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Heath Ledger’s Favorite Movie Wasn’t A Dark Drama ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Before his tragic death in 2008, Heath Ledger made a lasting impression on the film industry. Ledger’s career was full of daring decisions and unadulterated emotional depth, including an Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight and other prominent features in movies like Brokeback Mountain and 10 Things I Hate About You. However, not many would know that Ledger revealed his favorite movie before his passing, which is none other than The Wizard of Oz.

Heath Ledger on his favorite film, The Wizard of Oz

In an interview for Cindy Pearlman’s book You Gotta See This, as retrieved via Far Out, Ledger was asked to name the film that held a special place in his heart. Without hesitation, he said, The Wizard of Oz. “I have to say The Wizard of Oz. I saw...

When you think of childhood movies, The Wizard of Oz is probably one of the first that comes to mind. It had a magical forest, the poppy field, and the flying monkeys—what more could a kid want? But let’s be real: for all its charm and color, that movie had some moments that seriously messed with our heads. Especially that ending scene with the Wicked Witch of the West. You remember it, right? Because that sequence just turned into a nightmare for kids.

Now guess what? Storyline-wise, the 1939 movie was the sequel to James Franco’s 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful. And surprisingly, Franco’s movie had all the whimsical elements, the shiny visuals, and cool witches—but no such twisted nightmarish scenes. That’s what reminded viewers of just how creepy the original was. So let’s check out why this sequel freaked people out.

The...

Death is inevitable, but few are happy to welcome it. The topic brings with it existential dread, if not terror, and thousands of years of philosophical and theological discussion, all to try and cope with that final frontier. While some learn to approach the end with acceptance, even peace, it's seldom easy. And so, death in media becomes another tool by which we can confront this universal experience by whistling past the cemetery, if nothing else.

Dying in a movie can be a moment of tragedy. Done well, it can also be a black, vivacious laugh. Sometimes it's bathos: anticlimactic, like that bit in James Cameron's "Titanic" where some poor dude thunks off the sinking ship's propeller. It's a horrible laugh, but darn if it doesn't ease the sorrow. In honor of that guy, we're going down the list of 15 of the best cinematic deaths ever. It should be...

The journey from celebrated revisionist tale to Broadway sensation to box office phenomenon with 10 Academy Awards nominations has been a long one, but it's safe to say the cultural footprint of "Wicked" has grown exponentially over the past few months. Though we still have many months ahead before we see how director Jon M. Chu adapts the second half of the stage show to the screen with "Wicked: For Good," its pop-u-lar-ity shows no signs of slowing down. In the meantime, however, the "not Part 1" that we do have culminates in Cynthia Erivo delivering a show-stopping performance of "Defying Gravity."

Given the already excessive runtime of "Wicked," it makes sense that the story's centerpiece number, in which Erivo's Elphaba embraces her title as the Wicked Witch of the West, would take a bow here. Though there's a whole lot of story left, there's also a great catharsis in the film's...

The 2025 awards season has been one for the record books, with poignant speeches that changed the race, a Holocaust joke that made audiences chuckle, and one cracker-snatching legend who stole the spotlight. With just days to go before the Oscars (finally!) air on ABC, Gold Derby's editors got together to rehash all of the best moments from the campaign trail. And yes, our tongues are wagging, just like Pilaf's, at the thought of this whole glorious circus finally coming to an end.

Best Host: Nikki Glaser

After two Golden Globe host misfires in a row, Nikki Glaser had her work cut out for her as ringleader of the 2025 kudos. But with her pop culture savviness ("Welcome to ... Ozempic’s biggest night") and her laugh-out-loud roasts, the stand-up comedian quickly endeared herself to viewers. People were still raving about Glaser's hilarious performance the next day, including Golden Globes executive producer Glenn Weiss,...

"Sesame Street" has had plenty of surprising guest stars over the years, from Katy Perry doing a duet with Elmo to Tina Fey playing a book-loving pirate to Joe Pesci showing up as land developer "Ronald Grump." However, one "Sesame Street" guest appearance remained mostly unseen for about 45 years.

Episode 847 aired in 1976 and then never entered syndication. Though kept away from public viewing for decades, the episode wasn't technically "lost media" — in 2019, it was archived at the Library of Congress along with the rest of "Sesame Street," and was leaked on the internet in 2022.

So, why all the hoopla? Well, apparently, the episode was too "scary." Yes, a "Sesame Street" episode was "too scary." The preschool edutainment muppet show has become famous for many things during its 50+ year run, but not horror. Well, this episode was "scary" due to its guest star: the Wicked Witch of the West, played by...

