The Wiz (film)

The Wiz is a 1978 American contemporary fantasy musical film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical, the film reimagines the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast. Dorothy Gale, a 24-year-old teacher from Harlem, is transported to the magical urban-fantasy Land of Oz. While on an adventure in order to seek help from the Wiz, Dorothy encounters a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, a Cowardly Lion and a Wicked Witch.

Produced by Universal Pictures and Motown Productions, filming took place in Queens, New York City, from July to December 1977, with a cast starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (in his only feature film role), Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor. The story is reworked from William F. Brown's Broadway libretto by Joel Schumacher, and Quincy Jones supervised the adaptation of songs by Charlie Smalls and Luther Vandross. A handful of new songs, written by Jones and the songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, were added for the project.

The Wiz was theatrically released the following year on October 24, 1978, to critical and commercial failure. Some critics unfavorably compared the film to its source material and took issue with the casting of Ross as Dorothy, while others criticized the direction of Lumet, who was considered a poor choice for directing a musical. Despite its initial failure, critics have become more favorable, and it has become a cult classic among audiences, Ross's fanbase, Jackson's fanbase and Oz enthusiasts. The 2015 live television adaptation The Wiz Live! is influenced by the film.