Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Netflix fans furious as Matilda the Musical streams in US – while UK viewers have to wait half a year

‘It’s actually a joke,’ one incensed fan wrote

Louis Chilton
Wednesday 28 December 2022 11:48 GMT
Comments
Matilda the Musical trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Netflix UK users have vented their fury after Matilda the Musical began streaming in the US.

The acclaimed musical film, adapted from Tim Minchin’s hit stage show, launched on the US version of the streaming site over Christmas, and currently sits near the top of its most-watched ranking.

However, because the film was given a full theatrical release in Britain by Sony’s TriStar Pictures banner, it will not arrive on Netflix UK until summer 2023.

It is of course, a double-edged sword, with many in the US lamenting the lack of a proper cinematic release for a film that has been praised as a “frothy, whimsical delight” by The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey.

Nonetheless, many in the UK have bemoaned the delay between its streaming releases each side of the Atlantic.

“I’d been excited to watch Matilda the Musical all day and just realised it’s not added to Netflix UK until SUMMER 2023?????” one incredulous fan wrote.

“It’s actually a joke that the UK Netflix aren’t getting Matilda the Musical until next summer, but american Netflix got it today…. like it’s literally BRITISH ?!?!” wrote another.

Matilda the Musical not being available on Netflix UK is a hate crime,” one person wrote.

Stephen Graham in ‘Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical'
Stephen Graham in ‘Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical' (Dan Smith/Netflix)

“Finally sat down all cosy to watch Matilda on Netflix… devastated to learn it was released onto US Netflix ! Why advertise that on UK TV you bastards,” someone else commented.

“WHAT. I THOUGHT MATILDA WAS RELEASED ON XMAS DAY ON NETFLIX. SOMEONE JUST SAID THAT IS ONLY US NETFLIX??” another person complained. “WHY?? WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? SURELY IT SHOULD BE ON NETFLIX UK BEFORE ?”

Matilda the Musical is still available to see in some UK cinemas, and will arrive on Netflix next summer.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in