Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Matilda 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 7, 2023

Sony has released the cherished 1996 film 'Matilda,' directed by Danny DeVito and starring DeVito, Rhea Perlman, and Mara Wilson, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. In addition to the carryover Blu-ray extras, which appear on the bundled Blu-ray disc (which, aside from new disc artwork appears to be the same disc as the original 2013 Sony issue), Sony has added a band-new commentary with Danny DeVito and a trailer on the UHD disc. At time of writing, 'Matilda' is only available on the UHD format in SteelBook packaging.

The Wormwood family -- greasy used car salesman father Harry (Danny DeVito), mother Zinnia (Rhea Perlman), and son Michael (Brian Levinson) -- have just welcomed a new member to the family: Matilda (Mara Wilson). Perhaps "welcome" is too strong a word. She's not taken home from the hospital for love but rather for obligation. She's seen as a burden, not a gift. She's mistreated, left home alone, and ignored unless her parents deem that she's done something wrong, like express a desire to read a book. She cares for herself and develops an intelligence and a hunger for literature at a young age. When she grows old enough to attend school, she's not enrolled. She sneaks out to the library and reads everything she can find. Her parents believe reading to be a waste of her time, which would be better spent in front of the television. When Harry sells a used car to a woman named Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), he learns that she runs a school for children Matilda's age. Matilda is quickly enrolled but discovers the school is more a prison and less a learning environment. She's welcomed by her peers and her kindly teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), but must contend with parents who do not care for her and a principal in Trunchbull who would rather see her fail than encourage success. When things get out of control, Matilda must turn to unusual means of saving herself from the coming of a wasted existence.

For a full film review, please click here.

Matilda 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Matilda first released to Blu-ray a decade ago with a very healthy and attractive 1080p transfer. Sony has nevertheless magnified and multiplied the movie's visual excellence via this astounding 2160p/Dolby Vision release. The picture excels in all areas of concern. The new Dolby Vision color grading brings abundant vividness and brightness to the picture, offering expressive, popping colors across the entire landscape of this inherently colorful film, including a number of very specific elements (a lot full of cars at the 14:39 mark) or various clothing and location elements seen throughout the film. The sense of fine-tuned excellence is apparent in every shot, evident even in more brilliant whites and deeper and more fruitful blacks. However, it's the color output through the rest of the spectrum where the image truly shines, revealing how the Dolby Vision grading has strengthened every tone for greater richness and robustness while maintaining strict tonal accuracy and even contrast and temperature grading. Harry's loud attire stands as one of the significant highlights. Skin tones are likewise very healthy and seemingly accurate in every shot.

The image is beautifully filmic. It amplifies the cinematic appeal of the original release with superior grain management and superior detailing. The grain is lovely to behold. It's fine and consistent from start to finish, making for a perfect starting point for a faithful film-like look. Details are consistently razor-sharp, more so than the previous Blu-ray. The increased resolution allows for a clearer, sharper, more exceptionally stable and accurate presentation of the film, where details are strikingly rich and fully realized, right down to the absolute finest freckle on Matilda's face, moustache hair on Harry's face, or various clothing or environmental elements. One of the great things about the movie, visually, is just how dense it is. There is endless opportunity for visual exploration of the wonderful elements throughout the production design, including in Matilda's home, at the car lot, in the school, and elsewhere. The production design just looks gorgeous here, and fans are going to love exploring this world all over again with a clarity and definition that makes it feel like the first time. Add the complete absence of print damage and encode issues and this is a wonderful transfer that's best described as "magical."

Matilda 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This new Dolby Atmos audio soundtrack accompanying Matilda shares essentially the same core characteristics as its original Blu-ray counterpart's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. However, the sense of fuller engagement is evident in various moments, especially in more crowded audio cues where the surround-backs and overheads contribute to creating a fuller, richer sound environment. In such scenes the bustle of activity is more tangibly fluid and seamless, more realistic and immersive, pushing past the 5.1 track's limits for the most complete listen yet. The overheads are not really used with any obvious discrete content, but the support structure they provide certainly advances spatial awareness and elevates -- literally -- some of the more playfully engaging sound cues in the film. Musical stretch and clarity are excellent, again benefitting from the added channels. Subwoofer support is never awe-inspiring, but it is not meant to be; it is perfectly complementary in its subtle usage. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused for the duration.

Matilda 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This new UHD release of Matilda contains all of the legacy Blu-ray extras on the Blu-ray disc. The UHD adds a commentary track and a trailer. See below fo a breakdown of what's included and please click here for coverage of the legacy Blu-ray extras.

UHD:

• NEW! Audio Commentary: Director Danny DeVito reflects on the film, from origins to anecdotes. He also speaks on visual effects, cast and characters, locations, technical details, and much more. It's an engaging track full of insightful content and an appealing cadence.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:22).

Blu-ray:

• Afternoon Tea, a Matilda Reunion
• Matilda's Movie Magic!
• A Children's Guide to Good Manners
• Escape to the Library
• My Movie About Making Matilda by Mara Wilson
• Previews

The SteelBook is very...pink and purple. Pink and purple background swirls appear on the front glossy panel. Matilda stands center, smiling, while peeking out behind her are various characters from the film. A number of objects swirl about the characters along the SteelBook's periphery, and some more towards center, like a large book. The rear panel depicts the old school building with the students assembled outside and Trunchbull standing on the stairs. The old building occupies most of the space on the glossy rear, with a pink temperature grading. A purple sky area is behind it.

Inside, the digital copy code is tucked underneath the left-hand-side tabs. The two discs, one UHD and one Blu-ray, are situated on the right in staggered-stacked formation. The inner print is a two-panel spread that features 18 squares against a white background, nine on each side, each depicting a character or an object from the film. There are five characters and four object on the left and nine objects and no characters on the right.

Matilda 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Matilda is a sweet and charming little movie about the power of hope, of kindness, of a desire to make things better rather than settle for whatever life seems to have in store. It's also, in a way, a frightening portrait of neglect, abuse, and misunderstanding. The film sometimes feels needlessly exaggerated but nevertheless cannot escape the innate charm and the satisfaction that comes with its final act. Though it might be a bit frightening for the youngest viewers, Matilda makes for rather clean family entertainment. Sony's new UHD release of Matilda delivers delightfully perfect video and essentially reference audio. The new audio commentary track is a treat, and the SteelBook is first-rate. Very highly recommended!