Matildais a 1996 fantasy film directed by Danny DeVito , based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl . The film was released by TriStar Pictures .

Matilda Wormwood ( Mara Wilson ) is an extremely gifted young girl; however, her gifts go unappreciated by her uncaring, unpleasant family. After her father, crooked car dealer Harry Wormwood ( Danny DeVito ), refuses to buy her a book, among other things, she takes matters into her own hands and begins to visit the library. After two years, she has read every book in the library and, as a result, has become extremely knowledgeable for a girl her age about a variety of subjects.

Eventually, after constant pleas by Matilda, her parents agree to send her to school. Matilda is enrolled at Crunchem Hall Elementary School, where children are routinely terrorized by the oppressive and cruel principal, Agatha Trunchbull ( Pam Ferris ). However, Matilda's teacher, Miss Jennifer Honey ( Embeth Davidtz ), is, by contrast, kind and caring, and she quickly recognizes Matilda's intellectual gifts. Matilda develops a warm friendship with Miss Honey, who is revealed to be Miss Trunchbull's step-niece. Miss Trunchbull lives in Miss Honey's childhood home, after moving in there when Miss Honey's father died (strongly implied to have been murdered by Miss Trunchbull), causing Miss Honey to run away to a small cottage.

Constantly terrorized and unappreciated by almost everyone in her life, Matilda begins to develop powerful telekinetic abilities as a result of her unused brain ability. She uses these powers to attempt to trick Miss Trunchbull into believing that Magnus (Miss Honey's deceased dad) is haunting her, as well as retrieving Miss Honey's childhood treasures from her house. But Matilda accidentally leaves her red hair ribbon behind, giving Miss Trunchbull a clue as to the intruder's identity. The next day, Miss Trunchbull confronts the entire class, but Matilda uses her powers to write a message on the chalkboard, pretending to be Miss Honey's father, demanding that Miss Trunchbull move out of Miss Honey's house or he will "get [Miss Trunchbull] like [she] got [him]". She then humiliates Miss Trunchbull, causing the children, no longer scared of her, to run her out of town. Miss Trunchbull quickly drives away, never heard from again. Miss Honey, made new principal of the school, then moves back to her father's house, where Matilda is a frequent guest.

Some time later, Matilda's father becomes wanted by the police because of his illegal dealings, and the family decide to flee to Guam . When Matilda protests, Matilda's parents agree to have Matilda adopted by Miss Honey. Matilda's mother says goodbye to her daughter, explaining "You're the only daughter I've ever had — but I never understood you, not one little bit."