100+ Movies like Matilda
Freaks
Both "Matilda" and "Freaks" center around a gifted young girl with extraordinary abilities who is mistreated by her family. Matilda and Chloe find solace in books and the pursuit of knowledge, longing for a nurturing maternal figure. They use their powers to rebel against the oppressive authority figures in their lives - Trunchbull and the ADF agents, respectively. Ultimately, they are taken in by kind, motherly figures (Miss Honey and Mary) who help them escape their abusive pasts and embrace their gifts, allowing them to live freely. The movies parallel each other in depicting the journey of an exceptional child overcoming adversity through their unique talents and finding a loving family.
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
"Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" closely follows the core plot and themes of the original "Matilda" movie. Both center around the brilliant young Matilda Wormwood, neglected by her crass parents, who finds solace in books and discovers her telekinetic powers. She attends the oppressive Crunchem Hall school run by the cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who abuses the students. Matilda befriends her kind teacher Miss Honey, who was also mistreated by Trunchbull as a child. Matilda uses her powers to stand up to Trunchbull's tyranny, ultimately freeing Miss Honey and the school from Trunchbull's control. In both films, Matilda's parents attempt to flee but ultimately allow her to be adopted by Miss Honey, giving Matilda the loving family she deserves.
The Book of Henry
Both "Matilda" and "The Book of Henry" center around a gifted child protagonist who uses their intelligence and abilities to stand up against an abusive authority figure and protect a vulnerable child. In Matilda, the titular character develops telekinetic powers to defend her classmates from the cruel school principal, Miss Trunchbull, who also mistreats her kind teacher, Miss Honey. Similarly, in The Book of Henry, the brilliant Henry devises an elaborate plan to rescue his neighbor Christina from her abusive stepfather, the police commissioner Glenn. When Henry tragically dies, his mother Susan decides to carry out his plan, ultimately confronting Glenn and exposing his crimes, leading to his downfall. Both films explore themes of child neglect and abuse, the power of intelligence and determination to overcome injustice, and the bond between a caring adult and a gifted child. The protagonists use their wits and courage to protect the innocent and bring down corrupt authority figures.
Mary and The Witch's Flower
Both "Matilda" and "Mary and The Witch's Flower" follow the story of a young, gifted girl who is neglected and mistreated by her family. They find solace in the world of books and magic, discovering they possess extraordinary powers. The protagonists, Matilda and Mary, encounter tyrannical authority figures - Trunchbull and Madam Mumblechook - who run oppressive institutions and abuse their power. The girls use their abilities to stand up against these villains and protect their friends. Ultimately, they find happiness and a loving family figure in kind-hearted mentors, Miss Honey and Great-Aunt Charlotte, who were also victims of the antagonists. The movies parallel each other in their themes of empowerment, standing up against injustice, and the power of love and found family.
Bad Kids Go To Hell
Both "Matilda" and "Bad Kids Go To Hell" feature a group of students who are mistreated and oppressed by authority figures at their schools. In "Matilda", the tyrannical principal Trunchbull abuses her power and inflicts cruel punishments on the students, while in "Bad Kids Go To Hell", the students are subjected to psychological manipulation and testing by Dr. Day. The students in both films band together to resist and ultimately overthrow the oppressive forces, with Matilda using her telekinetic powers and the students in "Bad Kids Go To Hell" turning against Dr. Day and Veronica. Both films also explore themes of dysfunctional families and the mistreatment of children by their parents or guardians. Additionally, both stories involve a character seeking to reclaim their rightful inheritance or property that was taken from them, with Miss Honey in "Matilda" and Max the janitor in "Bad Kids Go To Hell" being related to the original owners of the properties.
Gifted
Both "Matilda" and "Gifted" center around a young girl with exceptional intellectual abilities, particularly in mathematics, who is neglected and misunderstood by her family. The gifted child finds solace in books and learning, and forms a close bond with a caring teacher who recognizes their potential. The main conflict arises from a controlling, abusive authority figure (Trunchbull in "Matilda", Evelyn in "Gifted") who seeks to exploit the child's talents for their own gain, disregarding the child's well-being and desire for a normal childhood. The stories follow the protagonists' struggle to overcome this oppressive force and find a nurturing environment where they can thrive academically while maintaining a balanced life. Ultimately, the gifted child is rescued from their oppressive circumstances and finds a loving home with their teacher, who becomes a parental figure.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Both "Matilda" and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" follow the story of a gifted child who is mistreated by their family but discovers they have special powers. The protagonists, Matilda and Harry, are neglected and abused by their relatives but find solace in the magical worlds of books and the wizarding school Hogwarts, respectively. They encounter tyrannical authority figures, Miss Trunchbull and Lord Voldemort, who they must overcome using their unique abilities. With the help of kind mentors, Miss Honey and Dumbledore, the heroes triumph over evil, find their true family, and embrace their extraordinary gifts. Both films explore themes of good versus evil, the power of love and friendship, and the importance of standing up against injustice.
Wild Child
Both "Matilda" and "Wild Child" follow the story of a young girl who is mistreated and neglected by her family, but finds solace and growth through her experiences at a new school. The protagonists, Matilda and Poppy, are initially rebellious and act out due to their troubled home lives, but undergo transformations through their interactions with kind-hearted teachers and new friends at their respective boarding schools. They face tyrannical authority figures in the form of the cruel principals Trunchbull and Harriet, but ultimately triumph over them with the help of their newfound support systems. The movies explore themes of finding one's true self, the power of friendship, and overcoming adversity through determination and inner strength. Both Matilda and Poppy discover their talents and embrace positive change, leaving behind their troubled pasts to build new, loving families with their teacher mentors.
Epic Movie
Both "Epic Movie" and "Matilda" feature a young protagonist who is mistreated by their family and finds solace in fantasy worlds. They are drawn into a magical realm (Gnarnia in Epic Movie, Miss Honey's house in Matilda) where they ally with kind mentors against an evil antagonist (the White Bitch, Miss Trunchbull). The protagonists discover they have special powers (telekinesis for Matilda, a magic remote for the orphans) which they use to defeat the villain and escape their abusive situation, ultimately finding a new loving family. The stories parallel each other in the hero's journey from a neglected child to a powerful hero who triumphs over adversity.
K-12
Both "Matilda" and "K-12" center around young girls with supernatural powers who are mistreated and oppressed by cruel authority figures at their schools. The protagonists, Matilda and Cry Baby, use their telekinetic abilities to rebel against the abusive principals, Miss Trunchbull and Principal, and stand up for themselves and their fellow students. They form close bonds with kind-hearted teachers, Miss Honey and Angelita, who become parental figures. The stories culminate in the protagonists overthrowing the villainous principals and freeing the schools from their tyrannical rule, allowing a new era of compassion and understanding to begin under the guidance of the caring teachers.