Every Wizard of Oz Movie, Ranked Worst to Best (Including Wicked)

The long awaited Evil has finally arrived in theaters and joins the growing list of many film adaptations of L. Frank Baum’s celebrated novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Over the course of his life, Baum released 13 ounce novels, and since his death in 1919, other stories have been written by his descendants. The release of the first installment of Baum’s ounce series in 1900 marked the beginning of one of the most popular and acclaimed franchises in entertainment history.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has since extended far beyond the gates of the Emerald City, with a surprising amount of Wizard of Oz films, cartoons and television series depicting the adventures of Dorothy Gale and her friends. The 1939 film, starring a young Judy Garland, set the stage for the franchise today; a magical and captivating adventure that delights viewers in different ways. Every film based on The Wizard of Oz brings something new to the story, but as seen over the years, not every adaptation has fully inspired viewers to go down the yellow brick road.

11

The Wizard of Oz (1925)

Directed by Larry Semon

The first full adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s novel was the 1925 black-and-white silent film The Wizard of Oz. The film starred and directed by Larry Semon, a prominent filmmaker during the silent era of the film industry. Semon’s wife, Dorothy Dwan, plays the role of Dorothy, who discovers on her 18th birthday that she is a lost princess and must claim her rightful place as ruler of Oz. This film is known for being one of the first to star Oliver Hardy of the comedy duo Laurel & Hardywhere he played the Tin Woodcutter.

However, the 1925 version of the The Wizard of Oz proved to be the least memorable adaptation, as completely changed the original story and removed important characterssuch as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, who figure prominently in Dorothy’s journey through the Land of Oz. It was also criticized for the change in characterization and abrupt ending. As the first feature film by The Wizard of OzSemon’s 1925 adaptation failed to truly capture the magic of the Emerald City.

10

Oz (1976)

Directed by Chris Löfvén

This Australian film brought the story of The Wizard of Oz to the world of rock. In this film, Dorothy, played by Joy Dunstan, is transformed into a 16-year-old groupie who travels with a rock band around Australia. After an accident causes her to hit her head, Dorothy finds herself in an alternate universe where she is given a pair of red heels by a clothing manufacturer named Glynn to help her attend a famous singer’s concert in Melbourne.

This film makes several references to the original story, including the transformation of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion into a surfer, mechanic and motorcyclist who helps Dorothy on her journey to Melbourne. It also offers an interesting perspective on the ups and downs of fame, but it’s not memorable enough to be considered a good retelling of The Wizard of Oz. ounce It bombed at the box office in its native Australia and has since gone unnoticed as one of the more forgettable adaptations of the original story.

9

The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005)

Directed by Kirk R. Thatcher

Premiering on ABC Television as part of The Wonderful World of Disney in 2005, The Muppets, The Wizard of Oz It portrays Dorothy as an adult who dreams of leaving her job at her Aunt Em’s restaurant in Kansas and becoming a singer. This film sees the iconic Muppets taking on the role of the inhabitants of Ozwith Kermit as the Scarecrow, Big Gonzo as the Tin Man, and Fozzie as the Cowardly Lion. The film also portrays Miss Piggy as all four witches, changing from Glinda the Good to the Wicked Witch throughout the story.

That Dolls The film features a star-studded cast, including Ashanti as Dorothy, Queen Latifah as Aunt Em, and includes an interesting cameo from acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino. However, the film was criticized for Dorothy’s adult characterization. Also Lacks the humor and spirit of previous Muppet films. The song “When I’m With You”, composed by Michael Giacchino, received a Primetime Emmy nomination, but it is not enough to save The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz of being the lowest-rated Muppet movie ever made.

8

Journey Back to Oz (1972)

Directed by Hal Sutherland

Serving as a loose sequence of The Wizard of Oz, Journey Back to Oz sees Dorothy and Toto returning to Oz to deal with Mombi, a cousin of the Wicked Witch of the West, who strives to take over Oz with a troupe of green elephants. She reunites with her old friends and also meets new ones on her journey to stop Mombi. This Filmation animated film was originally scheduled to be released in 1962. However, this it remained in development hell for nearly 10 years before finally being released theatrically in 1972.

Trip back to Oz features Liza Minnelli as Dorothy, who was played by Minnelli’s mother Judy Garland in the 1939 film, Mickey Rooney as the Lion, and Margaret Hamilton as Aunt Em. The film also introduces new characters like Jack Pumpkinhead and Mombi, that appeared in Baum’s stories. Although it was not a financial success in theaters, it was well received on television; through its strong animation and adequate soundtrack, Trip back to Oz serves as both a decent sequel and a fitting tribute to the original story.

7

The Wizard of Oz (1982 anime)

Directed by Fumihiko Takayama

This Japanese anime was produced by the production company Toho, which has been creating films and animations since 1932. It was the first anime adaptation of The Wizard of Oz and portrays Dorothy being taken to the land of Oz, where she meets several characters on her journey towards the Emerald City. An English adaptation was released in 1982, starring Aileen Quinn as Dorothy.

This anime film is notable for its strong fidelity to the original story and includes new characters and story elements that have not appeared in other adaptations. This includes a sequence in which Dorothy and her friends are attacked by creatures called Kalidahs, which occurred in the original book but did not appear in other films. Through the use of different designs to cleverly differentiate the iconic characters, the 1982 anime proves to be an interesting watch for viewers who enjoyed the books.

