---
title: "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical"
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 25
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022): what the critics said

Critics' score 72 from 25 reviews: 18 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative.

Most critics find Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical an energetic, enjoyable adaptation, with praise clustering around its young cast and musical numbers. Alisha Weir’s assured Matilda and the children’s tightly coordinated choreography are recurring strengths. Emma Thompson’s grotesque, physically comic Miss Trunchbull also wins widespread approval, while several reviews value the tenderness Lashana Lynch brings to Miss Honey. Tim Minchin’s witty songs earn praise for both their bite and their poignancy.

The spread is broad, ranging from wholehearted enthusiasm to complaints that the adaptation is merely serviceable. Reservations centre on overstretched length, theatrical pacing and staging that sometimes distracts from the performers or overwhelms the songs. Thompson is not universally admired: /Film considers her casting misguided despite recommending the film. Collider offers a more fundamental dissent, finding it dull and tonally inconsistent, though even that review praises the children’s choreography.

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Rating 4/5. 25 November 2022. 

O'Sullivan finds the film’s best moments extraordinary, despite some conventional choices. She especially praises Emma Thompson’s haunting, eccentric performance as Miss Trunchbull.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/roald-dahl-s-matilda-the-musical-review-emma-thompson-tim-minchin-b1030489.html)

## The Guardian — Wendy Ide

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 November 2022. 

Ide finds the adaptation immensely enjoyable despite its slightly overstretched length. She praises Alisha Weir’s assured performance and Emma Thompson’s game portrayal of Miss Trunchbull.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/27/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-review-immensely-enjoyable-matthew-warchus-emma-thompson)

## Time Out — Olly Richards

Rating 4/5. 22 November 2022. 

The review presents the film as a delight and an impressive musical adaptation. It praises the transformation of Dahl’s story about a brilliant little girl into a brilliant big musical.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-2022)

## Empire — Helen O'Hara

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2022. 

O’Hara finds the adaptation entertaining overall, though its length and theatrical pacing sometimes drag. She particularly praises Alisha Weir’s performance and Emma Thompson’s threatening, grotesque turn as Trunchbull.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/matilda-the-musical/)

## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 December 2022. 

Lane finds the film an energetic, enjoyable adaptation whose themes of abuse and rebellion suit Dahl’s grotesque comic world. He especially praises the children’s screen presence, led confidently by Alisha Weir.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/12/brendan-frasers-soft-quizzicality-in-the-whale)

## Variety — Guy Lodge

Fi1m's normalised score 72/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

Lodge finds the adaptation lively and likable, though it lacks the cinematic dynamism to become a classic. He singles out Emma Thompson’s exuberant, physically comic Miss Trunchbull as the film’s chief triumph.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-review-1235393676/)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2022. 

Chang finds the adaptation bright and enjoyable, though sometimes mechanical. He praises Alisha Weir’s Matilda and Emma Thompson’s memorable Miss Trunchbull, while faulting the strained story-within-a-story device.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-12-08/matilda-review-roald-dahl-musical-netflix-emma-thompson)

## Sight and Sound — BFI

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2022. Festival review. 

The review finds the film a spirited adaptation that remains true to the story, though it cannot eclipse the stage musical. It praises the tender performances of Alisha Weir and Lashana Lynch, while noting that maximalist staging sometimes overwhelms the songs.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/roald-dahls-matilda-musical-joyous-maximalist-fable)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

Felperin finds the adaptation brashly entertaining and says it mostly works despite its tonal challenges. She especially praises the tightly choreographed children’s ensemble in numbers such as “School Song” and “Revolting Children.”

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-emma-thompson-netflix-1235233946/)

## The i Paper — Christina Newland

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

Newland finds it a fun, serviceable family romp that stays within the expectations of its popular stage source. She praises the songs and angular production design, while faulting some flashy camera movements for distracting from performers.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-film-review-emma-thompson-is-terrifying-in-this-fun-family-romp-1895831)

## Screen Daily — Nikki Baughan

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2022. 

The visible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no specific praise or complaint beyond noting the stage-to-screen adaptation.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-london-review/5175108.article)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 26 December 2022. 

The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/26/movies/matilda-musical-review-roald-dahl.html)

## IndieWire — Ella Kemp

Rating C+. 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

Kemp finds the adaptation too sanitized and visually flat, though it remains occasionally sweet. She singles out Emma Thompson’s fully committed, sharply comic performance as Miss Trunchbull.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/matlida-the-musical-movie-review-netflix-1234769601/)

## Total Film — Neil Smith

Rating 3/5. 6 October 2022. 

The critic calls it a charming but merely serviceable adaptation that lacks the stage show’s magic. Minchin’s witty lyrics and the poignancy of songs such as “When I Grow Up” are singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/matilda-the-musical-review-2022/)

## Radio Times — Lewis Knight

Fi1m's normalised score 43/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2022. 

The headline says the film fails to deliver for the whole family. The available page text does not reveal what the critic singles out as a strength or weakness.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/roald-dahls-matilda-musical-review/)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 23 December 2022. 

The critic calls the film an invigorating instant classic that should delight adults and children. They particularly praise the cast’s performances and the colorful, inventive production design.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/matilda-the-musical-film-review-netflix-emma-thompson/)

## Deadline — Stephanie Bunbury

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

Bunbury finds the film an absolute blast and a hugely entertaining reimagining of the stage musical. She especially praises Tim Minchin’s sharp, precise songs and the spectacle surrounding them.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2022/10/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-review-london-film-festival-1235136020/)

## Paste — Amy Amatangelo

Rating 9.0/10. 25 December 2022. 

The critic praises the film as an excellent, faithful stage-to-screen adaptation that works for the whole family. She singles out the energetic musical numbers and choreography, along with the performances of Alisha Weir and Emma Thompson.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/netflix/matilda-the-musical-review)

## Film Stories — James Harvey

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 2022. 

The critic finds the adaptation an absolute delight: upbeat, fun, and gloriously revolting. Emma Thompson’s Miss Trunchbull and the child cast’s energetic choreography are singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-review-an-absolute-delight/)

## The Playlist

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The headline indicates a positive verdict, but the page itself could not be accessed. The review’s specific praise cannot be verified from the available text.

[Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-takes-something-great-and-makes-it-even-better-20221210/)

## /Film — Hannah Shaw-Williams

Rating 8/10. 5 October 2022. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film’s strengths more than compensate for its weaknesses. She praises the young ensemble and powerhouse musical numbers, while calling Emma Thompson’s casting as Miss Trunchbull misguided.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1040196/matilda-review-a-deliciously-dark-revenge-tale-with-a-sweet-center-london-film-festival/)

## NME — Alex Flood

Rating 4/5. 25 November 2022. 

The review finds the adaptation entertaining and a worthy alternative to the original, though it may not suit viewers who dislike musicals. It praises the young cast, especially Alisha Weir’s mischievous Matilda.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/matilda-the-musical-review-roald-dahl-3324009)

## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2023. 

The critic finds the film disturbing but emotionally powerful, weird, and politically resonant. She singles out the performances of Alisha Weir and Lashana Lynch, especially their moving portrayal of Matilda and Miss Honey’s bond.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/of-course-matilda-the-musical-is-upsetting-its-a-roald-dahl-story/)

## HeyUGuys

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 

The critic finds the musical energetic, heartfelt and fun for audiences of all ages. They particularly praise Alisha Weir’s performance, while noting that the Wormwoods and Trunchbull are garish caricatures.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-review/)

## Collider — Emma Kiely

Rating D+. 23 December 2022. 

Kiely finds the adaptation dull and tonally inconsistent, arguing it loses the original’s playful magic. She praises the children’s choreography and the camp performances of Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough as Matilda’s parents.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/matilda-the-musical-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical.md