Every Wizard of Oz Movie Ranked (There’s More Than You Realize)

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Many films achieve classic status, but The Wizard of Oz stands out as something truly special. It’s a story that has been constantly reimagined and reinterpreted, inspiring countless creative works. It began with L. Frank Baum’s 1900 book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which quickly became ideal material as the film industry was developing. Since then, the world of Oz has been brought to life in various forms – from silent movies and musicals to animated films and entirely new versions, including prequels. This has resulted in a surprisingly extensive collection of productions that draw from, adapt, or drastically change the original story, far more than most people are aware.

When people think of the story of Oz, they often immediately picture the 1939 movie and the musical Wicked, and that’s where they stop. But the truth is, filmmakers have always struggled with how to adapt Oz. Some try to recreate the original, others attempt to improve it, and still others deliberately try to create something completely different from what audiences expect. With that in mind, here’s a ranking of the most famous Wizard of Oz movies, from worst to best. Which one remains the best of them all?

13) Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return

I really wanted to love Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return – the idea of Dorothy going back after everything we know is cool, especially with Oz in trouble after the Wicked Witch is gone. But honestly, it just didn’t deliver. It felt…generic. Like one of those animated movies that comes out every year without much thought. The characters weren’t interesting, the jokes didn’t land, and the whole story felt pointless, like it only existed because it had the Oz label. It’s not terrible, but it’s totally forgettable, and that’s a shame for such a magical world. It just felt like the studio made it happen without any real heart or unique vision.

12) The Wizard of Mars

Despite advertising itself as a fresh, sci-fi take on a classic story, The Wizard of Mars only uses the premise of The Wizard of Oz to attract viewers – and that’s where the similarities end. The film follows an astronaut who crashes on Mars and meets characters vaguely based on the original tale, but any deeper connection is missing. It doesn’t try to apply the meaningful themes of The Wizard of Oz to its sci-fi setting, instead relying on underdeveloped concepts and unconvincing visuals. It’s essentially a film that borrows familiar elements without understanding how to use them effectively. While it might briefly hold your attention, it quickly becomes tiresome, and ultimately feels more like a strange oddity than a successful adaptation.

11) Dorothy and the Witches of Oz

This reimagining of The Wizard of Oz features an adult Dorothy living in modern-day New York City, where she learns Oz was real and the witches are planning to cause trouble. While the premise is initially exciting, Dorothy and the Witches of Oz struggles to blend fantasy, adventure, and suspense effectively. The movie suffers from low-budget effects and an uneven pace, often feeling improvised. Though there are glimmers of interesting concepts, they aren’t fleshed out enough to make the film truly stand out.

10) Journey Back to Oz

This animated movie brings Dorothy back to Oz, where her friends—the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man—are facing a new danger. It’s a direct continuation of the original story, but unfortunately, Journey Back to Oz doesn’t offer much beyond a basic plot. The animation is simple and the story is predictable, lacking the magic and imaginative storytelling that made the original Oz so special. While it holds nostalgic appeal and was an early attempt to build on the 1939 film, it doesn’t stand up as strongly as other Oz adaptations that were more ambitious and creatively daring.

9) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first adapted into a silent film in 1910. While it’s not a particularly enjoyable movie by today’s standards, it’s a fascinating look at how quickly the story captured the public’s imagination and became popular in early cinema. This version of Dorothy’s journey through Oz is very short and relies on basic visual effects and a choppy storyline. It doesn’t offer much character development or emotional depth, but it clearly demonstrates that filmmakers saw the potential of Oz as a movie just ten years after the book was published. It’s not a strong adaptation in the traditional sense due to its simplicity, but it’s definitely an important piece of film history.

8) The Wizard of Oz (1925)

This early, silent film version of The Wizard of Oz is a wild, comedic take on the story, featuring Dorothy’s kidnapping and a Wizard who acts as the villain. It’s a far cry from the original book, embracing over-the-top humor and visuals. While it’s more interesting as a piece of film history than as a truly enjoyable movie – especially when compared to the more famous version from a few years later – it’s still remarkable to see how quickly the Oz story became open to creative reinterpretation, even in the very beginning of cinema.