Many have noticed the following trend in recent years, and it strikes everyone as incredibly odd. Whenever a major Hollywood studio pours millions into a high-profile movie musical, they insist on eschewing the fact that they have done so in the film's advertising. One might note that the early previews for Jon M. Chu's "Wicked" didn't feature any of the film's songs, despite being based on one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time. Likewise, trailers for "Mufasa: The Lion King" didn't boast any of the film's songs, despite them having been written by Disney superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda. Earlier this year, previews from the musical rendition of "Mean Girls," also adapted from a Broadway show, didn't have any singing in them, and the ads for the 2023 hit "Wonka" were also song-free. 

This has led many pundits and critics to ask why Hollywood is manufacturing a stigma against musicals.

Wage disparity in Hollywood, especially with the gender pay gap, is an ongoing concern, but in the case of The Wizard of Oz, Toto the dog made more than some of the human actors. The Wizard of Oz is a timeless masterpiece brimming with imagination and whimsy, which boasts an ensemble of cherished characters. Among them is Judy Garland's captivating portrayal of Dorothy Gale, who embarks on a journey to find her way home with her loyal companion Toto. The film's release in 1939, also known as "Hollywood's Golden Year," saw numerous classics come to the big screen.

Within this lineup, The Wizard of Oz stands out due to its delightful songs, captivating characters, and the utilization of Technicolor technology. However, there are many controversies surrounding The Wizard of Oz, including stories of dangerous makeup and workplace harassment. The film also had significant wage gaps; Terry the dog, cast as Toto,...

Though garnering widespread acclaim for her turn in the role, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has responded to comments that she was a "woke hire" for the hit musical. Based on Gregory Maguire's Wizard of Oz prequel novel and the Broadway musical, the movie follows Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande-Butera), who are roommates at Shiz University, and later become friends. Erivo will return as Elphaba in the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good, which is set to be released on November 21.

In an interview with Elle, Erivo reacted to those saying she was a "woke hire" to play Wicked's Elphaba. The two-time Oscar nominee explained that she had to audition for the role "just like everybody else", and subsequently showed that she earned the role, while also pointing out her previous work history as a reason why she would be a good fit for the part.

How and why did the kind-hearted, smart and green Elphaba Thropp become such a nasty, powerful, dare we say wicked witch of the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz”? The big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” uses subtle nuances to hint at Elphaba’s growing powers, but also nod to Black women.

“Wicked” follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) as college roommates long before Dorothy, Toto and her three pals skipped down the yellow brick road and met the “good” and the “bad” witches. In the film, Elphaba is introduced as a baby who is born with green skin, is ostracized by her family as a young woman and later discovers her magical abilities.

Costume designer Paul Tazewell resonated with Elphaba’s story on many levels because, he says, “We’re talking about a young woman who was marginalized because of the color of her skin.” In designing her costumes,...

Michelle Yeoh has a great line reading in Wicked, when she finally declares the name every viewer has known since they first watched The Wizard of Oz or read L. Frank Baum’s original book. “This distortion. This repulsion. This wicked witch," Yeoh's Madame Morrible declares in a message heard across Oz. It's nothing but a lie, and the camera takes in the betrayed, sad face of the young woman who is branded with the title. Wicked and Cynthia Erivo’s sympathetic performance changes the story behind the origins of the green villainess — but sometimes it’s good to be evil. Instead of being misunderstood, the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 classic was someone to be feared. Changes from the book and Margaret Hamilton’s performance are major reasons why the land of Oz didn’t feel safe, either in the skies or along the Yellow Brick Road.

In a fascinating display of Hollywood history and cinematic nostalgia, Judy Garland’s ruby slippers, which she wore in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, were recently auctioned off for a staggering $28 million. The auction, held at the renowned Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions, saw the iconic slippers rounded out to a remarkable $32.5 million after including buyer’s premium and taxes.

The ruby slippers are among the most recognizable pieces of movie memorabilia in the history of cinema, and they’re a symbol of the film’s enduring popularity. Heritage Auctions started the bid at a modest sum of $3 million and in a matter of days, there were over 800 potential buyers showing interest and tracking the auction. The Heritage Auctions’ description of the slippers read:

“The Ruby Slippers are a vintage pair of Innes Shoe Co. red silk faille heels with uppers and heels covered with hand-sequined silk georgette, lined in white leather,...

In a stunning display of Hollywood nostalgia, a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” sold for an amazing $32.5 million at auction. This event drew approximately 1,800 bidders from around the world.

Gilbert Adrian, MGM’s head costume designer, created these legendary slippers, which the Western Costume Company made. They are only four known pairs who survived the film’s original production. Heritage Auctions’ auction broke records for movie memorabilia and highlighted the cultural significance of this famous film item.

The slippers have an intriguing backstory. They were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, enhancing their legendary reputation. Their owner, Michael Shaw, watched as the auction price skyrocketed beyond expectations.

Joe Maddalena, Heritage Auctions’ Executive Vice President, stressed the slippers’ distinctiveness. “There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and any other Hollywood memorabilia,...

A pair of ruby slippers Judy Garland wrote during the filming of 1939’s The Wizard of Oz were auctioned off and fetched $28 million.

