Netflix's upcoming film adaptation of Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly's Matilda The Musical opened BFI London Film Festival with its world premiere screening October 5, and the reviews are rolling in! The movie musical will see a limited release in movie theatres beginning December 9, with a wide release streaming on Netflix planned for December 25.
Based on the 1988 children's novel by Roald Dahl, the film stars Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull and newcomer Alisha Weir in the title role, alongisde Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey, Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps, and Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood.
READ: Soundtrack to Netflix's Upcoming Matilda The Musical Will Release in November
Read the reviews below.
Evening Standard (Charlotte O'Sullivan)
The Hollywood Reporter (Leslie Felperin)
Independent (Clarisse Loughrey)
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Matilda The Musical follows Matilda Wormwood, a curious young girl with dodgy and absent parents, who is encouraged by her inspiring teacher Miss Honey. Matilda's excitement for attending Crunchem Hall is tampered by the discovery that the school is an oppressive place led by the evil Miss Trunchbull.
The Tony- and Olivier-winning theatre production was adapted for the silver screen by the musical's book writer Dennis Kelly, with original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Having served as director of both the West End and Broadway productions, Tony winner Matthew Warchus returned to direct the Netflix film. Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner and The Roald Dahl Story Company's Jon Finn and Luke Kelly serve as its producers.
The stage musical played on stages in New York City, New Zealand, Korea, Toronto, and London's West End, where it opened in 2011 and continues to run.
