The Wizard of Oz at Sphere

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The Wizard of Oz at Sphere
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.jpg
Poster
Directed by Victor Fleming (original film)
Written by (orig. film)
Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
Produced by
Starring (original film)
Cinematography
Edited by
Music by Herbert Stothart (orig. film)
Production
companies
Distributed by Sphere Entertainment Co.
Release date
  • August 28, 2025 (2025-08-28)(United States)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100 million [1] [2]

The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is a 2025 American 4D film. Created specifically to be screened at Sphere in the Las Vegas Valley on the venue's 160,000 square-foot video screen at 16K resolution, it is an "immersive" version of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1939 musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz . The film's visuals and soundtrack were remastered and enhanced to fit the venue's capabilities, and multi-sensory effects were added to immerse audiences in the film. It is the third film to be screened at the venue under the "Sphere Experience" program, following Darren Aronofsky's 2023 documentary Postcard from Earth and the 2024 concert film V-U2 that depicts U2's residency at Sphere. The Wizard of Oz at Sphere began screening on August 28, 2025, and is scheduled to run until March 31, 2026.

Contents

Plot

Atrium pre-show

As guests enter the Sphere's atrium, the room is lit and designed to resemble sepia-toned Kansas as depicted in the film's opening scenes. Replicas of Professor Marvel's cart and the Wizard's hot air balloon, as well as glass-case displays showcasing historical prints of L. Frank Baum's original Oz books and a pair of ruby slippers from the late Debbie Reynolds' personal collection are showcased. The audience is then led into the auditorium 45 minutes before showtime. [3] [4]

Film experience

As the audience is seated, the Sphere's screen displays a sepia-tinted image of a large modern-day auditorium resembling that of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. At showtime, the sound of an orchestra tuning up and a conductor's baton can be heard, signaling that the film is about to begin as the lights dim. The auditorium's curtains then rise up on cue with the film's opening theme to reveal the MGM "Leo the Lion" logo (with the Cowardly Lion taking Leo's place inside the filmstrip circle and roaring once), segueing right into the opening credits sequence whose cloud background fills the entire screen, followed by the film itself. Highlights of the film experience include wind, fog and leaves blowing around the auditorium during the tornado scene, which now places the audience inside its funnel, foam-made apples falling from the ceiling when Dorothy and Scarecrow deal with the angry Apple Tree, snow falling onto the audience when Glinda the Good Witch of the North lifts the spell on the poison poppies, pyrotechnics during the scenes in the Wizard's throne room, and life-size flying monkeys flying into the audience through the use of UAV technology. After Dorothy's final line ("Oh, Auntie Em. There's no place like home!") and the original film's "The End" card and cast list, an added closing credits sequence crediting all those who worked on the film experience spread across the screen. [3] [5]

Atrium post-show

At the conclusion of the film, the audience is led out of the auditorium and back into the atrium, now lit and designed to resemble the Emerald City in Technicolor. They are then directed by the Wizard's Guard towards a life-sized replica of the Wizard's throne room (complete with a projected motion-capture image of his ghostly green head) where guests interact with him. [6]

Development

Jane Rosenthal by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Ben Grossmann by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Jane Rosenthal (left) and Ben Grossmann (right), the producers of the Sphere version of the film.

In 2024, an "immersive" version of the film was announced to be screening at Sphere in the Las Vegas Valley beginning on August 28, 2025. It is produced by Sphere Entertainment and Jane Rosenthal in collaboration with Google, Warner Bros., and VFX studio Magnopus. Artificial intelligence provided by Google AI was used to upscale the video resolution for the venue's 16K resolution screen and, using the Vet 2 and Imagen 3 Gemini models, generate additional imagery to expand shots beyond what was originally in frame. An estimated 1.2 petabytes of data were processed for the project. Traditional CGI visual effects were also employed by Crafty Apes, Digital Domain, Gradient Effects, Haymaker VFX and Zoic Studios for the tornado scene and a recreation of the Wizard's ghostly green head during his throne room scenes. Live multi-sensory effects such as flashing lights, haptics, wind, fog and scents will be employed during screenings of the film. Jennifer Lame served as editor, along with Ben Grossmann as visual effects specialist, Paul Freeman as principal audio artist and Zack Winokur as creative director. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] The film's soundtrack was also remastered to fit the Sphere's immersive sound system, in addition to having the entire score re-recorded with an 80-piece orchestra under the direction of David Newman, on the same scoring stage where it was originally recorded. The changes made to select sequences resulted in the film's runtime also being shortened to 75 minutes from the original 101 minutes. [13] Sphere Entertainment Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan commented, "The original kind of dwelled on a few things that were somewhat superfluous." He added, "Everything you love about the movie, I guarantee, is in the movie." Among the cut material was the musical number "If I Were King of the Forest," sung by the Cowardly Lion as he, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy and Toto wait to see the Wizard outside his palace in the original film. [14] [15] [2] Dolan himself, along with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, make "two-second cameos" as two unidentifiable Munchkins during the Munchkinland sequence. [2]

Release and marketing

The exterior of Sphere promoting the film The Sphere (54760281448).jpg
The exterior of Sphere promoting the film

