The Wiz cover art

The Wiz Details

1978 Certificate U
  • 50
  • from 768 members

Dorothy, a young African-American kindergarten teacher leaves a large family dinner one night to chase after her dog during a New York City snowstorm and gets swept up by a cyclone and transplanted to the urban version of the land of Oz. Read more

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne
Director Sidney Lumet
Genres Music/Musical

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The Wiz

Dorothy, a young African-American kindergarten teacher leaves a large family dinner one night to chase after her dog during a New York City snowstorm and gets swept up by a cyclone and transplanted to the urban version of the land of Oz.

Starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Lena Horne, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack
Director Sidney Lumet
Studio UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 8 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Music/Musical
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 26 Jul 2004
Production year: 1978
  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Wiz

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    A 34-year-old Diana Ross plays Dorothy in this all-black version of The Wizard of Oz, which casts a pall over memories of the 1939 classic. It's easy to see why director Sidney Lumet's clunker ranks as one of the most expensive movie flops of all time. While the Tony Walton sets are fabulous, the famous plot is immersed in a dark inner-city impressionism, the quasi-rocker songs are lacklustre, and diva Ross is just ludicrous in the Judy Garland role. Michael Jackson is surprisingly good as the Scarecrow, though, and among the songs is the hit Ease on down the Road.

    • Radio Times
  • Dorothy and her entourage of malfunctioning under-achievers move on from rural Kansas to face the contemporary perils... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Wiz

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Absolutely brilliant

    A modern (well, 1970s) version of The Wizard of Oz, this film has it all. Excellent acting, great special effects (considering the year it was made) and a ... more

      • mjj46 from Essex
  • Most recent members' review of The Wiz

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  • 12 out of 12 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5.0 stars

    Absolutely brilliant

    A modern (well, 1970s) version of The Wizard of Oz, this film has it all. Excellent acting, great special effects (considering the year it was made) and a ... more

      • mjj46 from Essex

Rating breakdown

768 Member ratings
  • 100
74
  • 90
25
  • 80
51
  • 70
77
  • 60
124
  • 50
107
  • 40
109
  • 30
69
  • 20
89
  • 10
43

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    • Dorothy, a young African-American kindergarten teacher leaves a large family dinner one night to chase after her dog during a New York City snowstorm and gets swept up by a cyclone and transplanted ...