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Defying Gravity: How to watch Wicked and The Wizard of Oz in release and chronological order

Follow the yellow brick road: A guide to watching The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, the Wiz, and all their remakes

Wicked Movie Trailer Screenshot
Image credit: Universal Pictures
Joshua Lapin-Bertone
Guides by Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer
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It’s time to try defying gravity….all you have to do is follow the yellow brick road.

To be fair, those lines are from two different movies, but they’re both iconic phrases from The Wizard of Oz franchise.

The Wizard of Oz is a story that blends genres. It’s fantasy, it’s adventure, it’s an isekai, it’s a fairy tale, and it’s a beloved part of our pop culture. In 1900 L. Frank Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a novel that has become part of our cultural DNA. The book was successful, spawning numerous sequels, and tons of film adaptations.

In fact, MGM’s 1939 musical adaptation is often regarded as one of the best films of the 20th century. The visuals were stunning, the choreography was mesmerizing, and cinema was never the same after Judy Garland sang ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’

Today, the legacy of The Wizard of Oz continues with Wicked, a film which puts a new spin on the story. Based on the hit Broadway play, Wicked has become a cultural movement, as we all hold space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity.’

If Wicked has gotten you curious about watching more of Oz, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about watching The Wizard of Oz on film and television.

How to watch Wicked and The Wizard of Oz in release order

Are you ready to journey to the land of Oz? There have been a ton of Wizard of Oz movies and television shows over the years….and we mean a ton! This is due to the fact that the original 1900 novel is in the public domain, freeing up any studio to produce their own version.

It would be virtually impossible to list every adaptation of The Wizard of Oz….it would be like listing every adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. However, the following watch order covers all of the major ones, and all of the historically significant ones. If you’re wondering what their differences are, and where they take place in the Oz timeline, we cover that in our chronological section.

Do you have what it takes to watch every version of The Wizard of Oz? If so, just follow the yellow brick road….or this watch list.

 

How to watch Wicked and The Wizard of Oz in chronological order

Watching the Wizard of Oz films in chronological order is tricky, since the films and television projects are largely unconnected. In fact, most of them are retellings of the same events, or they contradict each other. For example. Oz the Great and Powerful and Wicked are both prequels to The Wizard of Oz, but each gives their own backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West.

However, if you want to watch The Wizard of Oz films based on their chronology, there is still a way to do it. First off, we divided the connected films into their own sections. Second, we’ve divided the rest based on their spots in the timeline. There is a section for films set before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz, a section for films telling the story of Dorothy’s first visit to Oz, a section for the various sequels, and a section for the projects set in the distant future.

The 1910 film series

In 1910 four films based on L. Frank Baum’s novels were released. However, they weren’t preserved, and only one survived. The silent films are all set in the same universe, but that didn’t mean much in 1910.

  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 live-action film) – The earliest adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that hasn’t been lost. This 13-minute silent film is largely inspired by the 1902 Wizard of Oz stage musical.
  • Dorothy and the Scarecrow of Oz (1910 live-action film) – A sequel that follows Dorothy and her friends in Emerald City. This film is considered lost media.
  • The Land of Oz (1910 live-action film) – More adventures of Dorothy in Emerald City. This film is considered lost media.
  • John Dough and the Cherub (1910 live-action film) – Based on Baum’s 1906 novel. This film is considered lost media.

L. Frank Baum’s Oz film series

In 1914 Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum started his own film studio, The Oz Film Manufacturing  Company. Using the studio, Baum wrote and produced a series of films based on his Oz novels. While the films were meant to be part of the same Oz universe, don’t look for much continuity between them. Remember, this was 1914, and storytelling in cinema was fairly limited. However, these films are still historically significant for any Oz fan, since they were written and produced by Baum himself.

  • The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914 live-action film) – An adaptation of Baum’s 1913 book. Part of the film has been lost over time.
  • His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914 live-action film) – An adaptation of Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with a focus on the Scarecrow. Elements from this film would make their way into Baum’s 1915 novel The Scarecrow of Oz.
  • The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914 live-action film) – The misadventures of Fluff, the unhappiest girl in Oz.

Oz Prequels

The following films are set before Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. They each serve as unofficial Wizard of Oz prequels. Please note, Wicked and Oz the Great and Powerful are not set in the same continuity, as they give different versions of the Wicked Witch’s origin.

