Matilda the Musical (film)

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMatthew Warchus
Screenplay byDennis Kelly
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyTat Radcliffe
Edited byMelanie Ann Oliver
Music byChristopher Nightingale
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 5 October 2022 (2022-10-05) (BFI)
  • 25 November 2022 (2022-11-25) (United Kingdom)
  • 9 December 2022 (2022-12-09) (United States)
Running time
118 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$35.6 million[2]

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical, or simply Matilda the Musical, or Matilda, is a 2022 fantasy musical film directed by Matthew Warchus from a screenplay by Dennis Kelly, based on the stage musical of the same name by Tim Minchin and Kelly, which in turn was based on the 1988 novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. It is the second film adaptation of the novel, following Matilda (1996). The film stars Alisha Weir as the title character, alongside Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, Sindhu Vee, and Emma Thompson. In the plot, Matilda Wormwood (Weir), who is neglected and mistreated by her parents (Graham and Riseborough), develops psychokinetic abilities to deal with Miss Trunchbull (Thompson), the ruthless and cruel headmistress of Crunchem Hall School.

A film adaptation of the stage musical was first announced in November 2013, with Warchus and Kelly reportedly attached to return as director and writer, respectively. In January 2020, the project was officially announced, and Warchus and Kelly's returns were confirmed, as well as Minchin, who revealed he was returning to write new songs for the film. Christopher Nightingale, who had written background music for the stage production, was also hired to return as composer of the film's incidental score. The cast was filled out between January and April 2021, including Weir, Lynch, Thompson, Vee, Graham and Riseborough. Filming took place beginning in May 2021.

Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical premiered at the 66th BFI London Film Festival on 5 October 2022, and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 25 November, by Sony Pictures Releasing, while in the United States it received a limited theatrical release on 9 December and was available on Netflix on 25 December. The film received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for Outstanding British Film and Best Makeup and Hair at the 76th British Academy Film Awards.

  1. ^ "Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical". BBFC. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 28 October 2023.