History Trivia / Matilda

* PromotedFanboy: Creator/MaraWilson mentioned that she and her siblings were longtime fans of the book, and that she put a very serious effort into doing the role properly as the book and character meant so much to her. It is the role she is most identified with, feels is the closest to her real personality, and in the role in which she feels she gave her best performance. She later gave her approval and acclaim to ''Matilda The Musical''.

* [[PromotedFanboy Promoted Fangirl]]: Creator/MaraWilson mentioned that she and her siblings were longtime fans of the book, and that she put a very serious effort into doing the role properly as the book and character meant so much to her. It is the role she is most identified with, feels is the closest to her real personality, and in the role in which she feels she gave her best performance. She later gave her approval and acclaim to ''Matilda The Musical''.

* PromotedFanboy: Creator/MaraWilson mentioned that she and her siblings were longtime fans of the book, and that she put a very serious effort into doing the role properly as the book and character meant so much to her. It is the role she is most identified with, feels is the closest to her real personality, and in the role in which she feels she gave her best performance. She later gave her approval and acclaim to ''Matilda The Musical''.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Onscreen, Creator/DannyDevito and his RealLifeRelative Rhea Perlman play a pair of cold-hearted, abusive parents. Offscreen, after Creator/MaraWilson's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer they took the young girl in and cared for her. According to Mara the Devito's took her to pool parties, family trips, and even had her stay at their own home while her father visited her mother in the hospital. Mara's mother passed away shortly after shooting finished, and she was disappointed her mother never got to see the film she was so proud of working on. But years later, Devito revealed he had hastily assembled a rough edit of the movie and shown it to Mara's mother just before she died.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Onscreen, Creator/DannyDevito and his {{RealLifeRelative}} Rhea Perlman play a pair of cold-hearted, abusive parents. Offscreen, after Creator/MaraWilson's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer they took the young girl in and cared for her. According to Mara the Devito's took her to pool parties, family trips, and even had her stay at their own home while her father visited her mother in the hospital. Mara's mother passed away shortly after shooting finished, and she was disappointed her mother never got to see the film she was so proud of working on. But years later, Devito revealed he had hastily assembled a rough edit of the movie and shown it to Mara's mother just before she died.

* AcclaimedFlop: The movie was not a box office success, but was received very well from critics and audiences for staying true to the book. It gained a bigger audience on video and on television. ''Matilda'' is one of [[Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory a]] [[Literature/TheWitches multitude]] [[Film/JamesAndTheGiantPeach of]] [[WesternAnimation/FantasticMrFox acclaimed]] [[Film/TheBFG flops]] to have come from a Creator/RoaldDahl story.

** The "lovely telly" in the Wormwood household with its twelve-inch screen would be very dated now, especially as Mr Wormwood has to cross the room towards it to turn the sound down, causing Mrs Wormwood to be "ratty" about missing her programme, when nowadays you can pause live TV.

** In today's age of cell phones with cameras, Mrs. Trunchbull's violent actions against the children "whom nobody would believe if you would have told them" wouldn't remain a DarkSecret long, as they'd undoubtedly catch these actions and post them to Website/YouTube, Website/{{Facebook}}, Website/{{Instagram}} and Website/{{Twitter}}, and this would prompt a lot of police visits to the school.

** In today's age of cell phones with cameras, Mrs. Trunchbull's violent actions against the children "whom nobody would believe if you would have told them" wouldn't remain a DarkSecret long, as they'd undoubtedly catch these actions and post them to Website/YouTube, Website/{{Facebook}}, Instagram and Website/{{Twitter}}, and this would prompt a lot of police visits to the school.

** In today's age of cell phones with cameras, Mrs. Trunchbull's violent actions against the children "whom nobody would believe if you would have told them" wouldn't remain a DarkSecret long, as they'd undoubtedly catch these actions and post them to Website/YouTube, Website/{{Facebook}}, Website/{{Instagram}} and Website/{{Twitter}}, and this would prompt a lot of police visits to the school.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Onscreen, Creator/DannyDevito and his {{RealLifeRelative|real-world wife}} Rhea Perlman play a pair of cold-hearted, abusive parents. Offscreen, after Creator/MaraWilson's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer they took the young girl in and cared for her. According to Mara the Devito's took her to pool parties, family trips, and even had her stay at their own home while her father visited her mother in the hospital. Mara's mother passed away shortly after shooting finished, and she was disappointed her mother never got to see the film she was so proud of working on. But years later, Devito revealed he had hastily assembled a rough edit of the movie and shown it to Mara's mother just before she died.