  • Oz the Great and Powerful (2013 live-action film) – A prequel film chronicling the Wizard’s arrival in Oz, and the origin of the Wicked Witch. Disney hoped to make this into a franchise, but no sequels were ever produced.
  • Wicked (2024 live-action film) – An adaptation of the hit Broadway musical which reveals the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West.
  • Wicked Part Two (2025 live-action film) – An adaptation of Wicked’s second act. Portions of this movie will take place at the same time as The Wizard of Oz, showing the events of the film from Elphaba’s point of view.

 

The Wizard of Oz adaptations and twists

The following films are adaptations, retellings, and twists on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. These are more or less different versions of the familiar story….Dorothy arrives in Oz, where she meets the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion.

  • The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908 live-action film) – The first filmed adaptation of the Wizard of Oz. This was part of a multimedia presentation where Baum himself would interact with the characters on screen. Sadly, there is no way to watch this, as the original footage has been lost.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1925 live-action film) – This version is notable for featuring Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1933 animated short) – A Canadian animated short, produced in cooperation with L. Frank Baum’s son Frank Joslyn Baum.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1939 live-action film) - The iconic MGM musical starring Judy Garland. This is the gold standard of Wizard of Oz films, and the one that most people think of when they hear the title. Its impact is so great that it has surpassed Baum’s novel in the public consciousness.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1967 live-action film) – A Soviet adaptation of Baum’s novel.
  • Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi (1978 anime anthology) – An anime retelling of the Wizard of Oz, which aired as part of an anthology series.
  • The Wiz (1978 live-action film) – It’s the Wizard of Oz….with more funk! Based on the hit Broadway play, this is a retelling of the Wizard of Oz starring African-American musicians. Diana Ross plays Dorothy, and Michael Jackson plays the Scarecrow. Do yourself a favor and listen to the song ‘Ease on Down the Road.’ It’s electrifying.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1982 anime film) – Anime adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz produced by Toho.
  • World Famous Fairy Tale Series Presents The Wizard of Oz (1983 anime short) – An anime retelling of The Wizard of Oz produced by Toei Animation.
  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (anime series, 1986-1987) – Anime adapting The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its various sequels.
  • W krainie czarnoksieznika (1988 animated short) – Animated Polish shorts adapting The Wizard of Oz.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1991 animated film) – Direct-to-video animated film, adapting Baum’s classic novel.
  • The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz (anime series, 1992-1993) – An Anime retelling of The Wizard of Oz, set in the year 2060.
  • World Fairy Tale Series (1995 anime anthology) – An anime adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, which aired as an episode of the World Fairy Tale Series anthology program.
  • The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005 television film) – A retelling of The Wizard of Oz starring the Muppets. Don’t skip this one, it’s funny.
  • Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (2011 animated film) – A retelling of MGM’s Wizard of Oz, told from Tom and Jerry’s point of view.
  • Lost in Oz (animated series, 2015-2018) – A modern reimagining of The Wizard of Oz.
  • The Wiz Live! (2015 television special) – Exactly what the title says….a production of The Wiz recorded live for television broadcast.
  • Emerald City (2017 television series) – NBC television drama which retold The Wizard of Oz, with a more dark and adult tone.

The sequels of Oz

There have been many sequels to The Wizard of Oz, but none of them are connected. Some of the sequels tell original stories, while others adapt some of Baum’s later Oz novels. Here’s a brief breakdown of the various Oz sequels…

