Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- colorful
- playful
- family movie night
- weekend adventure
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually lavish and family-friendly but uneven, with formulaic storytelling and an overlong, effects-heavy execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Oscar begins as a dubious circus magician pursuing fame and fortune, then uses illusion and ingenuity to protect Oz's inhabitants and become a better man.
Oz is presented through intensely colorful landscapes, magical creatures, and elaborate 3D-oriented spectacle, contrasting with the opening's dusty black-and-white Kansas.
The story follows how Oscar becomes the Wizard associated with the established Oz mythology while introducing the witches and other inhabitants before the classic tale.
Oscar falsely claims to be the great wizard, but the crisis in Oz forces him to turn stagecraft and improvisation into a credible defense of the kingdom.
Films like Oz the Great and Powerful, and why
Alice in Wonderland
shared family fantasy adventure, vivid production design, magical world-building, and a morally self-serving protagonist seeking transformation
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
shared literary fantasy setting, colorful visual spectacle, comedic adventure, and a reluctant outsider becoming part of a larger conflict
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
shared theatrical fantasy, eccentric humor, elaborate practical and digital imagery, and a flawed trickster figure drawn into a magical quest
Movie Details
- Director
- Sam Raimi
- Release Date
- 2013-03-07
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (6920)
Cast
- James Franco
- Mila Kunis
- Rachel Weisz
- Michelle Williams
- Zach Braff
- Bill Cobbs
- Joey King
- Tony Cox
- Stephen R. Hart
- Abigail Spencer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Oz the Great and Powerful about?
- A dubious circus illusionist enters a dazzling magical kingdom and must turn deception into genuine heroism.
- What is Oz the Great and Powerful like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Oz the Great and Powerful as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Oz the Great and Powerful violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Oz the Great and Powerful as mild.
- What did critics think of Oz the Great and Powerful?
- Critics broadly found the film visually lavish and family-friendly but uneven, with formulaic storytelling and an overlong, effects-heavy execution.
- Which films are like Oz the Great and Powerful?
- Films with a similar feel include Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and The NeverEnding Story.
- How long is Oz the Great and Powerful?
- Oz the Great and Powerful runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch Oz the Great and Powerful?
- In United States, Oz the Great and Powerful streams on Disney Plus.
