Just finished watching Danny DeVito’s fantasy musical comedy Matilda and want more whimsical films inspired by children’s books, then dive right into this list of 11 films like Matilda that are sure to bring joy to your childhood self.
1996 film adapted from the British writer Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, Matilda brings to the audience a very colorful and imaginative world of Matilda Wormwood, played by Mara Wilson.
A bright and exceptionally intelligent little girl born into a wrong family, Matilda tells the story of the namesake dealing with her abhorrent parents and a bully of a headmaster to finally achieve the happiness she deserves under the warm wing of another kind person she encounters on this journey.
11 Fantasy Movies Like Matilda To Watch Right Now!
Even though not the only book-to-screen adaptation of the story out there, this film surely holds its own, being one of the most watched and probably the most loved versions nonetheless. Therefore, it’s no doubt you will want the magic of its upbeat songs to continue, for which we have a list of similar movies like Matilda right here.
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Not to be confused with the 2007 television series starring Neil Patrick Harris, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is a story about the Baudelaire children and Count Olaf, inspired by the book series of the same name.
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are left under the care of their cousin after the death of their parents, but unbeknownst to them, Olaf is very determined to steal all their inheritance.
The siblings grapple with the loss while trying to uncover hidden family secrets, which calls for a lot of adventure and trouble. Jim Carrey does an exceptional job as the sinister Count Olaf, while Kara Hoffman, Liam Aiken, and Emily Browning join the cast alongside him.
This fantasy adventure film adapted for the big screen by Brad Silberling is a visually striking, dark, and whimsical performance with witty characters and an equally dramatic soundtrack to support the clever filmography. Watch Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events on Amazon Prime Video.
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Spy Kids (2001)
Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega star as the Cortez kids, Juni and Carmen, the children of a secret agents couple, in this 2001 Robert Rodriguez film Spy Kids. But when the spies disappear, the only ones who can find them are their own kids, as they embark on an adventurous journey to their parents.
An American action-packed comedy, this movie fired up a well-loved franchise. Right from the casting to the script and the cinematography.
Everything contributes to making Spy Kids a masterpiece of its generation. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino grace the cast with their phenomenal acting as the adult spies in trouble. Watch Spy Kids now on Amazon Prime Video.
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Mary Poppins (1964)
The greatest of all time, Julie Andrews stars as the titular character of Mary Poppins in this 1964 family musical drama that went on to become a classic, to be watched for years to come. Robert Stevenson’s take on this archetypal English nanny who has a stern exterior with a very caring nature was adapted from the book series by P. L. Travers.
The story of the movie follows a magical yet mysterious Mary Poppins as she comes to look after the two mischievous children of Mr. Banks, as she comes into their lives not only to change their lives but to spread happiness to their family.
Poppins and Bert make for a creative musical duo, imparting love through their songs which were originally composed and written by the Sherman Brothers.
Along with Andrews’ screen debut, the movie also stars Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and more iconic actors of the time. Matilda’s whimsical world of songs and magic is reciprocated in this masterpiece with phenomenal writing and remarkable animation. Watch Mary Poppins and its 2018 sequel now on Disney Plus.
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Stuart Little (1999)
Michael J. Fox as a white fluffy little mouse was something we didn’t even know was missing from our childhood until we saw E. B. White’s novel’s screen adaptation as Stuart Little.
When Stuart the Littles adopts the mouse and feels unwelcome by their son George, the family sets about to help him find his real parents.
Over time, George and Stuart form an endearing bond with occasional troubles caused by the family cat, Snowbell very intent on getting rid of the mouse. Stuart Little combines animation with comedy seamlessly, and to aid the spectacle that is this movie is the amazing cast of Gina Davis and Hugh Laurie.
An insightful story that leaves children with the moral of animals as friends and sentient beings, which also teaches that a small size doesn’t necessarily mean of smaller value.
A fantasy mixed with humor, fans of Matilda are sure to enjoy this superbly filmed, happy-hearted movie. Watch Stuart Little now on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
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Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (2005)
Johnny Depp brings to life another one of Roald Dahl’s eccentric characters, Willy Wonka, along with Freddie Highmore as the innocent Charlie Bucket in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.
This 2005 musical fantasy film is another feather in Tim Burton’s hat, which follows the story of four children selected at random and invited to tour the mysterious chocolate factory of the estranged chocolate maker Willy Wonka.
During the tour, which leads the entourage to massive rivers made of chocolate and unusual candies, the audience is also introduced to the tiny beings called the Oompa-Loompas. A modern-day classic, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is filled with hilarious characters and funny musical numbers, along with mouth-watering sweets all around.
An upgrade to the 1971 adaptation, this Burton take on the chocolatey goodness of a film is a fantastical rollercoaster that won’t leave you disappointed. Watch Charlie and The Chocolate Factory now on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
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Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, released in 2001, paved the way for J. K. Rowling’s hidden magical society. The film goes on to introduce us to Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron, and their other classmates as they explore their life in Hogwarts, the school of sorcery and witchcraft.