  • The Land of Oz (1960 television special) – An adaptation of Baum’s novel The Marvelous Land of Oz. This special aired as an episode of Shirley Temple’s Storybook. Temple, who was originally considered for the role of Dorothy in the 1939 MGM musical, plays the role of Ozma.
  • Tales of the Wizard of Oz (1961 animated series) – A series of animated shorts featuring the misadventures of Dorothy and her Oz friends.
  • Return to Oz (1964 animated special) – An animated special that acts as a loose (and copyright safe) sequel to the 1939 MGM musical. It uses the same character designs from the 1961 Tales of the Wizard of Oz cartoon.
  • Off to See the Wizard (television anthology, 1967-1968) – Animated bumpers which were used to introduce television airings of various MGM movies. As these were produced for MGM, they can almost be considered one of the only true sequels to the 1939 musical. However, these were just bumpers, which regularly broke the fourth wall, and had no overall storyline.
  • The Wonderful Land of Oz (1969 live-action film) – An adaptation of Baum’s sequel novel, The Marvelous Land of Oz.
  • Journey Back to Oz (1972 animated film) – Animated sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Notable in that it stars Judy Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli as the voice of Dorothy.
  • Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz (1980 animated special) – Animated special where Dorothy teaches her Oz friends about Thanksgiving.
  • Return to Oz (1985 live-action film) – Disney’s (lawyer friendly) sequel to the 1939 MGM musical. It borrows elements from many of Baum’s sequel novels. Critics panned the film for being too scary for children.
  • Dorothy Meets Ozma of Oz (1987 animated film) – Direct-to-video animated film adapting Baum’s Ozma of Oz.
  • The Wizard of Oz (1990 animated series) – Animated series which finds Dorothy returning to Oz for more adventures. DIC Animation City was able to acquire the rights to animate elements from the 1939 MGM musical. This means that this could be considered one of the only true canon sequels to Judy Garland’s Wizard of Oz.
  • Witches of Oz (2012 television miniseries) – A television miniseries (later cut into a film) which finds an adult Dorothy as a grown woman living in New York City. She has become a successful author, writing about her dreams of Oz. However, Dorothy soon learns that the dreams are repressed memories, and the Wicked Witch has returned for revenge. It’s basically the Hook version of Wizard of Oz.
  • Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return (2014 animated film) – Animated film chronicling Dorothy’s return to Oz. The film is loosely based on Dorothy of Oz, a 1989 novel by L. Frank Baum’s grandson Roger S. Baum.
  • Guardians of Oz (2015 animated film) – Animated film starring one of the Witch’s flying monkeys. The film is set after Dorothy returns to Kansas.
  • Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz (2016 animated film) – A sequel to Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz. Tom and Jerry rescue Dorothy and her friends from the villainous Gnome King.
  • Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (animated series, 2017-2020) – Set after the events of the film, Dorothy is now Princess of Emerald City.

The future of Oz

This is the furthest chronological point of the Oz timeline. These projects are set in Oz’s distant future, decades (and in some cases, centuries) after Dorothy’s trip to Oz.

  • The Oz Kids (animated series, 1996-1997) – Animated series focusing on the children of the original Oz characters.
  • Tin Man (2007 television miniseries) – Television miniseries set in Oz’s distant future, starring Zooey Deschanel as Dorothy’s descendant DG.
  • The Steam Engines of Oz (2018 animated film) – Animated film set 100 years after Dorothy’s first visit to Oz.

When does Wicked Part Two come out?

Wicked Part I Screenshot
Image credit: Universal Pictures

Wicked Part Two will hit theaters on November 21, 2025. This means you have almost a year to rewatch Wicked over and over again to prepare for the sequel. Filming has already wrapped, as the movie was shot at the same time as the first film. According to Stephen Scwartz, who wrote the original Broadway play, Wicked Part Two will feature two new songs.

Why was Wicked split into two movies?

Elphaba And Glinda In Wicked Part 1
Image credit: Universal Pictures

According to director Jon M. Chu, Wicked was split into two movies because he didn’t believe he would be able to fit the story into one film without making cuts. During an interview with Fandango, Chu spoke about why splitting the movie was essential. “It became very clear that you could do certain things on the stage, then when you’re in a movie, you can’t just make some of those leaps. As you go into it, it just became clear we’re either going to have cut so many things out of this movie that it wouldn’t be recognizable as Wicked anymore, or we had to give us the room.” In Chu’s case, he chose more room, which is why we’re getting Wicked Part Two.

Should I watch The Wizard of Oz before Wicked?

You don’t need to be familiar with The Wizard of Oz to enjoy Wicked, but it helps. Wicked is an unofficial prequel to The Wizard of Oz, presenting the story from the Wicked Witch’s point of view. If you watch The Wizard of Oz first, you’ll understand more of the references and Easter eggs. However, those Easter eggs aren’t essential for enjoying the story.

