There Are Way More Wizard Of Oz Movies Than You Probably Think

When it comes to musicals, few stories are as beloved or as surprisingly widespread as The Wizard of Oz. The vibrant, fantastical tale of witches, flying monkeys, and magical ruby slippers has stood the test of time. Now, with the release of Wicked, fans have another opportunity to visit the Land of Oz. Incredibly, L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the original material upon which many adaptations are based, is now 124 years old. That book was so immensely popular — as was the Broadway adaptation in 1902 — that Baum ended up writing 13 more Oz novels.

These books subsequently inspired many movies, TV shows, and plays. Yet one adaptation stands above the rest, with The Wizard of Oz from 1939 rightly regarded as one of the best movie musicals based on a book ever made. For many purveyors of great cinema, Victor Fleming’s Technicolor dream of a film is regarded as one of the most influential pictures in the history of entertainment. In truth, they simply do not make movies like that anymore. The Wizard of Oz is a timeless classic, but this franchise has so much more to offer, for better and for worse.

Wizard Of Oz Adaptations Date Back To 1908

Baum’s Book Was Quickly Adapted In Various Forms

While the Broadway show of 1902 is technically the first adaptation of Baum’s work, audiences didn’t have to wait long to see the story brought to life on the big screen. In 1908, Baum himself took the tale on tour with The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays, where the author would interact with live-action footage and magic lantern slides for a silent retelling of his famous story.

The first genuine motion picture version of The Wizard of Oz came in 1910, although it was just a 15-minute short, and was largely based on the musical show. Three further live-action interpretations followed in 1914 before World War I brought productions to an end. There was then an 11-year gap between those early works — that were, frankly, severely limited by the technologies of the time — and the next attempt in 1925, before things really started to evolve in the 1930s, and the iconic fairytale could truly blossom on the silver screen.

Calculating The Total Number Of Wizard Of Oz Movies Is Complicated

There Is A Long List Of Wizard Of Oz Movies

Determining the exact number of movies that have resulted from Baum’s original novel is difficult, but the short and simple answer is that there have been 25 movies directly retelling the story of The Wizard of Oz, including Wicked. This figure incorporates the pre-war efforts, the definitive 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, and a range of different retellings bringing The Wizard of Oz characters to life in animation, various languages, a Disney adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that was incredibly creepy, and even one version involving Tom and Jerry. However, 10 of the most notable Wizard of Oz properties are:

Some of these movies constitute prequels or spinoffs but still imply that the strict plot of The Wizard of Oz takes place in their settings. They have seen varying degrees of success and impact, but provide many different reflections on the original story and its themes, alongside other media inspired by Baum’s novel.

The Wizard Of Oz Has Inspired Various Different TV Shows & Stage Plays

However, the Wizard of Oz franchise doesn’t end there. Aside from the 25 direct adaptations, there have also been 10 films related to the original story, ranging from international spins on the source material, stories very loosely inspired by Baum’s original novel, and even a fascinating twist on Apocalypse Now. Furthermore, on the small screen, there have been 17 different TV shows related to The Wizard of Oz, stretching right back to 1961.

Related

Wicked’s Timeline & When It Takes Place Compared To The Wizard Of Oz Explained

Wicked isn’t exactly a conventional prequel, which makes it difficult for fans to place the story within the original Wizard of Oz timeline.

Most of the television adaptations have been animated, which serves the story well when the vivid colors and fantastical themes can be brought to life wonderfully through animation. The Muppets even got in on the fun at one point, with a direct-to-television film. The Wizard of Oz has also flourished on the stages of Broadway and the West End over the years, with 17 plays connected to the original story. Again, it is unsurprising, when one considers how iconic and integral to the story all the songs in The Wizard of Oz are.

The most famous of all the stage plays related to the franchise is undoubtedly Wicked, which is also the most recent big entry in the franchise, with the first part arriving in November 2024, and the Wicked Part 2 release date set for 2025. At this point, there have been a grand total of 70 movies, TV shows, and stage plays either directly adapting L. Frank Baum’s novel or being inspired by it. And yet, the 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz is still considered the very best of them all, and probably always will be.

Based on Frank L. Baum’s book of the same name, The Wizard of Oz follows young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) as she’s swept away to the magical land of Oz. Upon arriving, she falls afoul of a witch, then enlists the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion in order to find the Wizard and get home to her family. 

Director

Victor Fleming

Release Date

August 25, 1939

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers

Florence Ryerson , Noel Langley , Edgar Allan Woolf

Cast

Margaret Hamilton , Jack Haley , Judy Garland , Bert Lahr , Ray Bolger

Runtime

102 minutes

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