The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a popular book written on 1900 and a series of movies based on movie. Book is written by L. Frank Baum. Soon after released, book became a cult classic and scene adaptations of book started in 1902. Book is sold over 35,000 copies in one year and it was the record of 1900s first half. L. Frank Baum made presentations of book in radio with The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays name. After some not adaptations not completely sticked to main idea, first movie is completed in 1939. How many Wizard of Oz movies are there?
There are various Wizard of Oz movies but most of them are not sticked to original version. First popular adaptation of The Wizard of Oz is directed in 1939. Stars of movie are Judy Garland, Jack Haley and Frank Morgan. Technicolor used postmodern special effects for this movie and unusual characters of story became popular. Movie couldn’t gain gross success but then became a cult classic. Budget of movie was $2,000,000 and it only gained $3,017,000. It was the most expensive production of its time. Also music created for movie and especially the song “somewhere over the rainbow” became a pop classic. DVD and Blu-Ray home media versions are available.
Second movie based on the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is directed in 1978. It was the blaxploitation era and black actor and actresses preferred for action movies. Stars of movie were Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Director Sidney Lumet tried to create a modern version of book. It couldn’t gain commercial or critical success. Especially it was supposed to be a big gross movie but it was totally failure. Many TV showed it in Thanksgiving Day and people call it the official Thanksgiving Day movie. Michael Jackson’s performance was the only positive side of movie and many authorities believed that he’s a “genuine acting talent” Also movie was nominated for four Academy Awards and it created controversy in the USA and movie world.
Return to Oz is also a popular movie based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” book. Also some scripts from “Ozma of Oz” book are used in the movie. Movie is about Dorothy’s return to the Land of Oz. Movie couldn’t gain commercial success and gained poor reviews. But after home media is released, it became a cult following. By $28 million budget, it only gained $11,137,801 box office. Fairuza Balk and Brian Henson were the stars of movie.
After that movie, many adaptations of book like “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz”, “Apocalypse Oz” are released but they couldn’t gain any commercial success.
“Oz the Great and Powerful” is released in 2013 and it’s directed by Sam Raimi who is director of Spiderman and many important movies. Stars of movie are James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz. Movie is released by Walt Disney Pictures on 3D format.
Story is not completely based on book but it is almost faithful. Also some characters from book which are not represented before like Master Tinker and Knuck are in the movie. Movie gained critical and commercial success. Movie’s budget is $200 million and according to reports, an additional $125 million budget is used for international ads. Music of movie is made by composer Danny Elfman. Mariah Carey made a promotional single for the movie and it raised top #1 in many music lists. According to E! News, Mila Kunis said all stars of first movie signed for a sequel. But Sam Raimi said that he has no interest in a sequel of movie.