It’s worth noting that Wicked was produced by Universal Pictures, while The Wizard of Oz was produced by MGM. Both are based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is in the public domain. However, Wicked is not canon to the 1939 Wizard of Oz film. As such, it is only allowed to draw from things introduced in Baum’s novel. For example, Baum’s novel featured enchanted silver slippers, which were changed to ruby for the 1939 film. That’s why the slippers are silver in Wicked, rather than ruby. While Wicked is meant to remind you of the 1939 Wizard of Oz film, it can only do so in ways that are copyright-friendly.

Magic and witchcraft can work wonders, but nothing is more powerful than copyright lawyers and intellectual property laws.

 

What’s the deal with Dark Side of the Oz? Does The Wizard of Oz really sync with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon?

Dark Side of the Oz, also known as Dark Side of the Rainbow, is the result of syncing up the 1939 Wizard of Oz film with the 1973 Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon. Those who start the film and the album at the same time notice some spooky coincidences. For example, the song ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ begins at the same time as the cyclone scene. The song ‘Brain Damage’ begins as the Scarecrow starts to sing ‘If I Only Had a Brain.’ The song ‘Eclipse’ ends with the sound of a fading heartbeat as Dorothy tries to listen to the Tin Man’s heart.

There are numerous other examples, and the album and the film sync surprisingly well. However, these are just coincidences. Members of Pink Floyd had given numerous interviews over the years stating that they didn’t have the technology to screen the film in the recording studio while they were producing the album. In a statement to MTV, drummer Nick Mason jokingly said everyone had the wrong movie. “It's absolute nonsense, it has nothing to do with ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ It was all based on ‘The Sound of Music.’”

Some critics have dismissed the phenomenon as apophenia, which is the brain finding unintentional patterns in unrelated things. Either way, everyone should experience Dark Side of the Oz at least once. It’s a fun and offbeat way to watch the movie.

 

Is there really a dead body in The Wizard of Oz?

Trigger warning: This section of the guide contains talk of suicide and hanging.

Don’t believe everything you hear. Contrary to the popular myth, there is no dead body in The Wizard of Oz. Legend has it that you can see a dead body hanging from the trees in the background at the end of the Tin Man’s introduction scene, specifically during the ‘We’re Off to See the Wizard’ reprise. Some versions of the story say that one of the Munchkin actors hung himself due to a broken heart, or a drunken argument with the director.

However, there is no truth to these rumors. First off, the Munchkin sequence wasn’t filmed until after the Tin Man’s introduction, so none of the Munchkin actors had arrived to set yet. In truth, the figure in the background is actually a bird. Director Victor Fleming wanted to make the forest feel more alive, so he borrowed some birds from the Los Angeles Zoo. One of the cranes expanded its wings, making it appear as if a body was swaying. Remastered and cleaned up versions of the film present a clearer picture of the scene, putting the issue to bed. There’s also a photograph (pictured above) of Fleming on set with the crane, standing near the location where viewers thought they spotted the body.

For more on the myth, please see this article from the Oz Wiki.


Was The Wizard of Oz the first movie in color?

There is a popular misconception that The Wizard of Oz was the first film released in color. Some of this perception is due to the film switching from black-and-white to color after Dorothy leaves Kansas. However, despite the often-repeated myth, The Wizard of Oz was not the first color movie. That honor goes to the 1914 silent film The World, The Flesh and the Devil. However, the film is considered lost media.

There were a variety of techniques early films used for color, such as Kinemacolor and Technicolor. For The Wizard of Oz, MGM used Technicolor. The Wizard of Oz was not the first film to use Technicolor as a technique, which dates back to the 1917 film The Gulf Between.

Although it wasn’t the first, we can’t deny how visually stunning The Wizard of Oz was. The film showed Hollywood how far the Technicolor process had come, encouraging filmmakers to embrace the technique.

 

Where can I watch Wicked and The Wizard of Oz?

Still from Wicked trailer
Image credit: Universal

You don’t have to go over the rainbow to watch The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, but you do need to go to your remote. Max is currently the streaming home for The Wizard of Oz. The Wiz can be streamed for free on Sling TV. As of this writing, Wicked has not been released any streaming services. It’s likely to end up on Peacock since NBCUniversal owns that streaming service. However, it’s possible that another streamer may offer more money to scoop it up, causing NBCUniversal to give up any first rights of refusal. Please note, the availability of these films may change as streaming licenses expire and new deals are made.

Now you have everything you need to journey through the land of Oz. You’re off to watch the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

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Joshua Lapin-Bertone

Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.

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