We’re off to see the Wizard!
That’s right, The Wizard of Oz is coming back to theaters in celebration of the classic film’s 85th anniversary.
The movie will return to select theaters across the country for four days, running January 28 through January 31.
The Wizard of Oz premiered in theaters on August 25, 1939 and starred Judy Garland, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Billie Burke and Frank Morgan.
When the movie opened it received widespread praise from critics and moviegoers.
The New York Times considered it a “delightful piece of wonder-working which had the youngsters’ eyes shining and brought a quietly amused gleam to the wiser ones of the oldsters.”
Although it earned $2,048,000 when it opened in the U.S., due to high production costs and marketing, the studio lost $1,145,000. It wasn’t until the movie was re-released in 1949 when the film earned an additional $1,500,000, which would be equal to $15 million in 2022, that the studio considered The Wizard of Oz profitable.
Since it’s release, The Wizard of Oz has won several awards, been included in numerous lists from the American Film Institute of top films, and loved by all.
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