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Return to Oz
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Return to Oz (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   6,519 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Walter Murch
Writers:
L. Frank Baum (novels)
Gill Dennis (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Return to Oz on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 June 1985 (USA) more
Tagline:
An all-new adventure down the yellow brick road. more
Plot:
Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, is somehow called back to Oz when a vain witch and the Nome King destroy everything that makes the magical land beautiful. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations more
User Comments:
We're off to see the Sequel, the wonderful sequel of Oz… more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Oz (USA) (working title)
The Adventures of the Devil in the Sky (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
113 min | Finland:110 min (uncut) | Finland:109 min (cut)
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-10 (uncut) | Finland:K-8 (cut) | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:L | Iceland:LH (video rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:U (original rating) | Australia:PG | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Fairuza Balk's ruby slippers were specially handmade with imitation rubies and rotoscoped in post-production to give them a magical look. The rubies were actually glass beads imported from Austria and individually attached to the shoes with a special spray adhesive. This later proved problematic, as the hot stage lights melted the adhesive, and the young actress' fidgety movements would often knock the beads off. Tired of chasing after detached beads, the wardrobe staff finally ordered the shoes to be worn only when visible on camera. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Dorothy's eyes and head-position on the pillow change several times between shots while they are testing the shock-therapy machine. more
Quotes:
Nome: ...there's no sign of the CHICKEN! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Dick Tracy (1990) more

FAQ

Chapter Headings, an unofficial version:
Is this a sequel to the 1939 MGM classic "The Wizard of Oz?"
more
19 out of 21 people found the following comment useful:-
We're off to see the Sequel, the wonderful sequel of Oz…, 12 December 2005
7/10
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

Cherubic Dorothy Gale is catapulted back to the magical world of Oz in this enchanting, but very atypical Disney Production that got released 46 years after Victor Fleming's original (none of the original cast-members lived long enough to ever see this sequel!). In the story, however, only six months have passed since Dorothy was brought to Oz by a tornado. During some medical tests, performed because she keeps talking about her unbelievable journey, a mysterious girl helps Dorothy escape from the hospital and back to Oz for a new adventure! The screenplay, based on two L. Frank Baum novels at once, introduces a large amount of imaginative new characters that are either Dorothy's loyal friends…or malicious new enemies. It soon becomes clear that she was called back to Oz for a reason, as the evil Nome King has turned everyone to stone and the mad Princess Mombi is after more human heads for her collection. Despite the presence of a talking chicken, this is a frighteningly grim and obscure fantasy tale, perhaps not even suitable for the typical Disney-target groups. The events and characters in "Return to Oz" are often quite macabre (decapitation for a hobby, eerie guys on wheels…) and the tone of the film is heavier since there isn't any singing and dancing going on. Perhaps a little too scary for the smallest children but "Return to Oz" nonetheless is a compelling and spontaneous adventure, highly recommended to those who like their fairy-tales sinister. The special effects are really terrific, with stunning stop-motion animations and some very engaging mechanical machinery (Tic-Tok!). The young Fairuza Balk is an unbelievably convincing follow-up to Judy Garland! The talented Piper Laurie ("Carrie") is regretfully underused, though. This film, along with "The Dark Crystal" and "The Neverending Story", was a huge favorite of mine when I was young and they seemly only got better with years. Good stuff.

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Explain Jack Pumpkinhead!!! stephen-39
Can't get enough of Return to Oz aaron-schultz
Is this film as good as I remember? evilelvis-2
deadly desert question rmusic06
Kids today are such wimps r_v-dove
Scared the Crap out of me as a kid! StanleyKubrick2001
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Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
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The Wizard of Oz The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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