7) Oz

This fresh take on Oz isn’t a typical adaptation; it’s a uniquely Australian, psychedelic fantasy. The film follows a young woman on a bizarre journey through a warped version of the familiar land, using a fragmented narrative and rich symbolism. While its unconventional choices might not appeal to everyone, it successfully demonstrates how the story of Oz can be reimagined outside of traditional Hollywood formulas. It proves just how adaptable and universally resonant this classic tale truly is.

6) The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz

The Muppets are beloved, and they really shine when they reimagine familiar stories. Their version of The Wizard of Oz features Dorothy as a singer who finds herself in Oz, encountering Muppet versions of the famous characters, all while staying true to the original plot. What’s clever about this movie is that it doesn’t try to outdo the classic 1939 film. Instead, it embraces humor that acknowledges its own silliness and relies on the Muppets’ inherent appeal. While not every joke is a hit, the movie’s lighthearted approach and modest goals actually work to its advantage. It’s an adaptation that knows its audience and delivers exactly what you’d expect.

5) Oz: The Great and Powerful

The movie Oz the Great and Powerful marks a step up in quality and shows a clear creative vision. It tells the story of how Oscar Diggs, a small-time con artist, transformed into the legendary Wizard of Oz, focusing on his arrival in Oz and his relationships with the witches before Dorothy’s adventures. The film is visually stunning and pays homage to the beloved 1939 classic, although it isn’t perfect. It struggles to make Oscar a truly engaging character, and he often feels overshadowed by the vibrant world around him. Overall, though, it’s one of the more ambitious and impressive Oz expansions in recent cinema, even if it doesn’t fully succeed in everything it tries to do.

4) The Wiz

The Wiz is arguably the most unique adaptation of the Oz story. While it keeps the core idea – Dorothy trying to find her way home in a fantastical land – it reimagines everything else with a vibrant, musical, and distinctly urban feel. Instead of a traditional fairy tale, the movie is set in a stylized New York City and filled with soul and funk, giving it a strong sense of cultural identity. Although the pacing isn’t always perfect, the film’s willingness to take risks is what truly makes it special and earns its place as a standout entry in the Oz canon. Ultimately, it’s one of the most genuinely captivating versions of the story.

3) Return to Oz

Ever wonder what Oz would be like if it wasn’t so bright and cheerful? Unlike most versions of the story, Return to Oz brings Dorothy back to a familiar world that’s now damaged, creepy, and controlled by new enemies. This can be genuinely disturbing – even frightening for children – but fans appreciate how true it stays to the original books and its unsettling visuals. The film also ditches all the songs, aiming for a fantasy feel much closer to the source material’s darker tone. It deserves its place among the best because it’s brave, self-assured, and successfully builds on the classic story while staying true to its heart.

2) Wicked/Wicked: For Good

The new Wicked movies ( Wicked and Wicked: For Good) are easily among the best adaptations of the Oz universe. Based on Gregory Maguire’s novel—which reimagines the original story—the films tell the story of Elphaba and Glinda, exploring their lives before and during the events of The Wizard of Oz. What makes these films so compelling is their clever reversal of the classic tale, challenging our ideas of heroes and villains as we follow Elphaba’s journey to becoming the so-called Wicked Witch of the West. Even without Dorothy as the main character, the films constantly reference the original story, adding new political and emotional depth to a familiar world. It’s a brilliant expansion that shows there’s still plenty of magic to discover in Oz.

1) The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is widely considered the best adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book. It successfully captured the magic and heart that many other versions have tried—and often failed—to achieve. The movie tells the story of Dorothy, a girl transported from Kansas to the fantastical land of Oz, where she makes friends and discovers the power within herself. Its masterful filmmaking set the standard for fantasy movies, and its songs and characters remain beloved and influential today. Any new take on the world of Oz inevitably compares itself to this classic, whether by trying to imitate it, challenge it, or simply move beyond its legacy.

There are lots of different versions of The Wizard of Oz! Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum.

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2026-01-03 21:20