Tickets went on sale on June 10, 2025, coinciding with Judy Garland's 103rd birthday. As part of the experience, a 50-foot-long and 22-foot-tall replica of the legs of the Wicked Witch of the East wearing the ruby slippers was installed onto the exterior of the Sphere, suggesting that the "venue has landed on top of her." [16] As part of the promotional campaign, a viral marketing stunt involving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" being skywritten above Long Beach, California and Robert Moses State Park in Fire Island, New York took place over the Fourth of July weekend, with the help of the Farmingdale-based Skytypers Air Show Team. [17] The Venetian Las Vegas also took part by featuring a display themed to the film in the resort's Waterfall Atrium, filled with 5,000 vibrant silk poppies. The cafeteria behind it showcased themed décor and displays previewing the film's merchandise. [18] By August 12, 2025, Sphere reported that over 120,000 tickets were sold for screenings of the film. [19] The world premiere screening was attended by multiple entertainment personalities, including Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland), Skylar Astin, Rosanna Arquette, Kris Jenner, T Bone Burnett, Edie Falco, Joe Manganiello, Zahn McClarnon, Oz historian Ryan Jay and Wicked stars Jessica Vosk and Marissa Bode. Dolan introduced the film in-person before it began, with himself, Rosenthal, Sphere Entertainment COO Jennifer Koester and their fellow execs dressed up as each of the film's characters. [3]

Reception and impact

On May 28, 2025, Rosenthal believed that if The Wizard of Oz proves to be a success at Sphere, that it could lead to more immersive versions of other films being screened at the venue, saying: "It's a template for our industry ... a way for us to go back and look at films through the eyes of the director and the time in which they were made. We hope to do other films, but we don't know what those are." [13] On July 27, 2025, Lorna Luft gave her thoughts on the immersive version of the film on CBS News Sunday Morning , saying that her mother would approve of how the film was handled and that she looked forward to seeing a new generation of fans and audiences introduced to the film through this format. [20]

Ahead of the film's premiere, the use of AI to enhance the film for Sphere's capabilities was not met with unanimous favor from the public, given ongoing societal and governmental concerns regarding the regulation of AI in filmmaking. In response to the criticism, Grossman remarked: "I don't think you understand how artists work, because for 30 years, I've been working for famous Hollywood filmmakers who come to me with another artist's work and say, 'See this picture from this movie? We want to do something like that'... The original movie already exists. We don't have to improve it." [21]

References

  1. Krueger, Jonah (August 8, 2024). "Sphere to Spend $80 Million on Adapting The Wizard of Oz: Report". Consequence . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Chuba, Kirsten (August 28, 2025). "James Dolan and David Zaslav Appear as "Two-Second Characters" in the Sphere's 'Wizard of Oz'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Inside Opening Night of 'Wizard of Oz' at the Sphere: "We're Finally Off to See the Wizard"". The Hollywood Reporter . August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  4. "A moment for the Original Ruby Slippers™ from the personal collection of Debbie Reynolds ✨👠". Instagram. August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  5. Debruge, Peter (August 29, 2025). "There's Magic in Reliving 'The Wizard of Oz' at Sphere, but the AI Technology Saps Dorothy and Friends of Their Humanity". Variety . Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  6. Katsilometes, John (August 28, 2025). "Hanging with 'The Wizard': Sphere's Atrium show is a dandy". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  7. Giardina, Carolyn (April 8, 2025). "'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere' Will Use AI and Advanced Computing to 'Reimagine' 1939 Classic". Variety . Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  8. "Sphere Studios Announces Two New Experiences In Production". Sphere Entertainment . April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  9. Zee, Michaela (April 4, 2025). "'The Wizard of Oz' to Screen at the Sphere as a 'Fully Immersive Experience'". Variety . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  10. Chaban, Matt A.V. (April 8, 2025). "The AI magic behind Sphere's upcoming 'The Wizard of Oz' experience". Google – The Keyword. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  11. Liszewski, Andrew (April 4, 2025). "An immersive version of The Wizard of Oz is coming to the Las Vegas Sphere". The Verge . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  12. Willman, Chris (July 27, 2025). "How 'The Wizard of Oz' Is Finding a Whole New Sound at Sphere, With a Re-Recorded Orchestra, an Untouched Judy Garland, and Aural Design That Puts You in the Twister: 'Hold Onto Your Dentures'". Variety . Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Lang, Brent (May 28, 2025). "5 Secrets About 'The Wizard of Oz at Sphere': How AI Is Bringing Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road to the World's Biggest, Most Immersive Screen". Variety . Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  14. LeDonne, Rob (August 25, 2025). "The Sphere's epic 'Wizard of Oz' Las Vegas spectacle will 'blow your mind'". New York Post. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  15. Alexander, Bryan (August 29, 2025). "'Wizard of Oz' at Sphere blows away celebrities, fans like a Kansas tornado in Vegas". USA Today. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  16. Ruggieri, Melissa (June 10, 2025). "Inside the Las Vegas Sphere's plans to enhance 'The Wizard of Oz' using AI". USA Today . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  17. Esposito, Nick (July 9, 2025). "'Surrender Dorothy' skywriting stunt spotted over Long Island — here's why". Greater Long Island. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  18. "Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas in Celebration of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere". Business Wire . August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  19. "'Groundbreaking': Las Vegas Sphere says it's sold 120,000 tickets for 'Wizard of Oz' screenings". CNBC . August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  20. ""The Wizard of Oz" as you've never seen it before". CBS News . July 27, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  21. "'The Wizard of Oz' Goes Fully Immersive in Vegas Thanks to AI and VFX". TheWrap . August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 27, 2025.