Poster from TMDB
Matilda
Sign in to save1996 film directed by Danny DeVito
Film · TMDB
7.2Matilda 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.
Cast
- Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood
- Danny DeVito as Harry Wormwood / Narrator (voice)
- Rhea Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood
- Embeth Davidtz as Miss Honey
- Pam Ferris as Agatha Trunchbull
- Paul Reubens as FBI Agent
Themes
- based on novel or book
- parent child relationship
- classroom
- difficult childhood
- child prodigy
- childhood trauma
- dysfunctional family
- telekinesis
- school
- teacher student relationship
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Key facts
- Directed by
- Danny DeVito
- Screenplay by
- Nicholas Kazan Robin Swicord
- Based on
- Matilda , by Roald Dahl
- Produced by
- Danny DeVito Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher Felicity Dahl
- Starring
- Danny DeVito Rhea Perlman Embeth Davidtz Pam Ferris Mara Wilson
- Cinematography
- Stefan Czapsky
- Edited by
- Lynzee Klingman Brent White
- Music by
- David Newman
- Production companies
- TriStar Pictures Jersey Films
- Distributed by
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- Release date
- August 2, 1996 ( 1996-08-02 ) (United States)
- Running time
- 98 minutes
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Budget
- $36 million
- Box office
- $47 million
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Duration
- 98
- FilmAffinity ID
- 212627
Show 5 more facts
- publication date
- 1996-08-02
- title
- Matilda
- capital cost
- 36000000
- review score
- 72/100
- box office
- 33459416
Sources (15)
via Wikidata · CC0
~12 min read
Article
Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy film based on Roald Dahl's 1988 novel Matilda and starring Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood. It is co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord. The film also features DeVito, 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 abusive 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. However, Matilda subsequently attained greater popularity after being released on home video.