The Wiz

Play trailer

The Wiz

G

1978

2h 14m

Kids & Family

Musical

Fantasy

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

117 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy 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, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Wiz is a workmanlike movie musical that lacks the electricity of the stage version and its cinematic inspiration, despite some committed performances from its all-star cast.

Read Critics Reviews

Charles Champlin

Los Angeles Times

Nov 18

The frustration of an earnest, unstinting, aspiring undertaking like "The Wiz" is that its best moments are so fresh and kinetic you sense all the more sharply where it sags and stumbles.

Go to Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Nov 18

The film is photographed in such grained and murky colour that it is like visiting Wonderland in the off-season.

Go to Full Review

New York Mag/Vulture Staff

New York Magazine/Vulture

Nov 18

Tony Walton's huge sets serve mainly as static backdrops, and director Sidney Lumet can't seem to find a place to put the camera.

Go to Full Review

Stan Franklin

Florida Times-Union

Feb 4

Unfortunately the flashy excesses and the decision to have an overage big name in the starring role overwhelm the picture. It's sterile.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Schiff

Boston Phoenix

Nov 18

Sidney Lumet has concocted a film that jerks along from one grandiose set-piece to another, skipping the intimate, in-between moments that might have lent it all some rhythm, unity or momentum.

Go to Full Review

Michael Ward

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Nov 18

It is a pity that director Sidney Lumet could not get the story moving down that Yellow Brick Road a little faster.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Elisha

Aug 31

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.

See more

Ben W

06/18/2025

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.

See more

Celeste F

05/24/2025

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

See more

Susan

05/22/2025

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!

See more

Tina S

05/22/2025

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

See more

KahGoLive

05/22/2025

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.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

View more videos

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

70%

71%

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Watchlist

The Adventures of Pinocchio

36%

28%

The Adventures of Pinocchio

Watchlist

Aladdin

96%

92%

Aladdin

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Aladdin

The Adventures of Mark Twain

80%

80%

The Adventures of Mark Twain

Watchlist

The Black Stallion

90%

83%

The Black Stallion

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Praise This Director Tina Gordon’s Five Favorite Films

Classic Film Catch-Up: Seven Hidden-Gem Classic Musicals

Hit Movie Songs from the 1970s

View more photos

Synopsis

When Harlem schoolteacher Dorothy 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, a wizard who can help her get back to Manhattan. As Dorothy goes in search of the Wiz, she's joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Rob Cohen
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Motown Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 1978, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 18, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround