Deliberate mistake: When the Trunchbull is drinking from the glass with the newt in it, you can easily see that she doesn't actually drink anything, as the water level stays exactly the same. Logical, as the newt is real, but it's still very obvious because she drinks for about 15 seconds. (00:46:55)
Matilda (1996)
1 deliberate mistake - chronological order
Directed by: Danny DeVito
Starring: Danny DeVito, Embeth Davidtz, Rhea Perlman, Mara Wilson
Visible crew/equipment: Two wires can be seen attached to Lavender (because light shines on them) as she floats back to the ground after the Trunchbull charged towards her. This is only visible on video, and has been taken out of the DVD, although you can (barely) see the shadow of the equipment letting her down on the wall behind her.
Harry Wormwood: A book? What do you want a book for?
Matilda: To read.
Harry Wormwood: To read? Why would you want to read when you got the television set sitting right in front of you? There's nothing you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.
Trivia: Miss Honey's doll's name is Liccy Doll. Roald Dahl's second wife's name was Liccy Dahl.
Question: Why didn't Miss Honey or any of the other teachers report Miss Trunchbull's abuse?
Answer: They would have been simply too afraid of the Trunchbull to report her.
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Answer: The "real world" answer is that it's a movie, and without Trunchbull, there's no villain at the school for Matilda to battle. Within the context of the film, everyone, including the staff, is afraid of her and fear if they speak up, she'll retaliate.