The Wiz (film)

Plot

During a crowded Thanksgiving dinner in a Harlem apartment, 24-year-old elementary schoolteacher Dorothy Gale lives with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Aunt Em teases her for delaying adulthood. After the meal, Dorothy's dog Toto runs into a snowstorm; she retrieves him but is trapped by a magical whirlwind of snow that transports them to Oz. Dorothy descends, smashing through an electric "Oz" sign that kills Evermean, the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins in a playground.

The Good Witch of the North, Miss One, gives Dorothy Evermean's silver shoes and tells her to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to seek the Wiz. Dorothy meets a Scarecrow made of garbage, who wants a brain; they find the yellow brick road. They encounter a Tin Man in an abandoned amusement park and a Cowardly Lion banished from the jungle, both joining the quest for a heart and courage. The group escapes a haunted subway station and the Poppy Girls, who seduce the Lion; he feels ashamed, but Dorothy and the others cheer him.

Production

The Wiz was Motown Productions' eighth feature film. Berry Gordy wanted Stephanie Mills, who originated Dorothy on Broadway, but Diana Ross convinced Universal executive Rob Cohen to produce the film if she played Dorothy, despite Gordy's refusal due to her age. John Badham declined to direct after learning Ross was cast, calling her wrong for the role; Sidney Lumet replaced him, though he had no musical directing experience.

Universal did not initially set a budget, excited about the film's prospects. Filming took place in Queens, New York City, from July to December 1977. Quincy Jones supervised song adaptations, and new songs were added by Jones, Nickolas Ashford, and Valerie Simpson.

Release

The Wiz premiered at Loew's Astor Plaza in New York City on October 24, 1978, opening in five other New York theaters. It opened at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles on October 26 and in 29 other theaters on October 27, including Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Detroit. It expanded to 67 theaters on November 3, with a planned nationwide release on December 22.

The film earned $13.6 million against a $24 million budget, a commercial failure despite a strong opening week. Pre-sale of television rights to CBS for over $10 million did not prevent a net loss of $10.4 million. It was the most expensive film musical at the time.

The film returned to theaters for a limited engagement on May 18 and 21, 2025, for the stage version's 50th anniversary. It was first released on VHS in 1981 and broadcast on CBS in 1980 and 1984. It continues to air on Black-focused networks and is often broadcast on Thanksgiving.

Reception

Initial trade reviews from previews were positive; Variety called it a "big, rousing, juicy hit" with a "virtually flawless" cast, noting the preview audience roared approval. Most professional critics were negative. Many criticized Diana Ross as too old at 33; The Grove Book of Hollywood stated the film ended her screen career.

Hischak's Through the Screen Door called Joel Schumacher's screenplay "cockamamy" and "Believe in Yourself" the weakest song, describing Ross's Dorothy as "cold, neurotic and oddly unattractive." Leonard Maltin noted good musical numbers and a fine supporting cast but a "dreary finale" and "drearier performance" by Ross. Harpole's History of the American Cinema called it "one of the decade's biggest failures." Tom Shone's Blockbuster referred to it as "expensive crud." Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood said it was "too scary for children, and too silly for adults." Ray Bolger, the 1939 Scarecrow, stated it "is overblown and will never have the universal appeal" of the MGM film. Some critics praised the music given to cast mates over Ross's dull ballads.