6

Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (1971 Turkish film)

Directed byTunç Başaran

Translating to Little Ayşe and the magical dwarves in dreamlandThis Turkish film released in 1971 portrays a young girl named Ayşecik who is taken to the Land of Dreams, where she is ordered to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. This film notably renames all the famous characterswith Glinda being called Nilüfer and the Wizard being called Keşkin Zeka.

Staying true to the original story, Ayşecik notably expands the role of the Munchkinsas throughout the film, 7 of them, dressed as soldiers, appear to help Ayşecik on his journey. The main character also wears silver shoes, as depicted in L. Frank Baum’s novel. Although the film suffers from poor special effects, it is still entertaining enough to make it an underrated comedic adaptation.

5

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

Directed by Sam Raimi

2013 Sam Raimi adventure film explores how exactly the Wizard himself arrived in Oz. Oz the Great and Powerful portrays the Wizard as Oscar Diggs, a con man and circus magician, whose hot air balloon is launched into Oz by a tornado. Mistaken for a wizard destined to bring peace to the land, Diggs has no choice but to team up with a flying monkey and a porcelain doll to save Oz and become the hero he believes himself to be. As Evil, this film offers an idea of ​​what happened in Oz before Dorothy’s arrival, but from the mysterious wizard’s point of view.

Oz the Great and Powerful has a talented cast consisting of James Franco as Oscar Diggs, Michelle Williams as Glinda and Mila Kunis as Theodora, later the Wicked Witch of the West. It features strong visual effects, subtle references to the original story, and a stunning portrayal of the Land of Oz. Although not on the same level as the original due to the lack of a catchy soundtrack Oz the Great and Powerful provides a believable and exciting origin story for the Wizard with a powerful message that appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

4

The Magician (1978)

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Directed by Sidney Lumet, The Sorcerer is adapted from the 1975 Broadway musical and offers a modern take on L. Frank Baum’s acclaimed novel. In this film, Dorothy is portrayed as an elementary school teacher taken during a snowstorm to the mysterious land of Oz. In one of the many changes The Wizard of Oz, The Sorcerer portrays the famous land of Oz as a dystopian city, with characters, such as the Scarecrow, made of trash and creatures inspired by humanoids.

After its initial release, The Sorcerer received some criticism for portraying Oz as a dark, dystopian city, as opposed to the bright, colorful world of the previous films, which made it somewhat scary for younger viewers. However, has since become a cult classic, thanks to its powerful soundtrack and energetic performances by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. The Sorcerer it received 4 Oscar nominations in 1979 because of its outstanding technical achievements. A live television adaptation, The Wiz, live!was released in 2015, further showing its lasting impact on viewers.

3

Return to Oz (1985)

Directed by Walter Murch

from Disney Return to Oz serves as a continuation The Wizard of Oz but offers a darker, more sinister take on the story. Dorothy finds herself back in the land of Oz, only to discover that the yellow brick road is crumbling and the Emerald City has been taken over by the Nome King and Princess Mombi. Disney bought the film rights ounce series in 1954, but production problems meant that Return to Oz it would not be released until 1985.

Return to Oz is famous for embracing the darker aspects of Baum’s stories. It includes scenes that may be disturbing to younger audiences, including moments where Dorothy is sent to a mental institution and almost forced to undergo electroshock therapy. However, the film is one of the most faithful to Baum’s novels. Jean Marsh’s performance as Mombi is also fantastic, making her character one of the best witches in 1980s cinema. Today it is considered a cult classic and one of the favorites of those who have read the books.

2

Perverse (2024)

Directed by John M. Chu

One of the most anticipated adaptations in the history of the franchise Evil explores the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she became known as the sinister villain of Oz. Adapted from the Broadway musical, Elphaba Thropp enrolls at Shiz University, where she meets a fellow student, the popular Galinda. Although the two initially can’t stand each other, they slowly develop an unlikely friendship that will change both of their lives forever. The cast of Evil is led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who give viewers a fascinating look at Oz before Dorothy’s arrival.

Wicked offers a heartwarming and moving exploration of the lives of Elphaba and Galinda before becoming known as the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good, respectively. Through Evilthe catchy soundtrack and sympathetic portrayal of a young woman who faces judgment because of her appearance, This film proves to be one of the best adaptations inspired by Baum’s work The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Even though it’s only an adaptation of half the musical, the performances, songs, and more make Evil a magical experience for anyone.

1

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Directed by Victor Fleming

Arguably the most famous ounce adaptation already made, 1939 The Wizard of Oz Masterfully transforms a black and white world of sadness into a dazzling, colorful land of magic and adventure. The Wizard of Oz The cast includes Judy Garland as Dorothy, Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch and Billie Burke as Glinda. The film remained fiercely faithful to Baum’s novel and enhanced the story by including the captivating variety of The Wizard of Oz songs.

The Wizard of Oz is arguably most famous for its use of Technicolor, likable characters and for Judy Garland’s breathtaking performance in “Over the Rainbow”which won the Oscar for Best Original Song. The song’s inspiring message of finding hope in unlikely places ranked it #1 AFI’s Top 100 Movie Songs. The film’s powerful music and charming cast make the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz the best adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s novel.

Source: AFI