We love many of Roald Dahl's stories and some of the movie adaptations, but both of my children and I hated it and turned it off after about 45 minutes. (Later I watched the end by myself.) My 7-year-olds said they were scared by the hateful parents and violent teacher, even though they realized that it was all exaggerated and supposed to be humorous They also disliked the bleakness of the surroundings. The movie is so dark and depressing in the depiction of the adults who are all either clueless, indifferent or outright abusive that the positive message about a child's self-determination gets lost. Too much focus is on the violence and abuse perpetrated by adults who are supposed to love and protect Matilda. Also, it begs the question: How would Matilda fare without her exceptional powers and abilities? Where does it leave a regular kid in a terrible situation? Hopeless.
Matilda
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Offbeat fantasy gem, but too dark for young kids.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Matilda was written by M. Faust
Parents need to know that this often surreal family movie based on the book by Roald Dahl includes a lot of cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal. Children who displease the evil principal are put in "the pokey," a dark closet lined with nails and broken glass. When Matilda's parents aren't neglecting her, they're berating her ... so she decides to punish them. But she also stands up for the principal's victims. The film explores themes of youthful independence and personal identity.
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- Is Matilda a good role model? What about the other characters?
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More on Matilda
What’s the Story?
Based on Roald Dahl's popular book, this fantasy explores themes of youthful independence and personal identity. From the moment she's born, Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson) couldn't be more different from her family. Her father (Danny DeVito) is an unscrupulous used car salesman, and her mother (Rhea Perlman) is a ninny who spends every day playing Bingo. Matilda learns to take care of herself, and she's incredibly smart. When her father finally allows her to go to school, it's a dream come true for Matilda. Her sprits sag only a little when she finds that the principal, Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), openly hates all kids. Fortunately, Matilda's teacher Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) recognizes Matilda's exceptional abilities (which include some telekinetic powers) and becomes her loyal friend.
Is It Any Good?
There are few people who don't sometimes feel unappreciated, misused, and misunderstood. Adolescents are especially prone to such feelings as they come to grips with the world around them. Those are the feelings that MATILDA recognizes and confronts. Young Matilda has a bum deal with a family that can't begin to understand how special she is. Yet she never lets this get her down for long, always making the best of whatever situation she's in.
For younger children, though, especially those having some particularly difficult growing pains, Matilda may nurture morbid thoughts. Matilda is able to free herself from a family that's thoroughly boorish, but kids in real life have to learn to make connections with the people around them, not look for ways to run away. It's a difficult lesson, but most kids will accept that this is an exaggerated fantasy. In fact, the exaggeration is what makes it so much fun. As both star and director, DeVito retains the devilish sense of fun that marks most of his films. Although he hasn't really made a film here for kids (at least not younger ones), he knows how to appeal to and present a child's perspective. Potentially scary scenes, such as Miss Trunchbull's spinning a girl around by her pigtails, are never really frightening because they're just too silly and the movie itself is so non-threatening.
Movie Details
Studio: Tristar Pictures, Director: Danny DeVito
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/2/1996, DVD release: 6/7/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language
Run time: 102 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/2/1996, DVD release: 6/7/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language
Our Members Say
See all 25 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
great!!!!!!!
Matilda is a great movie!! It's not violent at all!! The principal is mean but its meant to be humorous.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
funny
this movie is really funny. but the only problem is how it is funny. This movie uses vilonce and language to make it funny which will not be suitable for younger kids. Kids ages 8 and up will enjoy withou being scared by the vilonce or getting bad messages with the language.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Great for kids however..
Violence and drugs happens recently in it. Sure, there's no blood, but you wouldn't want your kids pretending to smoke a imaginary cigar or saying bad language yes? Anyway to the good parts, It's very interesting and fun to watch! My whole family watched it many times and still never got tired of it! Roald Dahl has yet again set childrens and adults attracted to his books!
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I rate this title for age 17 and give it
any age w
love it
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Our kids loved this movie! We've watched it at least 5 times during our family friday night movie. Great themes which kids get.
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
great... But some stuff that would be iffy for a seven year old
The movie is awsome and teaches young kids to stay stong to there selves and what they believe in. And it is a little educational because matilda is VERY smart and mature for her young age (6). While in the movie when she shows how smart she is she answers the correct answer to all math problems and she reads a lot. Which is very good set example for younger kids. My concerns though are that the principle at Matilda's new school... is very mean, scary, and vilont. She has a dart board with kids faces on them and throws darts at them. She also scares and threatens kids with her wipe but never actually uses it. And another thing is she puts kids in the chockie (a very small space with broken glass and nails sticking out the sides) another very scary thing is that when matilda and her teacher get trapped in the principles house they have to work together to find there way out but almost gets caught several times. And for language... It's brief. just a couple uses of the word "hell" and "ow my god" those are the reasons i think this movie is iffy for age 7.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
good movie, I remember reading the book when i was little
I dont know if I already wrote a review (cause I dont feel like checking) buuuuuut if I did than Ill write another ;) I liked this movie it was pretty funny and enjoyable (for even my aunt and much 17 year old cousin) But it might be scary for kids, especially the principle (I loved her but your 6 year old surely wont) so it's pretty clean despite the fact that Matilda's parents. so yeah if you like roald dahl you'll like this it is my favorite roald dahl book/movie. Oh, and by the way its the CHOKEY not the pokey ^ ^
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
great movie for 8+
I loved matilda it was a funny movie about a girl who has a family that hates her but in the end she realizes she has powers and she gets adopted and uses her powers for good against the evil principle at her school. this teaches kids how it can be fun to learn ( or tries too) and teaches kids about how lying and cheating is a bad thing
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Boring film fine for little girls. Will bore adults.
In this film, almost everyone is mean. Matilda gets powers late in the film. I hated this film.
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I rate this title off for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
DO NOT SEE!!!
BAD MOVIE!!!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
A good movie
Matilda was pretty good, but I didn't like the way that Matilda's parents paid no attention to her, but other than that, this movie was good.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I think it is a little too boring.
I liked the beggining when Matilda was shown growing up and making pancakes,however I do not like how the father sold stolen car parts and how they both ignored Matilda.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Awesome for people of all ages!
Brilliant! I loved this film!Good for everyone no matter how old. I think this movie is determined to become a classic Movie/Book. Roald Dahl rocks!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Super Great
This an excellent movie. I really enjoy the book also.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Disturbing Meanness
Frequently reassuring my nearly 10 year old kids that parents and principals would never act so meanly to kids, this movie was darker than I had imagined it would be. I wish I would have previewed it in its entirety first. Leather whips, children hurled across schoolyards, a closet full of knives that children are forced into, and children having to hide in fear while no adult seems to care enough to protect them seems over the top. Although Matilda perseveres in the end, it is through magical powers that are used to frighten mean adults into submission. Other adults in the story could not stand up to bullying adults, or didn't care enough to pay attention... and Matilda used her powers to get even, to humiliate, and bully back. The parents give Matilda up for adoption at the end, as they are being sought by police for theft. The humor of just rewards was there, but overshadowed, I felt by the darkness of the movie.
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
uhhh
comonn!! its the CHOKEY! not the POKEY
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Very good
I have sean it so many times but it is sill good (my sis who is 4 has sean it and she thinks that it is good)
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I lost six brain cells watching this
This show is great i want all age.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 33% | of parents say it's too violent |
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