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Adventure mystery film

Return to Oz (1985): Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Return to Oz (1985) movie poster

Return to Oz is a 1985 adventure mystery film directed by Walter Murch. It is partly based on Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum and John R. Neill. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $11.1 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 42 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$11.1M
award nominations
3
Metascore
42
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Return to Oz (1985) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 53m (113 min)
Director
Walter Murch
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Return to Oz About?

The premise of Return to Oz without spoilers, adapted from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum and John R. Neill. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Dorothy Gale finds herself pulled back to the magical land of Oz in this adventure sequel. There, she encounters new companions like Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead, and faces dangerous challenges. Her journey is complicated by the menacing Wheelers, the power-hungry Princess Mombi, and the formidable Nome King. Dorothy must navigate a perilous path as she strives to return home, with the entire realm of Oz threatened.

Return to Oz Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • oz
  • mechanical man
  • villain
  • villainess
  • dorothy gale character
  • tin man character
  • toto the dog character
  • pumpkin head
  • 1980s
  • ruby slippers
  • place name in title
  • magical shoe
+38 more
  • girl and her dog
  • horse
  • farm
  • electrotherapy
  • mental patient
  • blackout
  • power failure
  • american midwest
  • chicken
  • anthropomorphic scarecrow
  • wheels for feet
  • princess
  • sequel
  • aunt niece relationship
  • severed head
  • robot
  • mirror
  • sanitarium
  • psychiatry
  • electroconvulsive therapy
  • good versus evil
  • evil woman
  • evil man
  • insomnia
  • depression
  • scarecrow of oz character
  • cowardly lion character
  • princess ozma character
  • tik tok character
  • jack o'lantern
  • dream world
  • evil witch
  • witch
  • 1900s
  • female protagonist
  • crying
  • locked in a room
  • pet owner relationship
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Crew

The Director of Return to Oz

Directed by Walter Murch.

Ratings

Return to Oz Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Return to Oz 42 on Metacritic.

Plot

Return to Oz Plot Summary

What happens in Return to Oz from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the vibrant autumn leaves rustled in the breeze of 1899, Dorothy Gale’s caring Aunt Em and Uncle Henry made a pivotal decision to take their cherished niece to the renowned sanatorium run by Dr. Worley. They were increasingly worried that her obsession with the mystical world of Oz was a sign of mental instability. Just as the doctor, along with his assistant Nurse Wilson, prepared to apply electrotherapy, fate intervened. A violent storm led to a sudden power outage, during which Dorothy was saved by an intriguing young woman. This mysterious rescuer revealed that Dr. Worley’s machinery was dangerous to its patients.

Full summary

The whole story of Return to Oz, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Return to Oz Box Office

Return to Oz grossed $11.1 million worldwide.

1985 box office

Worldwide gross

$11.1M

US & Canada
$11.1M
Awards

Return to Oz Awards & Nominations

Return to Oz was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 3 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Saturn Awards 1986.

3 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Return to Oz Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Return to Oz.

Return to Oz (Theatrical Trailer)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Return to 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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does Dorothy return to Oz in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Return to Oz

15 cars on screen, including the 1981 Chevrolet Impala and the 1964 Chevrolet C-Series.

All 15 cars
  • 1981 Chevrolet Impala in Return to Oz 1981 Chevrolet Impala Main role
  • 1964 Chevrolet C-Series in Return to Oz 1964 Chevrolet C-Series Important role
  • 1972 Chevrolet LUV in Return to Oz 1972 Chevrolet LUV Important role
  • 1981 Chevrolet Malibu in Return to Oz 1981 Chevrolet Malibu Important role
Details

Return to Oz Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “De Wonderlijke Wereld van Oz” and “Oz - en fantastisk värld”.

Also known as
  • De Wonderlijke Wereld van Oz
  • Oz - en fantastisk värld
  • Oz - Eine phantastische Welt
  • Regreso a Oz
  • O Mundo Fantástico de Oz
  • 마법의 나라 오즈
  • Nel fantastico mondo di Oz
  • Oz, un monde extraordinaire
  • Oz - Eine fantastische Welt
  • Oz, un mundo fantástico
  • オズ
  • Επιστροφή στη Χώρα του Οζ
+14 more
  • בחזרה לארץ עוץ
  • Возвращение в страну Оз
  • Visszatérés Óz Földjére
  • Powrót do Krainy Oz
  • Завръщане в Оз
  • 오즈의 마법사
  • Oz
  • 重返奥兹国
  • 綠野仙蹤
  • Návrat do země Oz
  • Întoarcerea la Oz
  • Povratak u Oz
  • Повернення в країну Оз
  • พ่อมดออซภาค 2

Seen Return to Oz?

FAQ

Return to Oz FAQ: Box Office, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of Return to Oz, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Return to Oz?

Return to Oz runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).

When was Return to Oz released?

Return to Oz was released on June 21, 1985.

Who directed Return to Oz?

Return to Oz was directed by Walter Murch.

More films by Walter Murch

How much did Return to Oz make at the box office?

Return to Oz grossed $11.1 million worldwide.

How is Return to Oz rated?

Return to Oz has 42 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Is Return to Oz based on a book?

Yes. Return to Oz is partly adapted from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum and John R. Neill.

Was Return to Oz nominated for any awards?

Return to Oz received 3 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Return to Oz have a post-credit scene?

No. Return to Oz has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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