When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy is miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz, she goes in search of the Wiz, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan, along with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.
Where to Watch The Wiz
- RichardMay 14, 2026I remember seeing The Wiz on TV years ago and what grabbed me immediately was the music. The story and visuals are fun in their own quirky, late 70s way, but it’s the soundtrack that really makes this one unforgettable. Those songs still hit with the same energy and soul and hearing them again brings back that whole era in an instant. As a film, it’s uneven, some scenes are clunky, some effects haven’t aged well and the pacing wanders, but none of that matters once the music kicks in. The performances, the arrangements, the whole vibe… it’s pure nostalgia wrapped in a funky, theatrical time capsule. It’s not perfect, but it has heart, style and a soundtrack that still shines. Rewatching it now is like stepping back into a very specific moment in time and the music is absolutely the reason it still works.
- TomVaderDecember 20, 2025I remember this being on TV when I was young, and I was very excited to see it because Micheal Jackson was in it. Then I fell asleep watching it. Well, I'm much older now, but I still fell asleep watching it. This movie had a lot of promise, but overdoes the visuals and songs. It wouldn't be a bad thing if the songs were catchy enough, but most of them don't measure up. It also seems like they break into a 12 minute musical number every single time any scene changes. The result is that the story drags. While it's fun to see this story reimagined, I think they tried too hard for a Broadway musical feel, which doesn't work for me.
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The Wiz was released on October 24, 1978.
The Wiz was directed by Sidney Lumet.
The Wiz has a runtime of 2h 14m.
The Wiz was produced by Rob Cohen.
When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy is miraculously whisked away to an urban fantasy land called Oz, she goes in search of the Wiz, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan, along with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.
The key characters in The Wiz are Dorothy (Diana Ross), Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), Tinman (Nipsey Russell).
The Wiz is rated G.
The Wiz is a Musical, Fantasy, Adventure film.
The Wiz has an audience rating of 6.6 out of 10.
The Wiz had a budget of $24M.
The Wiz has made $21M at the box office.