbull out of the school. The Wormwoods plan to flee to Spain, but Miss Honey offers to take Matilda in. The film ends with the school being renovated and improved under Miss Honey's leadership.
- First release year
- 2022
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Matthew Warchus
- Writers
- Dennis Kelly · screenplay; Tim Minchin · songs
- Cast and characters
- Alisha Weir · Matilda; Lashana Lynch · Miss Honey; Stephen Graham · Mr Wormwood; Andrea Riseborough · Mrs Wormwood; Sindhu Vee · Mrs Phelps; Emma Thompson · Miss Agatha Trunchbull
- Genres
- musical; fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- childhood rebellion; friendship; overcoming injustice; magic
- Tone and mood
- fantastical; naughty; comedic
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; fantasy; comedy; child abuse; dysfunctional families; friendship; teacher-student relationships; magic; telekinesis
- Source material / true-story basis
- Matilda by Roald Dahl (novel) and the stage musical by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly
- Franchise connections
- Matilda
- Content notes
- child abuse
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success in the UK, becoming the fourth highest-grossing family film in the country for 2022.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 28
- Production trivia
- The film was originally planned for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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