If you missed it when it arrived in cinemas back in November 2022, Matilda the Musical is now available to stream at home via Netflix.
Based on the stage musical of the same name by Dennis Kelly (The Third Day, Utopia) and Tim Minchin (Upright), which itself is an adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's novel Matilda, Irish actress Alisha Weir plays the title character.
A little girl with a big curiosity, a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, Matilda is excited to go to school and spend some time away from her loud, selfish and unkind parents (played by Andrea Riseborough and Stephen Graham). However, upon attending Crunchem Hall, she discovers that it is a threatening place run with an iron fist by the villainous Miss Trunchbull (Emma Thompson).
However, supported by kind educational figures Miss Honey (Lashana Lynch) and Mrs. Phelps (Sindhu Vee), Matilda decides to take a stand for what is right and teach Trunchbull a lesson she will not forget.
Irish actress Alisha Weir in Matilda the Musical
Nearly unanimously praised for its ensemble cast, memorable music and impressive staging, Matilda the Musical holds a very high 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
You can read some positive write-ups on the movie from reviewers right here:
ABC News: "Just the blast of wicked fun we need, using song and dance to enhance Dahl’s timeless tale of naughty children vs uncaring adults distilled as bookish Matilda (Alisha Weir is a one-girl talent explosion) battles with Emma Thompson’s hellish headmistress."
BBC: "Faithful to both the surreal nature of the Roald Dahl story and the playfulness of the musical. Emma Thompson stands out, as always."
Daily Telegraph: "Like Dahl’s book, everything in this film, from tenderness to terror, is so exuberant."
Sydney Morning Herald: "The film is directed by Matthew Warchus, who is the artistic director of the Old Vic in London and worked on the original stage production. He has done a wonderful job transferring the musical’s energy to the screen."
Matilda the Musical is streaming on Irish and UK Netflix now. You can check out a trailer for the movie below:
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