haha I love this movie I was surprised it was on common sense because its so old! Yeah... if you have not watched this... where have YOU been?!
The Wizard of Oz
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Even decades later, one of the best family films ever made.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, friendship, growing up, loss
updated 09.21.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Wizard of Oz was written by Common Sense Media Editors
Parents need to know that the 1939 fantasy contains several scenes that may be scary for very young children, almost all of which involve the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West and her band of creepy flying monkeys. Most parents who've seen the movie before know that the plot includes a disastrous tornado, and an enchanted forest full of red-eyed creatures and talking trees. By today's rating standards, this Hollywood classic is downright tame, but between the twister, the mild peril, and the general menacing, murderous intentions of the witch, some pre-schoolers could be frightened.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about elements of the classic movie that 70 years later can be found in contemporary films. What other popular movies follow a main hero and his supportive friends on an important journey?
- Discuss the way that the movie combines several genres. How does the change from black-and-white to color affect the movie's tone?
- How does the Scarecrow demonstrate his intelligence, the Tin Man his heart, and the Lion his courage? How does each one find what they need within themselves?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Wizard of Oz
What’s the Story?
Based on L. Frank Baum's classic children's book, THE WIZARD OF OZ is a fantasy musical following Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), a Kansas farm-girl whose best friend is her beloved dog Toto. Distraught over a mean-spirited neighbor's attempt to have Toto put to sleep, Dorothy runs away with her pet. On her way back home, Dorothy is caught in a twister, which knocks her out and seems to lift the entire farmhouse into the sky. After the house crash-lands, Dorothy and Toto step out far, far away from Kansas into a technicolor land. Suddenly, a multitude of munchkins and Glinda, a lovely good witch (Billie Burke), hail the confused Dorothy as a heroine for landing on the Wicked Witch of the East ("Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead," they sing). But when the dead witch's sister, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) arrives on the scene, she demands that Dorothy hand over her sister's pair of magical ruby slippers, which are now on Dorothy's feet. Unwilling to give up the slippers, Dorothy starts on a mysterious trip down a yellow brick road to Emerald City, where she hopes to find the Wonderful Wizard of Oz -- the only person capable of returning her home. On her journey, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley), and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who desperately seek a brain, a heart, and courage, respectively. If they can reach the Wizard and outwit the vengeful Witch, all of their dreams may come true.
Is It Any Good?
Even 70 years after its release, director Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz is quite obviously a masterpiece of early cinema. Not only is it one of the finest examples of the hero (or, in this case, the heroine's) journey, which has influenced every epic quest tale from Star Wars to Harry Potter, but it is also a magical combination of drama, adventure, fantasy, and musical. This is one of the rare movie phenomena that modern-day grandparents can remember seeing as little ones, and that nostalgia can be easily shared with yet another generation of children, who can now watch it in high-definition or Blu Ray. It's a testament to the movie's universal appeal that seven decades later, Oz is still culturally significant -- from Halloween costumes to sing-along-shows to remixes of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Garland, who was only 16 when Oz was filmed, is inimitably sublime as Dorothy, especially when she sings. Although contemporary moviegoers are used to precocious young "triple threats" marketed by Disney and Nickelodeon, Garland stands out as one of the first. Garland's impressively mature voice soars beyond the rainbow and into the audiences' hearts. Beyond Dorothy, there's the amazing trifecta of theater-trained actors (Lahr, Bolger, Haley) who played her yellow-brick-road companions. Hamilton is deliciously evil as the green-skinned witch, and Burke is memorably comforting as the beautiful good witch Glinda. Everyone should see The Wizard of Oz multiple times in their lives; it's simply a must-see film.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Victor Fleming
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/25/1939, DVD release: 9/29/2009
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/25/1939, DVD release: 9/29/2009
MPAA Rating: NR
Our Members Say
See all 47 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
If you have not seen it... see it...
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
If you have not seen it... see it...
haha I love this movie I was surprised it was on common sense because its so old! Yeah... if you have not watched this... where have YOU been?!
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
It's an all around family movie.
When your watching it with your children. They ask questions or make comments. It's good to let your children explore their own mind and their own thoughts on the movie. Talk to them when it's over. I love this movie and suggest it for children that can understand it.
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
It's a classic
It's a classic.
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I rate this title off for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
a great classic
this movie is a great classic for kids and adults. It has good messages about working together and never giving up. But it is not for toddlers because of peril and the wicked which probably will scare them.
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I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
withch little scary
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I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
withch little scary
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
The Best Family Film Ever Made
The movie teaches alot about finding your way home and its goodn to have people help you.This movie is one of the best moovies and family film ever produced.May this movie shall never be forgotten.. The Wizard Of Oz.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
A GREAT 1939 CLASSIC
This 1939 classic is one of the best family films ever made!!!! Kids will love munchkine land and the amzing charecters and so will adults!
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I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
REALLY GOOD
I have this on a VHS which is now unwatchable. It scared me at the beginning (when I was 4) but now isn't scary
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Fun and Magical Trip Over the Rainbow!
THE WIZARD OF OZ is a very well-made movie. It isn't perfect (and those Munchkins are SO annoying!), but it is fun, charming, and magical. The acting by Judy Garland is superb (her "Over the Rainbow" will bring tears to your eyes), and the film is shot in striking Technicolor. It is a great family film with no real inapropriate content. However, some of the scenes could be scary for kids. The Wicked Witch of the West is alarming (green and malicious), especially when she threatens the lives of Dorothy and her friends. However, good triumphs in the end, and all of the heroes are smart, unselfish, and courageous.
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I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
So my mother showed this to my daughter when she turned 3. She subsequently became obsessed with the film and the characters. She had a Dorothy costume and some ruby slippers she'd dress up I'm all the time. Not one thing bothered her. She loved it from the beginning in black and white all the way through to the end. By the time she was 4 it was a whole other story. You even mention the movie and she gets frightened. She will not go near it and is very adament that she does like it. Apparently it's the poor wicked witch's fault. I am sure she will watch it again when she's older and find love for it again.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Love this classic - just a touch scary!
My daughter first watched this movie at 4-1/2 years old. She completely loved it, and was not even scared by the flying monkeys that used to creep me out when I was a kid. She was only upset by the thought that the Witch would take Toto away from Dorothy! Love the movie and especially the music!
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
cute movie
I think wizard of oz is a great family movie for all ages and everyone should see wizard of oz
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Who doesn't like this movie?
Not every film has the critical acclaim The Wizard of Oz does. It's simply too timeless. Even though it's a 70-year-old movie now, it still looks good compared to most other films these days. Even the special effects look good now. I think the best age to see The Wizard of Oz is 5 (mainly because I was 5 when I saw it) and by that time in a kid's life, they should be able to figure out that this is just a movie. But everyone needs to see this film at least once in their life.
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I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
One of the best fantasies of all time
You can't escape at least 10 years of your life where you DON'T hear a reference to this movie. Everything's iconic: the red shoes, the melting scene, "we're not in Kansas, anymore," everything about it is great. One of the best works of imagination on film. The flying monkeys may freak out your younger kids.
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I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Depends on the kid
This is my favorite movie of all time, and I started watching it at age 3. However, my 4 year old is terrified of it.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
Meh.
I don't particularly care for it, but if you're into it, fine. I am personally not a fan of Judy Garland's acting though she is a great singer.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 38% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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