Matilda the Musical: stage vs screen

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022) brought back the stage show's director, Matthew Warchus, its book writer, Dennis Kelly, and Tim Minchin's songs. It opened in UK cinemas in November 2022 and reached Netflix in the US on Christmas Day. This page compares the film with the Broadway production that played the Shubert Theatre from 2013 to 2017.

Stage

Broadway musical (2013)

Screen

Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022)

1. Several stage songs are cut

The film drops a handful of Minchin's stage numbers, including Pathetic, Loud, This Little Girl, Telly, and I'm So Clever. Most of the score survives, though: Miracle, Naughty, School Song, The Hammer, Bruce, When I Grow Up, The Smell of Rebellion, Quiet, My House, and Revolting Children are all in the movie.

2. A new finale: Still Holding My Hand

Minchin wrote one new song for the film, Still Holding My Hand, sung by Miss Honey, Matilda, and the company at the end. Minchin has said he was doubtful at first, but the film's script called for an ending number to tie together its musical and story threads. The stage show instead ends with reprises of When I Grow Up and Naughty.

3. The Wormwoods lose their big numbers

On stage, Mrs. Wormwood dances through Loud with her partner Rudolpho, and Mr. Wormwood sings Telly, urging the audience to watch television instead of reading. Neither song is in the film, where Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough play the parents. Rudolpho and Matilda's older brother Michael, both part of the stage show, do not appear in the film's cast.

4. The Russian mafia scene is gone

In the stage ending, the Wormwoods try to flee to Spain after Mr. Wormwood's deal with the Russian mafia goes wrong, and the mob boss Sergei, impressed by Matilda, lets the family go. The film keeps the flight to Spain after Mr. Wormwood cheats the mafia, but Sergei is not in it. The Wormwoods simply agree when Miss Honey offers to look after Matilda, and in both versions Miss Honey becomes the new headmistress.

5. The Escapologist story is acted out

On stage, Matilda tells the tale of the Acrobat and the Escapologist to the librarian Mrs. Phelps in installments throughout the show. The film shows the story with actors, Carl Spencer as the Escapologist and Lauren Alexandra as the Acrobat. The Escapologist joins Matilda in I'm Here and Miss Honey in My House.

6. Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull

Miss Trunchbull has traditionally been played by a man on stage, and Bertie Carvel created the role in London and on Broadway. The film cast Emma Thompson, after Ralph Fiennes had first been reported for the part. The movie also raises the stakes in its climax, when Trunchbull reveals she has built new Chokeys for every child in the school.

7. One Matilda instead of four

On Broadway, four girls shared the title role in rotation: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro. The film has a single Matilda, Alisha Weir, with Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey and Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps.

Matilda the Musical movie vs musical: FAQs