* PromotedFanboy: Creator/MaraWilson mentioned that she and her siblings were longtime fans of the book, and that she put a very serious effort into doing the role properly as the book and character meant so much to her. It is the role she is best identified with, feels is the closest to real life personality, and feels she did the best performance of. She later gave her approval and acclaim to ''Matilda The Musical''.
* RealLifeRelative: Zinnia Wormwood is Creator/DannyDeVito's wife Rhea Perlman.

** Creator/WinonaRyder was considered for the role of Miss Honey after Creator/DannyDeVito had worked with her on ''Film/RealityBites'' (which he produced). But she turned it down due to scheduling conflicts with ''Film/TheCrucible''. Creator/MariskaHargitay and Creator/HelenHunt were considered.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: In today's age of cell phones with cameras, Mrs. Trunchbull's violent actions against the children "whom nobody would believe if you would have told them" wouldn't remain a DarkSecret long, as they'd undoubtedly catch these actions and post them to Website/YouTube, Website/{{Facebook}}, Website/{{Instagram}} and Website/{{Twitter}}, and this would prompt a lot of police visits to the school.

** Embeth Davidtz seems to be heavily associated with Miss Honey too. Despite starring in acclaimed films like ''Film/SchindlersList'', ''Film/BridgetJonesDiary'' and ''{{Film/Junebug}}'', and appearing on shows like ''Series/MadMen'' - plenty of news articles will still refer to her as 'Miss Honey from ''Matilda'''.

* PromotedFanboy: Creator/MaraWilson mentioned that she and her siblings were longtime fans of the book, and that she put a very serious effort into doing the role properly as the book and character meant so much to her. It is the role she is best identified with, feels is the closest to real life personality, and feels she did the best performance of. She later gave her approval and acclaim to ''Matlida The Musical''.

* StillbornFranchise: Danny [=DeVito=] [[https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/11/25/matilda-sequel-danny-devito-jumanji-next-level/ originally wanted]] to do a sequel to the film with Creator/MaraWilson reprising her role as Matilda. However, given that Wilson retired from acting and has grown up over the years, DeVito's plans never materialized.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Also, in today's age of cell phones with cameras, Mrs. Trunchbull's violent actions against the children "whom nobody would believe if you would have told them" wouldn't remain a DarkSecret long, as they'd undoubtedly catch these actions and post them to [=YouTube=], Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and this would prompt a lot of police visits to the school.

** Creator/TimAllen, Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/JohnGoodman, Creator/BobHoskins, Creator/BillMurray and Creator/JoePesci were considered for Harry Wormwood.
** Creator/BetteMidler was considered for Zinnia Wormwood.
** Creator/HelenHunt and Creator/MariskaHargitay were considered for Miss Honey.

* SocietyMarchesOn: While cruel schools still exist, they are much less tolerated than they are now. Even mild speculation of abuse with no proof can get a school investigated just to be certain.

** Danny [=DeVito=] [[https://comicbook.com/movies/2019/11/25/matilda-sequel-danny-devito-jumanji-next-level/ originally wanted]] to do a sequel to the film with Creator/MaraWilson reprising her role as Matilda. However, given that Wilson retired from acting and has grown up over the years, DeVito's plans never materialized.

* WordOfSaintPaul: Mara Wilson said that she felt Matilda grew up to earn several college degrees and become a librarian.

* DawsonCasting: The older children are played by adults and they look it. It seems odd when they show up in Revolting ''Children''. Even worse is when they equal the height of the actor playing ''Trunchbull'', who is meant to tower over all of the children...
** Intentionally so: to a five year old on her first day at school, the place is full of intimidating giants.

* CaliforniaDoubling: A literal example. The movie was shot in parts of Arcadia, California, despite being set in England.

* CaliforniaDoubling: A literal example. The movie was shot in parts of Arcadia, California.

* EnforcedMethodActing:
** Creator/MaraWilson was so self-conscious about dancing in front of the crew that Danny [=DeVito=] made everyone on set dance along with her.