Matilda

Matilda is a 1996 American fantasy comedy-drama film co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito, from a screenplay written by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord. Based on Roald Dahl's 1988 novel of the same name, the film stars Mara Wilson as the title character with DeVito (who also served a dual role as the narrator), Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz and Pam Ferris in supporting roles. The film centers on a young genius girl named Matilda Wormwood, who develops psychokinetic abilities and uses them to deal with her disreputable family and Agatha Trunchbull, the ruthless, oppressive and tyrannical principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School. Produced by DeVito's Jersey Films and released theatrically in the United States on August 2, 1996 by Sony Pictures Releasing through TriStar Pictures label. Critics praised DeVito's direction and faithfulness to the spirit of the source material. The film grossed $33.5 million in the United States on a $36 million budget

Plot

Young genius Matilda Wormwood is regularly neglected and mistreated by her parents, Harry and Zinnia, and her older brother, Michael. She is smart, independent and frequently goes to the public library where she finds solace in the fictional worlds found in the books. When Matilda's parents refuse to enroll her into school, she retaliates against them, first by adding hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent to her father's hair tonic and then by gluing his hat to his head. When Harry rips up the library's copy of Moby-Dick (which he finds offensive because of the title) and forces Matilda to watch television instead, Matilda becomes increasingly enraged until the television explodes.

One of Harry's car dealership customers is Miss Agatha Trunchbull, the tyrannical principal of Crunchem Hall Elementary School. Harry sells her a car in exchange for her admitting Matilda as a pupil. At school, Matilda makes friends but discovers Trunchbull's harsh punishments of the students, while Matilda's teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey, takes a liking to Matilda due to her intelligence; Honey requests Matilda be moved up to a higher class, but Trunchbull refuses. Miss Honey tells the Wormwoods about Matilda's genius-level intellect, but they ignore her while Matilda discovers that her father is under surveillance by undercover FBI agents Bob and Bill (with whom Zinnia flirts) because of his illegal dealings. Her parents refuse to believe her as they assume that the agents are speedboat salesmen.

As a prank, one of Matilda's friends puts a newt in Trunchbull's water jug to scare her. Trunchbull accuses Matilda, whose anger at the injustice leads her to telekinetically tip the glass over, splashing the newt onto Trunchbull. However, Matilda is then unable to display her powers to Honey during a test run. Honey remarks that often one's confidence in themselves leads them to prove it to others, only to have them mess up. Honey invites Matilda over to her house for tea and reveals a secret: when she was two, her mother died and her father, a doctor, invited his wife’s stepsister, Miss Trunchbull, to live with them and look after her, but Trunchbull abused her; when Honey was five, her father died of an alleged suicide and left everything to Trunchbull. When Matilda and Honey sneak inside Trunchbull's house to obtain some of the latter's belongings, Trunchbull's sudden return prompts the duo to barely escape without getting caught.

Matilda trains her telekinetic power by making objects fly around the house and thwarting the FBI agents who threaten to put her in an orphanage. Having practiced her ability, she returns to Trunchbull's house in an attempt to scare her away with telekinesis, but Trunchbull discovers Matilda's presence upon finding her hair ribbon. The next day, Matilda reveals her powers to Honey but Trunchbull visits the class to make Matilda confess. Matilda magically writes a message on the blackboard, pretending to be the vengeful soul of Miss Honey's deceased father, Magnus, who accuses Trunchbull of murdering him. Trunchbull attacks the students, but Matilda keeps them safe and she and the other students force her out of the school for good, and Honey moves back into her true home.

The FBI uncovers enough evidence to prosecute Harry, forcing the Wormwoods to flee to Guam. They stop by Honey's home to fetch Matilda, who refuses to go with them and says she would rather be adopted by Honey; remorseful for never understanding her daughter, Zinnia and Harry both sign Matilda's adoption papers and Matilda lives happily with Honey, who then becomes the new principal of Crunchem Hall.

Cast

Mara Wilson as Matilda Wormwood

Alissa and Amanda Graham, Trevor and James Gallagher as Newborn Matilda

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 Miss Jennifer Honey

Amanda and Kristyn Summers as 2-year-old Miss Honey

Phoebe Pearl as 5-year-old Miss Honey

Pam Ferris as Agatha Trunchbull

Danny DeVito as Harold "Harry" Wormwood and the Narrator

Rhea Perlman as Zinnia Wormwood

Brian Levinson as Michael Wormwood

Nicholas Cox as 6-year-old Michael

Paul Reubens as FBI Agent Bob

Tracey Walter as FBI Agent Bill

Kiami Davael as Lavender

Jacqueline Steiger as Amanda Thripp

Kira Spencer Hesser as Hortensia

Jean Speegle Howard as Mrs. Phelps

Marion Dugan as Cookie

Jimmy Karz as Bruce Bogtrotter

Jon Lovitz (uncredited) as Mickey on "The Million Dollar Sticky"