Tyla

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Why Matilda Is Still The Best Film Ever

Charlotte Forrester

Published 
| Last updated 

Why Matilda Is Still The Best Film Ever

Featured Image Credit: Jersey Films

It’s been 25 years since Matilda hit the big screen and it deserves a big happy birthday by celebrating how utterly wonderful it truly is. Even a quarter of a century later, the Roald Dahl adptation still stands as one of the best films ever and I can even list the reasons why.


Tell me you wouldn't like at least one of these outfits in your wardrobe (Credit: Jersey Films)
Tell me you wouldn't like at least one of these outfits in your wardrobe (Credit: Jersey Films)

Not to reduce this absolute classic to just the aesthetics – but come on. These outfits look like what the cool Gen Z kids on TikTok wear.

Advert

Go to any vintage fair and you’ll see denim dungarees galore amongst the shoppers. Plus, let’s be real, even though she wasn’t the best mum, Zinnia Wormwood’s jacket is a staple and a half. Honestly desperate to have it in my wardrobe. Even Miss Trunchbull’s grey sweater was low key a look.

The Chocolate Cake Scene

I actually wanted a slice of this cake so badly as a kid (Credit: Jersey Films)
I actually wanted a slice of this cake so badly as a kid (Credit: Jersey Films)

Is Bruce Bogtrotter eating that mahoosive chocolate cake one of the most iconic food scenes in cinema? Yes. Next question.

Advert

No seriously, how desperate were you as a kid to taste that chocolate cake? It looked like the most delicious desert ever, even though the dinner lady might have put literal blood, sweat and tears into it.

And the buzz you got from seeing Bruce conquer that monstrosity and stick it to the principal, Miss Trunchbull? Nothing could beat it. Speaking of which…

Honestly one of the scariest childhood villains (Credit: Jersey Films)
Honestly one of the scariest childhood villains (Credit: Jersey Films)

One of the most frightening villains of anyone’s childhood. When she went to hammer throw Amanda Thripp using her cute, blonde pigtails, it used to send my heart rate through the roof.

Advert

Not to forget, the movie also strongly suggests that Miss Trunchbull actually had something to do with Miss Honey’s dad’s death so that she could inherit his house instead of Miss Honey. And she’s the principal of a school filled with kids? Still scares me to this day to be honest.

The Soundtrack

"Playing music to make you smile, so you better not touch that dial!" (Credit: Jersey Films)
"Playing music to make you smile, so you better not touch that dial!" (Credit: Jersey Films)

I have to give a special shoutout to the movie’s soundtrack as well. ‘Send Me On My Way’ by Rusted Root is actually a tune and always instantly delivers on the ‘90s nostalgia. The score is also so charming with every scene having the perfect amount of childhood wonder in the background.

Advert

But the best use of a song in the film goes to...

The Little Bitty Pretty One Scene

It's truly choon after choon (Credit: Jersey Films)
It's truly choon after choon (Credit: Jersey Films)

Why does this film have so many bangers and brilliant food scenes? I’m not complaining though.

Advert

This is where the some of the film’s best aspects come to play with the bop of a song and Matilda fully showing off her telekinetic powers.

Kicking off with our main character practicing her new powers on her cereal, we then descend into a glorious dance routine with flying playing cards and spinning flowers to the tune of ‘Little Bitty Pretty One’ by Thurston Harris. Truly, an instant serotonin kick.

Miss Honey was literally the sweetest (Credit: Jersey Films)
Miss Honey was literally the sweetest (Credit: Jersey Films)

The sweetest bumble bee in that whole school. I dreamt of playing with Miss Honey outside her gorgeous, dreamy cottage while learning how to spell “difficulty” (for anyone who struggles, just remember the poem Miss Honey teaches to the kids: “Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs FFI, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs LTY!”).

She was the perfect fit as Matilda’s new mum after her biological family agrees to let Miss Honey adopt her and the two of them made the loveliest family. Which brings me on to the ultimate reason why Matilda is still so good 25 years later…

Matilda knows that her brain is the most powerful thing about her in more ways than one (Credit: Jersey Films)
Matilda knows that her brain is the most powerful thing about her in more ways than one (Credit: Jersey Films)

Matilda takes all of the mean words that are said to her and uses them to make her powerful. Her dad’s yelling, Miss Trunchbull’s cruelty, her mum’s dismissiveness are enough to crush any kid’s soul. But Matilda uses it all to instead fuel her literal superpowers.

She’s also a young girl who relishes being clever. My heart still swells when I picture little Matilda with her pull-along red cart filled with library books. She knows that her brain is the most powerful thing about her, whether it's magically pouring Cheerios and milk or helping her do wildly complicated maths equations.

That’s why Matilda is actually the best film ever, because it recognises that there isn’t anything mightier than a rebellious little girl who knows her own strength.

Topics: TV And Film

Charlotte Forrester
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Entertainment

Rihanna shares plans for baby number three with A$AP Rocky

12 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Rebel Wilson opens up on losing her virginity at age 35 as she says others 'shouldn’t feel pressured'

20 hours ago