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Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz (1939) is the best Oz movie, followed by Return to Oz (1985) and Wicked (2024). This ranking covers ten feature films set in the Oz universe, including stories that move beyond Dorothy and the Wizard. Use the guide below to match a film to your preferred tone, age range and style.
The 10 Oz movies at a glance
| Rank | Film | Format and focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | The Wizard of Oz (1925) | Silent live-action slapstick | Silent-film historians and completists |
| 9 | Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (2013) | Animated sequel | Younger viewers seeking a colorful continuation |
| 8 | Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013) | Live-action Disney prequel | Fantasy adventure and Wizard backstory |
| 7 | Journey Back to Oz (1972) | Animated sequel musical | Classic-animation fans |
| 6 | The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005) | Muppet television adaptation | Families wanting broad comedy and references |
| 5 | The Wizard of Oz (1982) | Anime retelling | Viewers curious about a book-oriented interpretation |
| 4 | The Wiz (1978) | Funk and soul musical reimagining | Music and production-design devotees |
| 3 | Wicked (2024) | Live-action prequel musical | Modern musical audiences and Oz-world lore |
| 2 | Return to Oz (1985) | Dark live-action sequel | Older children, teens and cult-fantasy fans |
| 1 | The Wizard of Oz (1939) | Live-action MGM musical fantasy | The essential all-ages starting point |
The order weighs tone, storytelling, musical impact, relationship to L. Frank Baum’s world, animation or live action, and how well each film works for its intended audience. It is an editorial top ten, not a complete Oz filmography.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Wizard of Oz (Repackage/BD) | $11.78 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Wizard Of Oz - Blu-ray | $23.08 | Buy on Amazon |
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10. The Wizard of Oz (1925)
This silent adaptation is a broad slapstick version rather than the familiar MGM musical. Its Dorothy is tied to a secret-princess setup, and the film’s exaggerated comedy and dated stereotypes can make it a difficult watch for modern audiences. Its value is primarily historical: it shows how early filmmakers translated Baum’s material before sound, color and the 1939 template reshaped public expectations.
9. Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (2013)
Lea Michele voices Dorothy in this animated sequel, which sends her back to Oz to confront the Jester, voiced by Martin Short. The premise offers a direct continuation for children who want more Dorothy, but the plot follows familiar paths and the computer animation can look inexpensive. It is a straightforward, accessible choice when novelty matters less than a bright, kid-focused adventure.
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- Runtime: 101 minutes
8. Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)
Sam Raimi’s Disney prequel follows Oscar Diggs, played by James Franco, before he becomes the Wizard. After arriving in Oz, Oscar encounters three witches and is pulled into an action-adventure fantasy about power, deception and responsibility. Disney classifies the film as PG and gives its release date as March 8, 2013. Its strongest appeal is seeing the Wizard’s origin and a large-scale modern fantasy production; it is less intimate and less musically defining than the films above it.
7. Journey Back to Oz (1972)
This animated sequel brings Dorothy back with Liza Minnelli providing her voice. The period animation has charm and a distinct early-1970s identity, but the pacing wanders and the songs are less memorable than the musical landmarks elsewhere in the ranking. Choose it for vintage animation and an additional Dorothy adventure rather than for a tightly constructed quest.
6. The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005)
Ashanti plays Dorothy in this Muppet interpretation. Its jokes and references can be enjoyable for viewers already familiar with both Oz and the Muppets, yet the production is uneven and sometimes leans too heavily on callbacks. It works best as a light family comedy watched for the performers and Muppet sensibility, not as a definitive retelling.
5. The Wizard of Oz (1982)
This Japanese animated retelling is presented as closer to Baum’s book than the MGM version, treating Oz as a real place rather than only a dreamlike contrast to Kansas. It is short and comparatively overlooked, which makes it an appealing discovery for viewers who want a different visual language and a more literal fantasy-world approach. Those seeking the songs and iconography of 1939 will find a very different experience.
