Matilda Movie Review | Common Sense Media

Skip to main content

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Language: English English Español

• Movies
  • Movie Reviews and Lists
    • Movie Reviews
    • Best Movie Lists
    • Common Sense Selections for Movies
  • Marketing Campaign
    • 

      50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

  • The Common Sense Seal
    • 

      Common Sense Selections for Movies

• TV
  • TV Reviews and Lists
    • TV Reviews
    • Best TV Lists
    • Common Sense Selections for TV
    • Video Reviews of TV Shows
  • Marketing Campaign
    • 

      Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

  • Marketing Campaign
    • 

      Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Books
  • Book Reviews and Lists
    • Book Reviews
    • Best Book Lists
    • Common Sense Selections for Books
  • Article About Books
    • 

      8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

  • Marketing Campaign for Books
    • 

      50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Gaming
  • App Reviews and Lists
    • Fortnite
    • Minecraft
    • Roblox
    • All Game Reviews
• Social Media
  • Podcast Reviews and Lists
    • Social Media
    • Snapchat
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
• Parents' Guides
  • By Age & Stage
    • Preschoolers (2-4)
    • Little Kids (5-7)
    • Big Kids (7-9)
    • Tweens (10-12)
    • Teens (13-15)
  • By Topic
    • Digital Parenting Anxiety
    • First Phones
    • Social Media
    • Parental Controls
    • AI Companions
    • Generative AI
  • What's New
    • 

      Parents' Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on Roblox

    • All Parents' Ultimate Guides
• Tips & FAQs
  • Column 1
    • Family Tech Planners
    • Digital Skills
    • All Articles
• Celebrating Community
  • Menu for Latino Content
    • Latino Culture
    • Black Voices
    • Asian Stories
    • Native Narratives
    • LGBTQ+ Pride
    • Jewish Experiences
    • Best of Diverse Representation List
  • FACE English Column 2
    • 

      Multicultural Books

  • FACE English Column 3
    • 

      YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

  • FACE English Column 4
    • 

      Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

• Donate

Parents' Guide to

Matilda Movie PG 1996 102 minutes

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 89 Reviews
• Kids Say 130 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By M. Faust , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Offbeat dark fantasy gem is intense, sometimes scary.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Matilda is a 1996 surreal family movie based on the book by Roald Dahl. It includes a lot of cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal. Children…

Why Age 9+? Violence & Scariness

Cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal

Language

One use of "hell," plus "oh my God" used as an exclamation. Also some "fake" pro

Products & Purchases

A box of Cheerios is in plain sight. Dented Budweiser cans.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults occasionally drink beer.

Sex, Romance & Nudity Not present Any Positive Content? Positive Messages

Though Matilda's decision to stand up for those who can't or won't stand up for

Positive Role Models

When Matilda's parents aren't neglecting her (leaving a 2-year-old to fend for h

• Parents Need to Know

  Parents need to know that Matilda is a 1996 surreal family movie based on the book by Roald Dahl. It 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 chokey," a dark closet lined with nails and broken glass. A girl is picked up by her pigtails and flung over a fence. A boy is tossed out of a window like a javelin. A boy is forced to eat an entire gigantic chocolate cake in front of all his classmates; when he finishes, the angered principal smashes the giant cake plate on his head. There is reference to suicide in the story line and one use of "hell," plus "oh my God" used as an exclamation. 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.

  To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

• Violence & Scariness

  some

  Cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal. A girl is picked up by her pigtails and flung over a fence. A boy is tossed out of a window like a javelin. Children who displease the evil principal are put in "the chokey," a dark closet lined with nails and broken glass. A boy is forced to eat an entire gigantic chocolate cake in front of all his classmates; when he finishes, the angered principal smashes the giant cake plate on his head. Reference to suicide.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Language

  a little

  One use of "hell," plus "oh my God" used as an exclamation. Also some "fake" profanity, in which adults use mildly rude phrases ("dog slime!") where they might otherwise swear.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Products & Purchases

  very little

  A box of Cheerios is in plain sight. Dented Budweiser cans.

• Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

  very little

  Adults occasionally drink beer.

  Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

  Get started Close

• Positive Messages

  a little

  Though Matilda's decision to stand up for those who can't or won't stand up for themselves is admirable (as is her positive attitude), there's plenty of iffy stuff here. The movie is relatable for kids going through their own growing pains, but the fantasy-based nature of the way Matilda copes with her problems doesn't offer many realistic solutions for young viewers. The film discusses how "most ideas come from hard work and careful planning."

• Positive Role Models

  a little

  When Matilda's parents aren't neglecting her (leaving a 2-year-old to fend for herself for a great portion of the day, for example), they're berating her. Matilda's principal openly hates the children in her charge. Matilda decides to punish her parents -- but she also bravely stands up for others and almost always maintains a positive attitude. Matilda is an avid reader with a vivid imagination -- unlike her parents and brother, who want to watch TV all the time.

Where to Watch

Videos and Photos

• Matilda
• 
• 
• 

Matilda

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

• Parents Say (89)
• Kids Say (130)

age 9+

Based on 89 parent reviews

Parents say the movie features a mix of dark themes and humor that make it problematic for younger viewers, with many highlighting its explicit depictions of child abuse and neglect. While some appreciate its empowering messages about resilience and finding one's voice, others strongly advise against it for children under ten due to its intense scenes and humor that might not resonate with all family audiences.

• dark themes
• not suitable for young children
• empowerment message
• mixed reviews on impact
• humor vs. discomfort

Summarized with AI

See all 89 parent reviews age 7+

Based on 130 kid reviews

See all 130 kid reviews

What's the Story?

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.

Show more

Is It Any Good?

Our review: Parents say (89 ): Kids say (130 ):

Based on Roald Dahl's popular book, this fantasy explores themes of youthful independence and personal identity. 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 and 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. However, potentially scary scenes, such as Miss Trunchbull's spinning a girl around by her pigtails, may be too much for sensitive kids.

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 this movie 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.

Show more

Talk to Your Kids About ...

• Families can talk about movies based on books. After seeing Matilda, are you curious to read the book? Or did reading the book make you curious to see the movie? What makes a movie a "good" or "bad" adaptation of a book?

• Is Matilda a positive role model? What about the other characters?

• What do you think is the movie's overall message about reading? About watching television?

Show more

Movie Details

• In theaters : August 2, 1996
• On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2005
• Cast : Danny DeVito , Embeth Davidtz , Mara Wilson
• Director : Danny DeVito
• Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
• Studio : Columbia Tristar
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Family Stories ( Adoptees and Foster Kids ) , Adventures , Book Characters , School ( Elementary School ) , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales , Magic )
• Run time : 102 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : elements of exaggerated meanness and ridicule, and for some mild language
• Last updated : October 9, 2025

Show more

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Matilda

Suggest an Update

Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy .

What to Watch Next

See all

Best Fantasy Movies

See all

Fantasy Books for Kids

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

• Adoptees and Foster Kids
• Family Stories
• Adventures
• Book Characters
• Elementary School
• School
• Fairy Tales
• Fantasy
• Magic

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate