Every ‘Wizard of Oz’ Film Adaptation, Ranked

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L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has delighted readers and viewers of all ages for generations. Almost immediately after the book was published, it was brought to life on stage and screen, and Baum even contributed to some of these early adaptations. Since then, numerous movies and other versions of the story have been created, with a few becoming incredibly popular and launching their own series of related works.

Over the years, the story of Oz has been retold many times in movies and shows, using everything from actors and animation to puppets. Some versions closely follow the original book, while others offer fresh takes on the classic tale. Many films explore what happened to Dorothy after her first trip to Oz, often inspired by the numerous sequel books. And some movies even imagine what Oz was like before Dorothy arrived.

21
‘The Wizard of Mars’ (1965)

The Wizard of Mars is a sci-fi retelling of a beloved tale. The story follows four astronauts—Dorothy, Steve, Charlie, and Doc—who are caught in a space storm and crash-land on Mars. They must journey along a golden path to an old city, where they find a projection of a head that shares the planet’s history. Dorothy even wears a pair of silver shoes during their adventure.

Oz with a Sci-Fi Spin

John Carradine stars as the Wizard of Mars in this film, which has a surprisingly complex story when it comes to how it was released. Besides a version edited for TV, it was even used in a live stage show with added special effects. The movie was eventually renamed and released as Horrors of the Red Planet.

20
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1925)

Okay, so I recently checked out the 1925 version of The Wizard of Oz, and it’s pretty different from what you’re used to! It starts with this sweet old guy telling his granddaughter the story of Oz. Turns out, Dorothy isn’t just some farm girl from Kansas – she’s actually a lost princess! She goes back to Oz and even finds a prince, but the villains aren’t done yet. It’s a real shocker because even characters like Uncle Henry and the Tin Woodman seem a bit shady. The movie ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but thankfully, they showed little cards between scenes promising Dorothy and her prince had a happy ending. It’s a fascinating take on the classic!

A Princess of Oz

Although the Wizard was always intended as a fake, this version of the story largely removes any magical elements, turning it into a political drama. Dorothy’s companions aren’t magical creatures, but rather three farm workers from Kansas who are simply dressed up as a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion. The idea of Dorothy being a princess seems to have been inspired by Princess Ozma, and the story even suggests she’s the daughter of King Pastoria. It’s worth noting that Dorothy does become a princess of Oz in the third book, Ozma of Oz. Furthermore, Dorothy’s love interest, Prince Kynd, originally appeared as a deceased king in an earlier book, The Scarecrow of Oz.

19
‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ (1910)

Released a decade after the publication of the original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a silent film that tells the story of Dorothy and her companions – Toto, Imogene the Cow, Hank the Mule, and a scarecrow – who are swept away to Oz by a cyclone. There, Dorothy encounters new friends and confronts the wicked witch, Momba. Ultimately, the Wizard names the Scarecrow as the new ruler of Oz.

The Story Kind of Ends on a Cliffhanger

The movie draws from both the original story and a well-known stage play from 1902. Interestingly, the stage version significantly downplayed or completely removed characters like Toto, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch. Although the film’s ending, with Dorothy remaining in Oz, feels sudden, it was reportedly continued in a few sequels that explored later parts of the book series. Sadly, those sequel films are now considered lost and unavailable.

18
‘Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return’ (2014)

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return is an animated movie based on the book Dorothy of Oz, written by Roger Stanton Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum. Dorothy briefly returns to Kansas, but quickly learns her friends in Oz need help. A new villain, the evil Jester – brother of the Wicked Witch – is trying to control Oz by turning people into puppets. Dorothy teams up with an owl, a princess made of china, and a marshmallow soldier to stop him.

A Story From Baum’s Great-Grandson

Despite being planned as the first in a series of films, Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return wasn’t successful in theaters, and its production company, Summertime Entertainment, soon went out of business. The movie also gained a reputation online for its frightening visuals, especially the scenes involving the Jester and his puppet victims. However, it still has a dedicated fanbase who appreciate it as a single, self-contained story.

17
‘The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz’ (2005)

The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz is a fun TV special where the classic Land of Oz is brought to life with Muppets! It follows Dorothy (played by Ashanti), a talented young singer who gets whisked away to Oz after a disappointing audition. There, she joins forces with Kermit the Scarecrow, Fozzie as the Cowardly Lion, and a tin-made Gonzo. Dorothy hopes the Wizard of Oz can help her become a star, but she soon discovers everything comes with a cost.

