Watch Order
0 / 2 watchedTwo films in order. Separate tellings.
About Matilda
Matilda began with Roald Dahl's novel about the genius reader punishing the Wormwoods and Miss Trunchbull. The 1996 film from Danny DeVito stars Mara Wilson with the chalk-eraser powers and the cake comeuppance. Matilda the Musical (2022) from Matthew Warchus adapts the stage show on Netflix with Alisha Weir and Emma Thompson's Trunchbull.
Both versions tell the complete book with no shared cast, so either starts clean for its generation. The musical adds the Escapologist backstory around Miss Honey, while the 1996 film keeps the Crunchem Hall cruelty front and center.
Good to know
Watch the 1996 film first for the classic telling, then the 2022 musical as its own song-driven version. The musical assumes no prior Matilda, so newcomers can start there in a pinch with the songs carrying the plot. The stage show shares songs with the Netflix film but no continuity, safe as a night out after either movie.
