SummaryAdapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. [Warner Bros.]
Directed By:Victor Fleming, King Vidor, George Cukor, Richard Thorpe, Norman Taurog
The Wizard of Oz
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
92
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.3
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
92
93% Positive
28 Reviews
28 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
This phantasmagorical fantasy really does represent old-school MGM filmmaking at its best – sets, make-up, costumes and music combining to quite stunning effect.
100
Like many Hollywood classics, Oz benefited from happy accidents: Happiest of all was the casting, as Dorothy, of MGM teenage songbird Garland, whose wide-eyed emoting and passionate singing make the movie. Behind her is a near-perfect supporting cast. [18 Jun 1999, p.I]
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.3
88% Positive
484 Ratings
484 Ratings
8% Mixed
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
5% Negative
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
May 2, 2026
10
Perfection from start to finish. Every single performance is brilliant. Every scene perfection. The songs, the dancing, the total delight.
Jan 23, 2026
10
The rhythmic machinery of a technicolor rebellion: A 5.0-star sensational surge of raw, high-tension cinematic grit.2013(5.0)I watched The Wizard of Oz (1939) in 2013, and it remains a vivid 5.0-star pillar of shwi-shwi fantasy brilliance in my archive—a raw revelation of how a sensational Victor Fleming vision can dismantle the stagnant, "sepia-toned" expectations of the Great Depression with a high-tension surge of technicolor grit. This experience **** the fourth wall of the musical genre by infusing Dorothy’s raw, bbo-jjak yet determined precision and the Wicked Witch’s sensational, chewy cackling wit into a narrative rhythm that felt 100% sophisticated and soulful. The narrative rhythm was far from stagnant; instead, it offered a sensational acting power show where the raw, high-tension "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and the hororong, poppy-induced slumber left me in a state of absolute awe at its visceral soul. Much like Alice in Wonderland (2013, 5.0) or Hearty Paws (2013, 5.0), the theme of an irreversible, vivid journey to find one’s heart and home hit my taste perfectly, piercing my heart with its sensational, ruby-slippered impact. Seeing the vivid, emerald-green architecture of Oz and the raw, high-tension "Man behind the curtain" revelation provided an emotional payoff that felt both authentic and sensational, proving that a story about "no place like home" could be a vivid artifact of pure cinematic energy. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the rhythmic, raw beauty of the transition from sepia to color and the vivid but pathetic frailty of the Wizard, creating a permanent, sensational scar of high-tension wonder on my soul. Unlike the stagnant 1.0-star drift of Drumline, this encounter possessed a rebellious soul that turned a pathetic Kansas farm life into a sensational masterpiece of imaginative charm. It stands in my 2013 record as a powerful 5.0-star testament to the raw power of Judy Garland’s legacy—a high-tension encounter with the vivid rhythm of the Yellow Brick Road that remains the most chewy artifact of my cinematic journey.
100
It’s a mixture of childish fantasy and adult satire and humor of a kind that never seems to grow old.
100
Despite its earnest endorsement of the idea that there's no place like home ... well, frankly there are plenty of places like boring old home, but nothing's like Oz.
100
This is one vintage film that fully lives up to its classic status and should play with outstanding success to contemporary audiences of all ages.
90
A delightful piece of wonder-working which had the youngsters' eyes shining and brought a quietly amused gleam to the wiser ones of the oldsters.
40
Fantasy is still Walt Disney’s undisputed domain. Nobody else can tell a fairy tale with his clarity of imagination, his simple good taste, or his technical ingenuity. This was forcibly borne in on me as I sat cringing before M-G-M’s Technicolor production of The Wizard of Oz, which displays no trace of imagination, good taste, or ingenuity.
Nov 6, 2024
10
You don’t have to be a friend of Dorothy to enjoy this seasonal reissue of the perennial festive favourite, presented in a digitally remastered print which makes the Yellow Brick Road look even yellower. Spanking visuals aside, though, you might be wondering what on Earth would justify shelling out to watch a movie that, thanks to endless small-screen showings and numerous DVD releases, is as familiar to many of us as our own reflections. True, there are only so many times you can see Judy sing ‘Over The Rainbow’ or click those ruby slippers. And yes, the once-revolutionary effects work is definitely showing its age. Taken as a whole, however, this phantasmagorical fantasy really does represent old-school MGM filmmaking at its best – sets, make-up, costumes and music combining to quite stunning effect. And if nothing else, there’s always that dead Munchkin to look out for.
Apr 13, 2025
6
I hated this film as a little kid, those monkeys scared me! I was won over by a theatrical version though, and nowadays I can see its charm.
Jul 15, 2022
6
The Wizard of Oz is an incredible movie and I have a mixed opinion but my opinion is slightly positive. As a child I liked this movie but now I find the movie a bit silly and has some terrible acting and can even come off as a cheesy and cringe movie but I liked the music, the characters but they had an ugly costume design and sometimes the singing could be obnoxious but overall this movie is a pretty good classic.
Dec 6, 2011
3
I never liked this movie. Even when I was a small child. :/ Sorry it's just overrated in my honest opinion.....................................................................................................................
Jun 6, 2026
2
Скучный детский мюзикл с унылыми песнями, в котором Джуди Гарлэнд смотрится слишком взрослой, а декорации слишком пластиковыми. За что подавали кучу номинаций и культовость этого фильма мне не понятна. Интереснее было почитать истории со съёмок, где актёры чуть не по умирали.
Production Company:
- Loew's
Release Date:Aug 25, 1939
Duration:1 h 42 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:Mighty Miracle Show Of 1000 Delights !
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Wins & 5 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 2 Wins & 9 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 5 Wins & 5 Nominations