After Taking Manhattan, Oz Was Just a Matter of Time

Many viewers consider this special to be one of the Muppets’ less successful projects. Dorothy’s desire to become a famous singer made her seem spoiled, a contrast to the book version who just wanted to go home. And while having Miss Piggy play all four witches seemed like a good idea, seeing the popular Muppet character ‘die’ twice proved to be unpopular with audiences.

16
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1991)

Golden Films was an animation studio known for turning children’s stories into short animated movies. One of their first projects, released under the name American Film Investment Corporation, was an animated version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Although brief, the film closely follows the original book, even including details like the silver shoes and Glinda’s palace.

A Very Straightforward Adaptation

Golden Films frequently revisited classic tales, but they only made one animated version of The Wizard of Oz. While the movie closely follows the book, it’s clear the famous 1939 MGM film had an impact – Dorothy looks and sounds a lot like Judy Garland’s portrayal. It’s a good way to introduce someone to the story from the original book.

15
‘Return to Oz’ (1964)

The Rankin-Bass production Return to Oz – different from the later Disney movie with the same title – features Dorothy returning to Oz to rescue her friends. The Wicked Witch of the West has mysteriously returned, but her revival is temporary unless she can steal Dorothy’s silver shoes.

Oz Just Can’t Continue Without Dorothy

As a big fan of the old Rankin/Bass Oz specials, I was so happy to see Return to Oz keep that same charming art style and how they portray the characters. What I especially loved is that they brought back some parts of the original book that weren’t in the earlier shows. Remember how the Wizard was presented as a real Ozian and an old friend of the Wicked Witch in those first specials? Well, Return to Oz went back to the original idea of him being a bit of a fraud, though the characters don’t realize that until the very end – it was a great touch!

14
‘Oz’ (1976)

Oz, sometimes called 20th Century Oz, is an Australian movie that playfully spoofs The Wizard of Oz, using Australia’s nickname as its setting. The story follows Dorothy, a teenage fan of a rock band, who accidentally kills a criminal after an accident. A shopkeeper gives her red shoes and tells her about a famous singer known as the Wizard, who’s giving his final performance. Dorothy sets off on a journey to find him, all while trying to avoid the vengeful brother of the man she accidentally killed.

Dorothy Dreams of a Land Down Under

Okay, so Oz definitely plays with the classic story, but it’s not a remake. Think of it as a really creative remix. Instead of a Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, Dorothy falls in with a goofy surfer, a mechanic who’s lost his heart, and a biker who’s all talk. It’s fun! And a clever touch – the actor who plays the Wizard keeps popping up in different roles, just like in the original movie. There’s no actual magic this time around, but those iconic red shoes still manage to pull through. The big twist? It’s all a dream, and Dorothy learns a harsh lesson about the pitfalls of fame and fortune. It’s a surprisingly modern take on a beloved tale.

13
‘Dorothy and the Witches of Oz’ (2012)

Dorothy and the Witches of Oz, also known as The Witches of Oz, continues the story with an adult Dorothy. Now a successful children’s author living in New York City, she’s blocked out her memories of Oz. But her past catches up with her when the Wicked Witch of the West unexpectedly appears in Times Square. Luckily, Dorothy isn’t alone – many of her old friends from Oz have been secretly living on Earth and come to her aid.

The Witches Are Back

A standout performance in the film comes from Mia Sara, who plays Princess Langwidere, a witch with the magical ability to swap heads and disguise herself. Christopher Lloyd also appears as the famous Wizard of Oz. While Dorothy and the Witches of Oz was originally planned as the first in a series of movies, it ultimately remained a single, independent film.

12
‘Aysecik ve Sihirli CĂŒceler RĂŒyalar Ülkesinde’ (1971)

Little AyƟe and the Magic Dwarfs in the Land of Dreams is a Turkish retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story follows Aysecik, a young girl whose life on a farm is disrupted when a cyclone carries her away to a fantastical land filled with witches and magical dwarfs. Thanks to a kiss from a good witch and a pair of enchanted silver shoes, Aysecik embarks on a journey where she makes friends, battles an evil witch, and searches for a powerful wizard who can help her.

Turkey’s Own Wizard of Oz

Zeynep Değirmencioğlu, the actress who played AyƟecik, was a well-known child star in Turkey. She starred in several films based on popular children’s stories, like Snow White and Cinderella. This particular film is a fairly close adaptation of the original story, maintaining key elements like the journey to see the Good Witch, who is called NilĂŒfer in this version. One interesting difference is that the Munchkins have a bigger part, appearing magically to help AyƟecik whenever she needs them and even showing up at her farm at the end to say goodbye.

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2025-11-08 02:06