Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
N/A
Working with a moderate budget of $25.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $37.3M in global revenue (+49% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical (2022) exhibits precise narrative design, characteristic of Matthew Warchus's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Matilda is introduced as an extraordinary child born into the Wormwood family, who consider her a nuisance. Opening establishes her love of stories and books despite her parents' neglect and hostility.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Matilda is forced to attend Crunchem Hall Primary School, ruled by the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Her parents send her away despite her protests, dismissing her desire to learn.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Matilda chooses to stand up to injustice. After witnessing Bruce Bogtrotter forced to eat an entire chocolate cake as punishment, Matilda decides she will use her intelligence and newfound powers to fight back against Trunchbull., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Matilda visits Miss Honey's cottage and learns her teacher's tragic backstory: Miss Trunchbull is her aunt who stole her inheritance and may have murdered her father. The stakes become personal - this is no longer just about surviving school, but about justice and family., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Matilda's parents announce they're leaving for Spain immediately and she must come with them, abandoning Miss Honey and her friends. Her hope of escaping her terrible family and finding a real home with Miss Honey appears to die., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Matilda realizes she can write her own story, just as Mrs. Phelps taught her. She synthesizes her telekinetic powers with her love of storytelling to create a plan: she will use Magnus Honey's "ghost" to terrify Trunchbull and reclaim justice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical against these established plot points, we can identify how Matthew Warchus utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical within the n/a genre.
Matthew Warchus's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Matthew Warchus films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.6, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Matthew Warchus filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional n/a films include The Blackening, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected). For more Matthew Warchus analyses, see Pride.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Matilda is introduced as an extraordinary child born into the Wormwood family, who consider her a nuisance. Opening establishes her love of stories and books despite her parents' neglect and hostility.
Theme
Mrs. Phelps at the library tells Matilda that stories can change everything, that imagination and books have power. The theme: stories and knowledge empower the powerless to change their circumstances.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Matilda's world: her neglectful parents (Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood), her love of reading at the library with Mrs. Phelps, her brother Michael, and the oppressive atmosphere at home where her intelligence is dismissed.
Disruption
Matilda is forced to attend Crunchem Hall Primary School, ruled by the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Her parents send her away despite her protests, dismissing her desire to learn.
Resistance
Matilda navigates her first days at Crunchem Hall, meeting classmates and experiencing Trunchbull's cruelty firsthand. She learns the school's oppressive rules and witnesses brutal punishments, including the chokey and hammer throw.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Matilda chooses to stand up to injustice. After witnessing Bruce Bogtrotter forced to eat an entire chocolate cake as punishment, Matilda decides she will use her intelligence and newfound powers to fight back against Trunchbull.
Mirror World
Miss Honey becomes Matilda's ally and mentor. Their relationship deepens as Miss Honey recognizes Matilda's extraordinary gifts and provides the nurturing support Matilda has never received. She represents the loving parent figure Matilda needs.
Premise
Matilda discovers and develops her telekinetic powers. She uses her abilities for small acts of rebellion and begins to understand her potential. The fun of watching a brilliant child outwit terrible adults while forming a bond with Miss Honey.
Midpoint
Matilda visits Miss Honey's cottage and learns her teacher's tragic backstory: Miss Trunchbull is her aunt who stole her inheritance and may have murdered her father. The stakes become personal - this is no longer just about surviving school, but about justice and family.
Opposition
Trunchbull's tyranny intensifies. She threatens to close the school, terrorizes students more brutally, and directly confronts Matilda. Meanwhile, Matilda's parents plan to flee to Spain to escape the police, intending to take Matilda with them.
Collapse
Matilda's parents announce they're leaving for Spain immediately and she must come with them, abandoning Miss Honey and her friends. Her hope of escaping her terrible family and finding a real home with Miss Honey appears to die.
Crisis
Matilda faces her darkest moment, seemingly powerless to change her fate. She must choose between passive acceptance or using everything she's learned to take control of her own story.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Matilda realizes she can write her own story, just as Mrs. Phelps taught her. She synthesizes her telekinetic powers with her love of storytelling to create a plan: she will use Magnus Honey's "ghost" to terrify Trunchbull and reclaim justice.
Synthesis
Matilda executes her plan in the climactic classroom scene. Using her powers, she manifests Magnus's ghost through writing on the chalkboard, terrifying Trunchbull into confessing and fleeing. Miss Honey reclaims her house and inheritance. Matilda's parents agree to let her stay with Miss Honey.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Matilda with a book and telling stories, but now she has a loving home with Miss Honey, surrounded by friends at a transformed school. The powerless child has rewritten her own story and found her true family.