The Wizard of Oz

Name: The Wizard of Oz
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Released: 1939-08-21
Cast: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan

1939 | 102 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Family

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), people are still talking about it, audiences rate it highly (7.6 out of 10) and it won 2 Oscars. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for fantasy fans, adventure fans and families. If you loved Descendants, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Feel-good.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 42 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1939: an older pace and style.

Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesStrong
7.6 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Original Score, Academy Awards: Best Original Song. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars.
Box office & staying powerStrong
$34 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 1.9 million people sought it out in the past year