When it comes to musicals, few stories are as beloved or as surprisingly widespread as The Wizard of Oz. The vibrant, fantastical story of witches, flying monkeys, and magical ruby ​​slippers has stood the test of time. Now, with the launch of Evilfans have yet another opportunity to visit the Land of Oz. Incredibly, L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe source material on which many adaptations are based is now 124 years old. This book was so popular – as was the 1902 Broadway adaptation – that Baum ended up writing 13 more Oz novels.
These books later inspired many films, TV shows and plays. However, one adaptation stands above the rest, with The Wizard of Oz from 1939, rightly considered one of the best musical films based on a book ever made. For many large cinema providers, Victor Fleming’s Dream of a Technicolor Film is considered one of the most influential films in the history of entertainment.. In fact, they just don’t make movies like this anymore. The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, but this franchise has so much more to offer, for better and for worse.
Adaptations of the Wizard of Oz date back to 1908
Baum’s book was quickly adapted into several forms
Although the 1902 Broadway show is technically the first adaptation of Baum’s work, audiences didn’t have to wait long to see the story come to life on the big screen. In 1908, Baum himself took the story on tour with Fairylogue and radio playswhere the author interacted with live action footage and magic lantern slides for a silent retelling of his famous story.
The first genuine film version of The Wizard of Oz came in 1910although it only lasted 15 minutes and was largely based on the musical show. Three other live-action interpretations followed in 1914, before World War I ended productions. There was then an 11-year gap between these early works – which were, frankly, severely limited by the technologies of the time – and the next attempt in 1925, before things really started to evolve in the 1930s, and the iconic fairy tale could truly blossom on the silver screen.
Calculating the total number of Wizard of Oz films is complicated
There’s a long list of Wizard of Oz movies
Determining the exact number of films resulting from Baum’s original novel is difficult, but the short and simple answer is that There have been 25 films directly retelling the story of The Wizard of Oz, including Evil. This issue incorporates the pre-war efforts, the definitive 1939 film starring Judy Garland, and a series of different retellings bringing The Wizard of Oz characters come to life in animation, multiple languages, a Disney adaptation of The Wizard of Oz this was incredibly scary, and even a version involving Tom and Jerry. However, 10 of the most notable Wizard of Oz properties are:
|
Film |
Release date |
Summary |
|---|---|---|
|
Fairylogue and radio plays |
September 1908 |
A multimedia silence presented by author L. Frank Baum. |
|
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz |
March 1910 |
The first cinematic version proper, a 15-minute short film. |
|
The Wizard of Oz |
June 1933 |
The first animated version of the story. |
|
The Wizard of Oz |
August 1939 |
Judy Garland stars in the classic and definitive film version of the story. |
|
The Sorcerer |
October 1978 |
Sidney Lumet directed, while Diana Ross and Michael Jackson in this adaptation. |
|
The Wizard of Oz |
July 1982 |
TOHO Animation Studio brought the story to life through the anime. |
|
Return to Oz |
June 1985 |
Walt Disney Pictures’ disturbing take on the iconic story. |
|
Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz |
August 2011 |
The legendary crossover of cartoon characters with the story of The Wizard of Oz. |
|
Oz the Great and Powerful |
March 2013 |
Sam Raimi directed an origin story for the titular wizard, starring James Franco, Michelle Williams, and Mila Kunis. |
|
Evil |
November 2024 |
Film adaptation of the show of the same name, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. |
Some of these films constitute prequels or spinoffs, but still imply that the strict plot of The Wizard of Oz occurs in your settings. They have had varying degrees of success and impact, but provide many different reflections on the original story and its themes, along with other media inspired by Baum’s novel.
The Wizard of Oz has inspired several different TV shows and plays
However, the Wizard of Oz the franchise doesn’t end there. In addition to the 25 direct adaptations, there have also been 10 films related to the original story, ranging from international twists on the source material, stories loosely inspired by Baum’s original novel, and even a fascinating twist on the Apocalypse now. Furthermore, on the small screen, there have been 17 different TV shows related to The Wizard of Oz, extending until 1961.
Most television adaptations have been animated, which serves the story well when the bright colors and Fantastic themes can come wonderfully to life through animation. The Muppets even had fun at one point with a direct-to-television movie. The Wizard of Oz also flourished on the Broadway and West End stages over the years, with 17 pieces linked to the original story. Again, it’s not surprising when you consider how iconic and integral to history all the songs in The Wizard of Oz they are.
The most famous of all the plays related to the franchise is undoubtedly Evilwhich is also the most recent major entry in the franchise, with the first part arriving in November 2024, and the Perverse Part 2 release date set for 2025. To date, there have been a total of 70 films, TV shows, and plays directly adapting L. Frank Baum’s novel or being inspired by it. And yet, the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz It’s still considered the best of them all and probably always will be.