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4. The Wiz (1978)
This all-Black funk and soul reimagining casts Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. Its bold sets, costumes and musical numbers give Oz a distinct urban, theatrical identity. The pacing is uneven, but the production design and music explain its enduring cult status. It is the pick for viewers who value reinterpretation and performance style over a close recreation of the 1939 film.
3. Wicked (2024)
Jon M. Chu’s film follows Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, before the events associated with Dorothy. It is visually lavish and musically strong, expanding Oz through the friendship and conflict between its future witches. Because this is the first installment of a split-film story, it does not provide a complete narrative on its own. Watch it when you want a contemporary, character-led prequel musical and are comfortable with an intentionally unfinished first chapter.
2. Return to Oz (1985)
Fairuza Balk plays Dorothy in this markedly darker follow-up. The Wheelers, Princess Mombi and the Nome King create a gothic atmosphere that is unsettling rather than cuddly. That tone can divide younger viewers, but it gives the film a strong identity and has helped it develop a cult following. It is best for older children, teens and adults who enjoy eerie fantasy; it is not the safest first Oz movie for very young viewers.
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Victor Fleming’s MGM classic remains the essential Oz film. Judy Garland’s Dorothy travels from sepia Kansas into Technicolor Oz with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, while “Over the Rainbow” supplies its emotional center. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences records the film’s 1939 release and notes that MGM changed Baum’s silver slippers to ruby slippers. The American Film Institute describes it as perhaps the best-loved family film ever made and ranks it as the art form’s greatest work of fantasy. In 2025, AFI also identified “Over the Rainbow” as the number-one movie song in more than a century of cinema.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallIts combination of accessible storytelling, memorable characters, songs and visual design makes it the reference point for the later films on this list. Start here unless you specifically want a darker sequel, a funk musical or a prequel centered on Oz’s witches and Wizard.
Best physical edition
For collectors, search for The Wizard of Oz 1939 4K UHD. Check the current retailer listing for the exact disc configuration, regional compatibility, stock and price before buying, since those details change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Oz movie should you watch?
| If you want… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The classic starting point | The Wizard of Oz (1939) | The definitive musical fantasy and the ranking’s overall winner. |
| A gothic, unsettling adventure | Return to Oz | Its Wheelers, Mombi and Nome King create the darkest atmosphere here. |
| A modern prequel musical | Wicked | It centers Elphaba and Glinda and builds a contemporary Oz mythology. |
| Funk, soul and spectacular sets | The Wiz | Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and a radically reimagined visual world. |
| A Wizard-origin story | Oz: The Great and Powerful | Oscar Diggs’s transformation into the Wizard drives the plot. |
| A book-oriented animated version | The Wizard of Oz (1982) | It treats Oz as a real place and aims for closer Baum fidelity. |
| A family comedy | The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz | Muppet humor and references take priority over solemn adaptation. |
Where to watch the Oz movies
Streaming rights vary by country and change over time. AFI maintains a “Where to stream The Wizard of Oz” reference, while JustWatch provides a U.S. guide covering Oz movies and television. Use those services immediately before watching, and set your country in the guide so a listing from another territory does not mislead you. Older titles, including silent, animated and cult films, are more likely to rotate between rental, purchase and specialty catalogs than the 1939 classic.
How the ranking changes by taste
- For traditional family viewing: begin with the 1939 film, then consider Journey Back to Oz or Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return for younger viewers.
- For darker fantasy: choose Return to Oz, with age sensitivity in mind.
- For musical reinvention: pick The Wiz for funk and soul or Wicked for a contemporary prequel.
- For Baum-oriented curiosity: try the 1982 anime, then compare its real-world Oz with the 1939 film’s dreamlike Kansas transition.
- For Oz-world expansion: watch Oz: The Great and Powerful to see the Wizard’s origin rather than another Dorothy retelling.
Verdict
The Wizard of Oz (1939) is still the one to watch first and the strongest all-round film. Return to Oz is the most distinctive alternative, Wicked is the major modern musical entry, and The Wiz offers the boldest stylistic reinvention. The lower-ranked films are worthwhile when their specific format, era or audience matches what you want from Oz.
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