If you loved
Matilda
Danny DeVito · Film · 1996
You connect with Matilda because you love watching clever, resilient outsiders dismantle the ridiculous power structures of the adults surrounding them.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Matthew Warchus · Film · 2022
Books on the same thread
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Katherine Paterson · Book · 2009
Much like Matilda, Gilly Hopkins is a brilliant young girl forced to navigate a world of neglectful adults, using her sharp wit to challenge her environment and seek belonging.
Ella Enchanted
Gail Carson Levine · Book · 2012
Ella shares Matilda's spirit of defiance against unjust authority, as she fights to reclaim her autonomy and free will from a restrictive world that tries to control her every move.
Junie B. Jones
Barbara Park · Book · 1992
If you admire the way Matilda manages the social landscape of her school, you will appreciate how Junie B. Jones uses her own unique perspective to navigate the complexities of childhood.
Big Nate Strikes Again
Lincoln Peirce · Book · 2015
Nate Wright embodies the same rebellious schoolyard energy as Matilda, constantly finding inventive ways to outsmart his rivals and challenge the authority figures who stand in his way.
Series on the same thread
Daria
Glenn Eichler · Series · 1997
Daria mirrors Matilda's cynical outsider perspective, using her superior intelligence and cutting observation to expose the mind-numbing absurdity of the conformist world that adults have built around her.
Girl from Nowhere
SOUR Bangkok · Series · 2018
Nanno acts as a darker, more vengeful version of Matilda, transferring into schools to systematically expose the cruel and dishonest adults who abuse their power over the students.
Candy Candy
Kyoko Mizuki · Series · 1976
Candy shares the same resilience as Matilda, proving that even when faced with the hardships of an uncaring environment, a kind and determined spirit can overcome any form of bullying.
Anne with an E
Moira Walley-Beckett · Series · 2017
Anne is a kindred spirit to Matilda, as both girls are outsiders who fight against abusive childhoods to assert their own worth and claim a rightful place in the world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Story Pirates
Story Pirates · Podcast · 2026
Just as Matilda uses her imagination to escape her reality, this podcast celebrates the power of children to create their own stories and transform the world through creative expression.
Wag Kang Lilingon
Podcast
The hosts of this podcast mirror the inquisitive and slightly subversive nature of Matilda, diving into the strange and mysterious with a fearless curiosity that defies typical adult boundaries.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 1996 Matilda movie based on the 1988 book?
Yes, the 1996 film directed by Danny DeVito is a screen adaptation of the 1988 children's novel Matilda written by Roald Dahl. The movie follows the story of Matilda Wormwood as she uses her special gifts to navigate her life with neglectful parents and a cruel headmistress.
What is the difference between the 1996 Matilda and the 2022 musical version?
While both films are based on the same source material, Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical released in 2022 incorporates musical numbers and song sequences. The 1996 Matilda is a non-musical feature film that focuses on the narrative of Matilda Wormwood discovering her telekinetic powers to outwit the adults around her.
Should I read the original book before watching the Matilda movies?
Reading the 1988 book is not required to understand the Matilda movies. Both the 1996 film and the 2022 musical version provide complete narratives about Matilda Wormwood, her loyal friends, and her struggle against a sadistic headmistress, making them accessible to viewers who have not read the original text.
Is Matilda considered a story about a girl with special powers?
Yes, the core of the Matilda story involves the protagonist discovering she possesses a special gift. Matilda Wormwood uses this ability to outwit the unruly adults in her life, including her parents and her headmistress, after experiencing constant cruelty throughout her time at school.