Lynch/Oz (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Lynch/Oz is a 2023 documentary directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, starring Jason Stoval as Lounge Wizard, John Waters and Amy Nicholson. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $68,979 worldwide. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Alexandre O. Philippe
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Janus Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Lynch/Oz About?
The premise of Lynch/Oz without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
"Lynch/Oz" examines the significant influence of "The Wizard of Oz" on the work of filmmaker David Lynch. The documentary explores how themes, imagery, and cultural references from Fleming's classic film resonate throughout Lynch's career, from his early shorts to acclaimed series like "Twin Peaks." It investigates the deep connection between these two distinct cinematic visions and considers whether "The Wizard of Oz" serves as a lasting touchstone in Lynch’s artistic expression.
Lynch/Oz Themes & Keywords
· 44 tags- filmmaking
- filmmaker
- film director
- reference to david lynch
- reference to the wizard of oz
- reference to judy garland
- film buff
- influence
- reference to the american dream
- reference to a munchkin
- urban legend
- unhappiness
+32 more Show fewer
- reference to it's a wonderful life
- movie buff
- homage
- reference to technicolor
- reference to 'the wizard of oz' 1939
- cinema
- auteur
- analysis
- lip syncing
- reference to gone with the wind
- reference to 'gone with the wind' 1939
- american cinema
- surrealism
- surrealist
- americana
- nostalgia
- reference to bettie page
- reference to marilyn monroe
- doppelganger
- duality
- underbelly
- myth
- golden age of hollywood
- reference to twin peaks
- reference to 'twin peaks fire walk with me' 1992
- reference to three men and a baby
- reference to blue velvet
- reference to the philadelphia story
- obsession
- film maker
- art documentary
- entertainment documentary
Lynch/Oz Cast & Characters
Jason Stoval leads the cast as Lounge Wizard, with John Waters as Host (Chapter 3: 'Kindred') and Amy Nicholson as Host (Chapter 1: 'Wind'). Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe; 6 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Alexandre O. Philippe
- Jason Stoval as Lounge Wizard
-
John Waters as Host (Chapter 3: 'Kindred') - Amy Nicholson as Host (Chapter 1: 'Wind')
- Aaron Moorhead as Host (Chapter 5: 'Judy')
Also Starring in Lynch/Oz
· 2 more- Justin Benson Host (Chapter 5: 'Judy')
- Judy Garland Themselves
More from Alexandre O. Philippe
More films directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, best-rated first: Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist, Chain Reactions, William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill and Memory: The Origins of Alien.
Lynch/Oz Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Lynch/Oz 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 62 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 56/100, strongest in sensory experience (68) and weakest in story & flow (45).
Lynch/Oz Echo Score Breakdown
Lynch/Oz offers an ambitious investigation of the visual and thematic dialogue between the 1939 classic and David Lynch’s body of work. Critics acknowledge the film’s meticulous editing and inventive montage, while also noting repetitive sequencing and occasional lack of cohesion. Viewer reactions echo this split, praising the rich image handling but criticizing the documentary’s tendency to meander. Consequently, the film delivers insightful content tempered by uneven execution, resulting in a mixed overall impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 60
ART-wise, the documentary demonstrates careful craftsmanship through sharp editing and a well‑curated montage of film clips. Critics commend the visual assembly that creates moments of exhilaration, yet several note repetitive sequencing that hampers flow. The overall artistic execution is competent but marred by occasional redundancy.
- Character & Emotion 58
When evaluating character and emotional resonance, the film relies on interviews that provide nuanced commentary but lack dramatic depth. Reviewers appreciate the insightful perspectives that enrich understanding of Lynch’s symbolism, while others find the conversational format flat and insufficient for strong emotional engagement. Thus, the character dimension offers informative but limited affective impact.
- Story & Flow 45
Story-wise, Lynch/Oz struggles to maintain a coherent narrative, often drifting into prolonged digressions. Critics point to repetitive clip clusters and a lack of unifying thesis, which diminishes pacing. Although the premise of linking Oz to Lynch is original, the execution feels scattered, resulting in a fragmented storytelling experience.
- Sensory Experience 68
In terms of sensory experience, the documentary excels with vivid visual montages and an engaging soundtrack that underscore thematic links. Reviewers highlight the effective use of color and composition to evoke both Oz’s whimsy and Lynch’s surreal tone. Minor criticisms note occasional audio leveling issues, but the overall sensory design remains compelling.
- Rewatch Factor 50
Regarding rewatch value, Lynch/Oz offers a rich source of reference material that may appeal to dedicated fans and film scholars. While the initial viewing is informative, many reviewers find the extensive chapter format and repetitive segments diminish long‑term appeal, causing interest to wane on subsequent viewings. Consequently, its replay potential is moderate at best.
-
IMDb 6.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 84% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 59%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 62 Metascore
User score 6.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 69% User score
See on TMDB
Lynch/Oz Plot Summary
What happens in Lynch/Oz from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Lynch/Oz is a cinematic exploration that examines the profound influence of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz on the surrealist work of filmmaker David Lynch. The project was inspired by a response Lynch gave during a 2001 New York Film Festival Q&A session for Mulholland Drive, where he stated:
“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about The Wizard of Oz.”
The documentary reevaluates Lynch’s extensive body of work—ranging from his 1969 short film The Alphabet to the 2017 series Twin Peaks: The Return—to highlight the symbiosis between America’s most famous fairytale and Lynch’s unique brand of surrealism.
Full summary
The whole story of Lynch/Oz, scene by scene
Lynch/Oz Box Office
Lynch/Oz grossed $68,979 worldwide. $60,701 came from the US and Canada and $8,278 (12%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$69K
- US & Canada
- $60.7K
- International
- $8.3K
Lynch/Oz Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Lynch/Oz.
How Well Do You Know Lynch/Oz?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which filmmaker's body of work is analyzed in Lynch/Oz?
Seen Lynch/Oz?
Movies Like Lynch/Oz
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lynch, American Oz and Lynch (one).
-
Lynch 2007 -
American Oz 2021 -
Lynch (one) 2007 -
Memories of Oz 2001 -
David Lynch: The Art Life 2017 -
Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch 1997 -
The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz 2005 -
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! 2009 -
What Is David Lynch Working on Today? 2020 -
Ruth, Roses, and Revolver 1987 -
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic 1990 -
Remembering Return to Oz 2021
Lynch/Oz FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Lynch/Oz, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Lynch/Oz?
Lynch/Oz runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was Lynch/Oz released?
Lynch/Oz was released on June 2, 2023.
Who directed Lynch/Oz?
Lynch/Oz was directed by Alexandre O. Philippe.
More films by Alexandre O. Philippe Who is in the cast of Lynch/Oz?
Lynch/Oz stars Jason Stoval as Lounge Wizard, John Waters as Host (Chapter 3: 'Kindred') and Amy Nicholson as Host (Chapter 1: 'Wind'), among 6 credited actors.
How much did Lynch/Oz make at the box office?
Lynch/Oz grossed $68,979 worldwide ($60,701 domestic, $8,278 international).
How is Lynch/Oz rated?
Lynch/Oz has 6.9/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.
Does Lynch/Oz have a post-credit scene?
No. Lynch/Oz has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
