Honestly, taking a beloved childhood book and turning it into a stage show, then turning that stage show into a movie, usually feels like a desperate cash grab. We've seen it a million times. But Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Movie hits differently. It’s loud. It’s aggressive. It’s weirdly heart-wrenching in a way the 1996 Danny DeVito version—as classic as that is—just wasn't. While the original movie felt like a cozy American suburban fable, the 2022 musical film directed by Matthew Warchus drags the story back to its grim, grey, and delightfully "revolting" British roots.
Most people don't realize how much of a miracle this production was. It had to bridge the gap between Tim Minchin’s razor-sharp lyrics and the visual demands of a global Netflix audience. It worked.
The Trunchbull Problem and How Emma Thompson Solved It
The biggest risk in any adaptation of this story is Miss Trunchbull. In the book, she’s a terrifying, Olympian-level nightmare. In the stage play, she's traditionally played by a man in drag to emphasize her grotesque, larger-than-life nature. Casting Emma Thompson could have been a disaster. You've seen her as Nanny McPhee or in Sense and Sensibility, right? She’s usually the personification of warmth or wit.
Here? She's a monster.
The makeup team spent three hours every day transforming her. They gave her a prosthetic nose, a heavy jaw, and yellowed teeth. But it’s not just the look. Thompson plays Agatha Trunchbull with this terrifying, shaky-breathed repressed rage that feels way more dangerous than a simple cartoon villain. When she sings "The Smell of Rebellion," you actually feel the claustrophobia of Crunchem Hall. It’s a masterclass in how to take a caricature and make it a character without losing the fun.
Some critics argued that the "fat suit" was a step backward. It’s a fair point to discuss. However, the film leans so hard into the German Expressionist aesthetic that the physical distortion feels more like a reflection of her inner rot than a commentary on weight. She is a giant in a world of small things.
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Alisha Weir and the Power of Being "Quiet"
Finding a kid who can carry a multi-million dollar musical is basically impossible. Most "theater kids" have that polished, slightly annoying "jazz hands" energy. Alisha Weir doesn't. When she was cast as the lead in Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Movie, she was an unknown from Dublin.
She’s tiny. She looks fragile. But when she stares down the camera during "Naughty," there’s a flicker of genuine defiance in her eyes that explains why this kid could potentially topple a dictator. The film succeeds because it understands that Matilda isn't just a "magic" girl. She’s a genius who is profoundly lonely. The telekinesis doesn't even show up until halfway through the movie. It’s a byproduct of her brain literally exploding with the unfairness of the world.
That "Revolting Children" Sequence Went Viral for a Reason
If you were on TikTok or Instagram in late 2022, you couldn't escape the Red Beret Girl. Meesha Garbett, who played Hortensia, became a global sensation for her dance solo in "Revolting Children."
Ellen Kane, the choreographer, did something incredible here. She took the original stage choreography by Peter Darling and "cinematized" it. Instead of just dancing on a stage, the kids are sprinting through hallways, jumping on desks, and reclaiming their school. It’s chaotic. It’s precise. It feels like a riot.
Why the Music Hits Harder on Screen
- Naughty: This isn't just a song about being a brat; it’s a manifesto for social justice on a playground level.
- School Song: The way the lyrics use the alphabet ("A" for "ascent," "B" for "be," etc.) while physical letters appear in the set design is genius.
- When I Grow Up: In the stage play, they use swings. In the movie, they use a montage of kids imagining themselves as pilots and doctors. It's the one moment the movie allows itself to be genuinely sweet, and it kills every time.
- Still Holding My Hand: This was a new song written specifically for the movie to give the ending more emotional weight between Matilda and Miss Honey.
The "Acrobat and the Escapologist" Subplot Explained
This is where the movie loses some people, but it’s actually the best part of the script. In the original book, Matilda just tells stories. In the musical movie, she tells a specific, recurring story to the librarian, Mrs. Phelps (played by the lovely Lashana Lynch).
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The story is about an Acrobat and an Escapologist.
For the first hour, you think it’s just Matilda being creative. Then, the movie starts blurring the lines between her imagination and reality. You realize the story she's telling is actually the tragic backstory of Miss Honey. It’s a brilliant narrative device. It connects Matilda and Miss Honey through trauma before they even realize they belong together. It makes their eventual "adoption" feel earned, rather than just a convenient plot point to get Matilda away from her terrible parents.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 1996 vs. 2022 Comparison
People love the Mara Wilson version. I get it. It’s nostalgic. But that movie is a comedy. Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical Movie is a revolution.
The 1996 film makes the Wormwoods (Matilda's parents) feel like wacky, incompetent idiots. Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough play them differently in the musical. They are still funny, sure, but there’s a sharp edge of neglect that feels much more grounded in Dahl's dark worldview. Graham, usually known for gritty crime dramas like Boardwalk Empire, brings a frantic, sweaty energy to Mr. Wormwood. He’s not just a car salesman; he’s a loser who hates that his daughter is smarter than him.
The Technical Wizardry You Probably Missed
The production design by Christian Huband and David Hindle is oppressive in the best way. Crunchem Hall looks like a prison designed by someone who hates joy. The color palette is muted—greys, deep greens, muddy browns—which makes the sudden bursts of color (like the library or Matilda’s red headband) pop.
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The sound design also deserves a shoutout. When the Trunchbull screams, the audio actually distorts slightly. It’s subtle. It makes the viewer feel as intimidated as the kids on screen.
Is It Too Dark for Kids?
Roald Dahl wrote for children who liked the macabre. He knew kids aren't fragile; they're resilient. This movie respects that. It deals with death, child abuse, and psychological warfare. But it does so with a wink and a catchy hook.
The scene where the Trunchbull throws Amanda Thripp by her pigtails is done with CGI that looks just "fake" enough to be funny rather than horrifying. It balances on that thin line between a nightmare and a dream. If your kid liked the book, they'll handle the movie just fine. If they're sensitive to loud noises or yelling, maybe keep the remote handy.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going to sit down and watch this again—or for the first time—keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience.
- Watch the Background Dancers: During "Revolting Children," the kids in the back are doing the same high-level choreography as the leads. The sheer talent in the ensemble is staggering.
- Listen to the Lyrics: Tim Minchin is a wordplay god. In "School Song," try to catch every letter of the alphabet hidden in the lyrics. It moves fast.
- Notice the Framing: Look at how often Matilda is framed in the center of the shot, looking directly at the camera. It’s meant to make you feel like she’s talking to you, breaking the fourth wall without actually speaking.
- Check the Details in the Library: Mrs. Phelps’ traveling library is packed with Easter eggs and book titles that hint at Matilda’s internal state.
The film isn't just a remake. It’s a reimagining that understands the core of what Dahl was trying to say: even if you're little, you can do a lot. You just have to be a little bit naughty.
Next Steps for Fans
To dive deeper into the world of Crunchem Hall, you should check out the "Making Of" featurettes on Netflix, which show the grueling "boot camp" the child actors went through to learn the choreography. You can also find the Original Cast Recording on Spotify to hear the differences between the London stage version and the film soundtrack—specifically how they rearranged "Quiet" to fit the more intimate cinematic close-ups.