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Return to Oz

Play trailer Poster for Return to Oz PG Released Jun 21, 1985 1h 50m Kids & Family Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
58% Tomatometer 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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Return to Oz

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Return to Oz doesn't soar when it so clearly should. Dec 13, 2018 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Entrancing in a very different way from its bright Technicolor ancestor. Rated: A Dec 2, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Kayleigh S Unforgettable sweet and worth watching 😌 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/02/24 Full Review Wayne K Novelist Edgar Watson Howe once said ‘A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.’ A nugget of wisdom like this was likely put to the test in 1985 when Return To Oz, a sort of sequel to the 1939 MGM classic, was released. Kids especially enjoy being scared by media, which helps to explains Disney’s early success, but had I seen this as a child, I suspect I would have insisted on sleeping with the lights on for a month. Watching it as an adult is a fascinating experience, because you’re watching a follow up to a beloved film that’s been round longer than most people have been alive, and the change in tone, story and visual style are jarring to say the least. I really enjoyed it’s less family-friendly approach and willingness to cover theme such as archaic medical practises, despotic leaders and the act of sacrificing yourself to save those closest to you. Oz now looks less like the children’s area at a theme park and more like a war-torn capital city, where the buildings have been destroyed, civilisation has broken down and the environment is reclaiming the land. The world is now populated by ravaging factions and dominated by a dictator who throws their power around with reckless abandon. Fairuza Balk makes for a charming and likeable lead, as well as a worthy successor to Judy Garland, the puppet work is fantastic and, as nonsensical as the story and logic can be at times, it does genuinely feel like you’ve gone on some grand adventured and lived to tell the tale. Comparing it to the original is like comparing apples and oranges, so it’s much better to judge it by its own merits. Don’t expect a colourful fairytale and you’ll probably enjoy it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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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