Return to Oz

Name: Return to Oz
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy, Family
Released: June 21, 1985
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 42

1985

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: June 21, 1985 | PG

Summary: Dorothy finds herself back in the land of her dreams where she makes delightful new friends like Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gum, as well as dangerous new enemies, the creepy Wheelers, the head-hunting Princess Mombi, and the evil Nome King. With every twist in the yellow brick road, Dorothy's struggle to return home becomes moreDorothy finds herself back in the land of her dreams where she makes delightful new friends like Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gum, as well as dangerous new enemies, the creepy Wheelers, the head-hunting Princess Mombi, and the evil Nome King. With every twist in the yellow brick road, Dorothy's struggle to return home becomes more challenging and foreboding. And the future of Oz rests in her hands. Will Dorothy be able to restore its rightful heir to the throne of the Emerald City? (Disney)… Expand

Director: Walter Murch

Genre(s): Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

First of all, it has no music. That aside, it doesn't have any wit, joy, or drive. Children who haven't had the pleasure of seeing The Wizard of Oz might enjoy this film, but it will also frighten them. There are some fine, Oscar-nominated special effects, but the excitement just isn't there.

Empire Ian Nathan

It’s enthralling as well as rambling, you do miss the songs, but there is clearly no place for them here. Best to see them as individual films with nothing in common apart from source material, one a classic, the other a strong enough picaresque amongst some decent fabulation. Read full review

Dave Kehr

It's bleak, creepy, and occasionally terrifying. Studio pressure apparently forced Murch to back off from the full fury of his conception, but this is still strong stuff. Read full review

Jay Scott

Dorothy's friends are as weird as her enemies, which is faithful to the original Oz books but turns out not to be a virtue on film, where the eerie has a tendency to remain eerie no matter how often we're told it's not. [22 Jun 1985, p.E3]

Peter Stack

Kids probably will enjoy portions of Return to Oz, but at best, it's a mechanical movie that never finds a real heart to engage an audience. [21 Jun 1985, p.79]

Jay Carr

The Disney people have taken such obvious care in making Return to Oz that it's a shame it didn't turn out better. It has its moments - mostly visual - but when it isn't a grim downer, it's largely inert. [21 Jun 1985, p.21]

Richard Schickel

Dorothy encounters a pumpkin with stick limbs, a tin soldier and something called a Gump, which looks suspiciously like your basic moosehead. They are all mechanical marvels, not actors, which means they can do anything except win an audience's heart. Still, it would defy the gifts of an Olivier to find interesting, amusing life in a context as charmless and joyless (and songless) as the one Murch and his design team have concocted. [1 July 1985, p.63]

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User Reviews

MisterKS

Feb 21, 2015

What a masterpiece in visual and storytelling! If you don't mind oz for being darker than the 1939 version, then this is a must-watch. Don't bother the critics!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

IvoryAngel

Aug 2, 2013

A wonderful imaginative movie! Amazing special effects for the time, lovable side characters and a lovely soundtrack. Do not try to compare it to the musical. It is its own unique creation. Anyone who thinks that it is too scary for children is not giving them (the children) enough credit.A wonderful imaginative movie! Amazing special effects for the time, lovable side characters and a lovely soundtrack. Do not try to compare it to the musical. It is its own unique creation. Anyone who thinks that it is too scary for children is not giving them (the children) enough credit. My favorite movie when I was three and still one of my favorite movies today.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Espioc

May 10, 2014

Having read eleven of the fourteen original oz books including the two this movie was based on I found it a perfect and fairly accurate combination of the second and third book in the Oz series. It was never meant to be a sequel to the beloved classic but simply a different adaptation of theHaving read eleven of the fourteen original oz books including the two this movie was based on I found it a perfect and fairly accurate combination of the second and third book in the Oz series. It was never meant to be a sequel to the beloved classic but simply a different adaptation of the next books which happen to be a bit darker. Even the Wizard of Oz book was much darker that the movie. Return to Oz strived more for accuracy.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

robertoiglesias

Jan 31, 2020

This visually scary 80's film is a sequel to The Wizard of Oz.
I realize that this film can be compared to The Wiz. Both are creepy and are magical.
But where that film really failed in being a good Oz movie (imo check my review), this film succeeds. Because there are nice and kind visualsThis visually scary 80's film is a sequel to The Wizard of Oz.
I realize that this film can be compared to The Wiz. Both are creepy and are magical.
But where that film really failed in being a good Oz movie (imo check my review), this film succeeds. Because there are nice and kind visuals and imagery and characters between all of the creepy imagery. Plus the performances are good and there aren't an overabundance of annoying songs. I like this… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

monkeybrainspit

Mar 3, 2011

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tokyochuchu

Jan 12, 2013

Return to Oz is a fantastic horror movie for children. Witches that can remove their heads, mutated rollerblading punks, evil rocks that spy on you, ghosts trapped in mirrors, electric shock therapy... This is scary stuff for kids! But not too scary, however, making it an excellent treatReturn to Oz is a fantastic horror movie for children. Witches that can remove their heads, mutated rollerblading punks, evil rocks that spy on you, ghosts trapped in mirrors, electric shock therapy... This is scary stuff for kids! But not too scary, however, making it an excellent treat come Halloween.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

Gamepro3093

Mar 15, 2021

Awful sequel to The Wizard Of Oz that was purely an exercise in making money. It is one of the most disappointing sequels to an amazing movie that didn’t even try to wow you. It’s among other crap sequels like Terminator 3, Big Top Pee Wee and Tomorrow Never Dies in the club of worst sequelsAwful sequel to The Wizard Of Oz that was purely an exercise in making money. It is one of the most disappointing sequels to an amazing movie that didn’t even try to wow you. It’s among other crap sequels like Terminator 3, Big Top Pee Wee and Tomorrow Never Dies in the club of worst sequels to amazing movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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