What follows is a seven-part long journey as we see Daniel Radcliffe as the titular Harry Potter, defeat Lord Voldemort and mastering his grip on spellwork. A truly captivating and imaginative piece of cinema, the Harry Potter series is a perfect blend of adventure, adrenaline, friendship, magic, and a little bit of romance, starting with their admission and sorting into their forever houses in The Sorcerer’s Stone.
Just as the books made an indelible mark on contemporary literature, the movie series also set a new height for fantasy movies and the CGI in them.
Chris Columbus brings forth a transformative and mind-blowing experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on this generation and the next to come. Watch all the Harry Potter movies now on Amazon Prime Video.
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Alice In Wonderland (2010)
Nothing gets more fantastical than the vivacious world of Wonderland, which Alice stumbles upon after falling through the rabbit hole. This version of the book adaptation explores the story of a nineteen-year-old Alice who once again reunites with her magical friends who help her realize her true destiny, with a Tim Burton twist to it.
Lewis Carroll’s extraordinary characters, such as the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), and the Hatter (Johnny Depp), are brought to life so miraculously by a great ensemble cast, making the movie a truly engaging watch.
Burton’s young-adult take on Alice, questioning the difference between reality and fantasy, surely adds to the mystique of the 1951 animated original and makes it a worthy successor. Watch Alice in Wonderland now on Disney Plus.
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Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005)
Set during the war, four siblings are sent away to live away from their parents, where the youngest, Lucy, discovers a mystical land through an old wardrobe. Later, she revisits with the others, and the family gets involved in freeing Narnia with the help of Aslan.
Sporting a star-studded cast of Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley, and Skandar Keynes as the siblings who get lost in the fantastical world of Narnia, the movie which came out in 2005 is based on the book of the same name by C. S. Lewis.
Also, in the film, Tilda Swinton plays the evil White Witch while James McAvoy stars as Mr. Tumnus, the friendly faun. With a magical musical score, director Andrew James has managed to bring to life a beloved children’s book with engrossing characters and pretty good CGI for its time of release.
And if talking animals and a sinister queen aren’t enough, the film brings out quite magnificent battle and fantasy scenes that made quite a few childhoods. Watch The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe now on Disney Plus.
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Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children (2016)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a contemporary fantasy drama adapted from the book by American author Ransom Riggs. Filled with great yet ironic music from the 1940s, the movie is a great example of a disturbing and dark fairy tale, much like Hansel & Gretel, filmed with beautiful cinematography and a stellar cast.
When Jake (played by Asa Butterfield) discovers a house full of eerie children with weird powers run by Miss Peregrine, he gets involved in helping them against their enemies called the Hollowgasts.
From the creative mind of Tim Burton, who brought this book to life on the screen, it interestingly ties in fantasy themes like time travel and peculiar powers with the world war.
Eva Green, who plays the titular Miss Peregrine, is a delight on the screen, joined by Samuel L. Jackson and Judi Dench. Watch Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children now on Disney Plus or Apple TV.
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Peter Pan (2003)
When it comes to fantasy films for children, the list couldn’t be complete without P. J. Hogan’s Peter Pan from 2003 starring Jeremy Sumpter as Peter Pan and Rachel Hurd-Wood as Wendy.
Adapted from the original book by J. M. Barrie and the animated movie from 1953, Peter Pan embodies various crucial themes in the movie, such as Wendy’s wishes to free Peter Pan from his everlasting boyhood and Hook’s jealousy of their bond.
Taking place in London during the early 1900s, we are introduced to Peter Pan from Never Never Land, who transports the Darling brother and sister to his magical land to help fight the evil villain, Captain Hook.
If not for its nostalgic fairy-tale vibes, Peter Pan is definitely worth watching for its thrilling adventure-filled plot and well-written characters, which make the movie a classic. Joining the cast along with the leads are also Jason Isaacs, George MacKay, Ludivine Sagnier, and Olivia Williams in this fantastical adventure drama.
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Nanny McPhee (2005)
Emma Thompson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Colin Firth, and more come together in this 2005 fantasy drama, Nanny McPhee, based on the children’s series ‘Nurse Matilda’ by Christianna Brand.
A delightful comedy mixed with just a tiny hint of fantasy and magic, the kids’ movie leaves the audience of both adults and children alike with something to think about and learn through her five lessons for the young.
After the death of his wife, widower Mr. Brown is left with seven children to care for all on his own when he hires Nanny McPhee, who instills discipline into the rambunctious children through her mystical abilities.
But all is not well when the children’s aunt, Lady Adelaide, threatens to separate the family; they all turn to the Nanny to save the family. Much like in Matilda, we see the good overtake the hatred to have a happy ending in Kirk Jones’ Nanny McPhee. Watch the movie now on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
