The Wiz

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The Wiz

G

1978

2h 13m

Kids & Family

Musical

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).

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Critics Consensus

The Wiz is a workmanlike movie musical lacks the electricity of the stage version (and its cinematic inspiration), but it's bolstered by strong performances by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.

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John Lingan

Slant Magazine

The Wiz is surprisingly drab, needlessly sullen, and ultimately corrupts the original’s “no place like home” resonance.

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

Fueled by the finest, most aurally expensive-sounding suite of music Q ever mounted, the entire project arguably reaches its apotheosis in the centerpiece Emerald City sequence.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

William Thomas

Empire Magazine

This lengthy funk-gospel Wizard Of Oz makeover deserves points for effort but none for execution.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

Lawrence Ware

The Root

The acting is not great, but the reason for that could easily be that the director failed the actors.

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

Peter Martin

ScreenAnarchy

As it is, many great, startling and truly beautiful shots and sequences stand out and make the picture worth watching.

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

Mark Metzger

Under the Radar

Keeping next-to-nothing from Brown’s original script, Schumacher’s screenplay turns The Wiz into a poorly plotted, nonsensical est fever dream.

Nov 11, 2025

Full Review

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Elisha

All time classic movie with all the greatest entertainers from Nipsey Russell to Michael Jackson! The stardom, artistry and genius of this movie is unmatched.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

Full Review

Ben W

It’s a fun movie. Saw it once when I was a kid. The music is not my favorite and many scenes are way too drawn out. But worth a revisit.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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Celeste F

Such a great movie and so fun to see it in a theater!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

Susan

The music was great. The staging was imaginative and captivating. It was a fun movie. The only drawbacks were discourteous persons in the theatre's audience who brought in shopping bags full of crackly cellophane snack bags, causing inexcusable disturbance and distraction.--People: Re-bag your 'loud' snacks and assembly-line bags into 'quiet' zip-lock plastic baggies BEFORE you enter a movie theatre!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Tina S

I didn’t get to see it because the Brandywine Regal Cinemas elevator was out of order…. They had no notice of that anywhere. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

KahGoLive

Loved it and I’m 22 lol been watching since I was a little kid excited to see on big screen for first time . I hope y’all come back to movies so I can watch it again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Diana Ross

Dorothy

Michael Jackson

Scarecrow

Richard Pryor

The Wiz

Nipsey Russell

Tinman

Ted Ross

Lion

The Wiz: Official Clip - Home

3:16

The Wiz: Official Clip - Everybody Rejoice

2:47

The Wiz: Official Clip - If You Believe

2:19

The Wiz: Official Clip - No Bad News

3:59

The Wiz: Official Clip - The Crow Anthem

3:49

The Wiz: Official Clip - Scarecrow Joins Dorothy

2:03

The Wiz: Official Clip - I'm a Mean Old Lion

2:49

The Wiz: Official Clip - Ease on Down the Road

2:40

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Synopsis

When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) tries to save her dog from a storm, she's miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz. After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East upon her arrival, Dorothy is told about the Wiz (Richard Pryor), a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell) and the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross).

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Rob Cohen
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Motown Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 1978, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 18, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Surround

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