Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell

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...( read more  read more... ) the urban version of the land of Oz.

Flixster Users

66% liked it

29,910 ratings

Critics

37% liked it

19 critics

G, 2 hrs. 13 min.

Directed by: Sidney Lumet

Release Date: January 1, 1978

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DVD Release Date: April 13, 1999

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Stats: 1,586 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,586)


  • July 11, 2009
    Dorothy (Diana) is caught up in a cyclone when she chases her dog. She ends up in the urban version of Oz. Michael Jackson plays the scarecrow.
  • June 29, 2009
    I read someone else's comments on the Wiz that I totally disagree on and would like to comment on. Someone said that the film was racist and that only black people appeared in the movie. That is very untrue. The movie has a mixture of both black AND white people, and if you think...( read more) about it,in the origional "wizard of oz" I don't recall seeing any black people in that movie at all. I love "The Wiz" because it took "The Wizard of Oz" to a more interesting level. It was set in New York, it kept the storyline of the origional and adjusted it in different ways which I thought worked very well ! My favourite character is the scarecrow (played by Michael Jackson) because he suited the part perfectly !! Being the sweet, shy and kind person that he is. I think he really brings the film to life, and I'm constantly rewinding the part of the film with him and the crows! He's adorable!. R.I.P Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
  • April 5, 2009
    Unwatchable
  • October 25, 2008
    How the hell did anyone think this was a good idea? Much less someone like Sidney Lumet agree to direct the bloody thing? Simply put the idea of remaking The Wizard of Oz was a terrible idea that someone manages to have an even worse execution. I mean I love old school Michael Ja...( read more)ckson and admit to being somewhat of a Diana Ross fan (She can sing.) but everything is so watered down that no one gets to show the talent they really have. More or less any copies of The Wiz should just be buried in a big dark hole.
    P.S This comment is directed at a C.L Winston, while I am not a fan of this film the reason for this has to do with the choices made by the WHITE director and writer not the "band of singing negros" or the "damn civil rights assholes". Those people or their skin color have nothing to do with the quality of the film. So while I'll be enjoying and praising the works of many gifted black writers, actors and directors, you'll be on your porch wearing your funny pajamas and pointy hat being bitter and missing out on a wonderful part of the world. Oh how I pity you.
  • December 2, 2007
    My 6th grade drama teacher showed this to the class. I enjoyed it very much!
  • November 19, 2009
    this is the wizard of oz I trully understands.....
  • November 11, 2009
    This is the best movie in the world...Much better than The Wizard of Oz!
  • October 31, 2009
    some good songs - "ease on down" and "brand new day". some good characters - michael jackson, nipsey, and ted ross. however, diana ross seemed really old. the overall feeling is dark and dirty, and a lot of songs are long and slow and drag on. can see some foreshadowing of mi...( read more)chael's later dance moves.
  • October 25, 2009
    I give this one also a five star rating.
  • October 20, 2009
    i thought it was a pretty good remake of the original version and including a few twists and new featuers to the movie, i did think it was a bit long though it would have been better it if was a bit shorter, and it was different seeing it played by an all black cast which was goo...( read more)d and michael jackson made a good scarecrow

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • terris85017
    January 8, 2008
    You haven't lived...if you hadn't seen this (in the Eighties)...or gone to Woodstock (in the Sixties...BEFORE my time..) or gone several times & midnight movies showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show!! (70;s) 2001 Space Oddyssey (1970-1980's??) ALSO SINCE ???? every year in the Springtime they have shown on TV The Wizard of Oz (made in 1941 during wartime...when few films were made in color)!!
    Flixster - Share Movies
    MUSICAL THIS MOVIE The Wiz...artist musical almost Ghetto vision of L. Frank Baum's classic tale The Wizard of Oz.
  • cicalover
    December 26, 2007
    For some reason i was kinda scared of seeing this movie (probably because of MJ) but its awsome!
  • omgitsme3
    April 23, 2007
    I Like Diz Movie... Watch It Everday and Night
  • littlefidge
    May 31, 2006
    MJ IS THE BEST EVA!
    n soooooo adorable as a scarecrow!! lol

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The Wiz Trivia


  • in what movie staring michael jackson had the song ease on down the road?  Answer »
  • What character did Michael Jackson play in the movie The Wiz?  Answer »
  • Who said: "I'd like to dip you in Cheez Wiz and spread you all over a Ritz cracker, if I'm not being too subtle"?  Answer »
  • Who played the scarecrow in the movie "The Wiz"?  Answer »

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