Return to Oz

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Return to Oz

PG

Released Jun 21, 1985

1h 50m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

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38 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Dorothy discovers she is back in the land of Oz, and finds the yellow brick road is now a pile of rubble, and the Emerald City is in ruins. Discovering that the magical land is now under the control of an evil empire, she sets off to rescue the scarecrow, the tin man and the lion with the help of her new friends.

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Critics Consensus

Return to Oz taps into the darker side of L. Frank Baum's book series with an intermittently dazzling adventure that never quite recaptures the magic of its classic predecessor.

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Roxana Hadadi

Crooked Marquee

Taken altogether, the experience of watching Return to Oz, with its myriad nightmarish offerings, almost feels like thumbing one's nose at the prudish Disney of today.

Jul 1, 2020

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Return to Oz doesn't soar when it so clearly should.

Dec 13, 2018

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

The basic problem with Return to Oz is its unrelieved oppressiveness, an atmosphere resulting mainly from our sense of Dorothy's constant plight.

Dec 13, 2018

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Joseph Robinson

Fish Jelly Films (YouTube)

Return to Oz is a slightly disappointing effort that occupies a space far from the 1939 classic Wizard of Oz while not being close enough to the more grim source material.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 5, 2023

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Richard Schertzer

ScreenAnarchy

The look of Oz is very dreary and depressing when compared to the 1939 film, but it certainly makes up for it with its sense of adventure and fun. ... a nostalgia ride into a blissful time of innocence and care-free wonder.

Jun 22, 2023

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Entrancing in a very different way from its bright Technicolor ancestor.

Rated: A

Dec 2, 2022

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Seth F

Having read nearly all of the original Oz books, I can assure you that Baum's land of twee and whimsy had plenty of darkness, too (check out the Tin Man's origin story, for example). Return to Oz, when compared with the MGM classic, will never measure up, but it did stay truer to the source material, which is a plus. The special effects are dated, but Jack Pumpkinhead and Tik Tok are charming characters, and Princess Mombi's closet of disembodied heads is nothing short of terrifying.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

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matthias s

"Return to Oz" is such a strange follow-up to the magical 1939 classic. It’s a huge step down for me—gone is the charm, the songs, and the sense of wonder that made the original so unforgettable. Instead, this movie feels more eerie and creepy than magical, and honestly, it’s just bland when compared to its predecessor. I get that it’s more faithful to the books, and fans of those might really enjoy it, but I couldn’t stop comparing it to the original. The characters aren’t as likeable, and the whole vibe feels off. That said, I did love the designs of Tik-Tok and the Nome King—those were really cool and creative. But my love for the 1939 film is just too strong for me to fully appreciate this darker, stranger take. It’s not for me, but maybe it’ll work for others. 2.5/5.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/24

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Julian S

There’s something distinctly punk about RETURN TO OZ, with its lack of songs, muted colors, and unsettling characters. It’s an unexpected sequel in nearly every way—and it works.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Alexandre N

A movie that I had no expectation, but it managed to surprise me with a fun story with even some darker tones at moments. It ain't the original movie, but it's good enough to consider it as a sequel.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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McKay S

It's not terrible, but it's definitely not good either. Some elements of the story don't make a lot of sense, and the acting isn't great. Other then that though, it's reasonably entertaining

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

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Kayleigh S

Unforgettable sweet and worth watching 😌

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/24

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Walter Murch

Director

Fairuza Balk

Dorothy

Nicol Williamson

Dr. Worley

Jean Marsh

Nurse Wilson

Piper Laurie

Aunt Em

Matt Clark

Uncle Henry

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Synopsis

Dorothy discovers she is back in the land of Oz, and finds the yellow brick road is now a pile of rubble, and the Emerald City is in ruins. Discovering that the magical land is now under the control of an evil empire, she sets off to rescue the scarecrow, the tin man and the lion with the help of her new friends.

Director: Walter Murch
Producer: Paul Maslansky
Screenwriter: Walter Murch, Gill Dennis
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Oz Productions Ltd., Silver Screen Partners II
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

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