Heritage Auctions handled the sale, and with the buyer’s premium, the slippers sold for $32.5 million.

“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” Heritage Auctions EVP Joe Maddalena said. “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors. It’s been a privilege for all of us at Heritage to be a part of the slippers’ epic journey over the rainbow and off to a new home.”

The slippers are one of four known to have survived since Garland wore them during the filming of the classic. Heritage auctioned off the pair that were famously stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered 13 years later by the FBI.

A pair of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz fetched an all-time auction record for entertainment memorabilia when they sold on Saturday afternoon for $28 million. The sale was handled by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. With the buyer’s premium, the total is $32.5 million, and the buyer currently remains anonymous.

Auctioneer Mike Sadler announced at the podium at the conclusion of the lot’s bidding that the slippers had far surpassed the previous auction record of $5.52 million for the white halter dress designed by William Travilla and worn by Marilyn Monroe in 1955’s The Seven Year Itch. That costume also was sold at Heritage in 2011 and was part of the famed collection of Debbie Reynolds.

“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” said Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, in a statement released following the sale.

When Cynthia Erivo was announced in the role of the Wicked Witch of the West for the Wizard of Oz prequel, some took it as a personal offense. People began clubbing the actress into the list of race-swapped characters because previously the character was mainly portrayed by White actresses.

However, Wicked‘s performance at the box office is a clap-back to the haters due to one record it broke. Previously, viewers had hoped that the Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga starrer Joker: Folie à Deux would become the highest-grossing musical, but they were left disappointed. Instead, this achievement was won easily by Jon. M Chu’s directorial in a mere eight days.

A scathing non-verbal response to the haters Ariana Grande in Yes, And Music Video | Credits: @ArianaGrande on YouTube

Jon Chu‘s Wicked was not short of scandals ahead of its release, especially due to the two main actresses.

The original author has weighed in on Wicked. The 2024 Wizard of Oz prequel movie, which was directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) opposite Ariana Grande-Butera as Galinda (the future Glinda the Good Witch), is based on the 2003 stage musical of the same name with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. In turn, that musical was based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked, which was originally published in 1995.

Maguire recently sat down for an interview with Yahoo Entertainment. When asked about his opinion on the new movie, he said that "I hardly recognize it as my book anymore," though he also shared that he found it to be "far better than it has any right to be." He particularly praised the work of Cynthia Erivo, who he says maintained the core of the "sharp,...

Urban legends surrounding The Wizard of Oz have been alive for decades, but since the dawn of the internet, they have spread like wildfire. Luckily, there’s someone that can clarify all of them once and for all. John Fricke, who could be the most trusted voice in everything regarding the Technicolor marvel, has come out to debunk most of the rumors, and shed light on what really happened during the production of one of Hollywood's most prominent classics.

Directed (mostly) by Victor Fleming, The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the most important films ever made. Nominated for several Academy Awards, the musical went on to become a classic of its time. However, several rumors have always been associated with the film, and they range from the downright hilarious to the incredibly tragic. With time, these rumors became “facts” as everyone capitalized on the popularity of conspiracy theories as the internet grew.

Priscilla Montgomery, one of the currently living actors from The Wizard of Oz, recounted the infamous on-set fire that injured Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West. The 1939 fantasy musical follows Dorothy’s journey through the land of Oz as she finds her way back to Kansas with the help of a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion. The film's production faced numerous challenges, including hazardous working conditions and technical malfunctions. In Hamilton's case, the fire occurred during her dramatic entrance, where she sustained severe burns.

In an interview with People Magazine, Montgomery recalled the events leading up to the accident, describing Hamilton’s thoughtful gesture of comforting the young performers before filming the scene. The actor then recounted the sirens when she heard the fire incident. Check out what she stated regarding Hamilton's incident:

“One vivid memory that will always stay with me...

From the dazzling period costumes in West Side Story and Harriet to the looks in the magical world of Wicked, Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell has shown that few artists weave as much versatility into their creative DNA. “I love period work and telling stories connected to history. What excited me about Wicked was designing a world rooted in period silhouettes while also creating a fantasy,” he says.

For the monumental task of transforming the beloved Broadway hit into two films, the designer says he drew upon a wealth of inspiration: “Wicked was about digging deep into where the original story came from. With the L. Frank Baum book, the 1939 film, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked and the Broadway musical, you’ve got four distinct expressions of the same story.” Maintaining the essence of the show while putting his own spin on it, Tazewell introduced a fresh perspective without entirely modernizing it.

From performing in The Gumm Sisters to gaining international stardom for her role as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was one of the most iconic actresses of her time. But the very movie that established her fame also exploited her in many ways. From the Munchkins making her life miserable on set to now the revelation that one element of the movie also put her life in mortal danger.

Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz | Credits: MGM

The snow that was in the movie to make it more cinematically pleasing was actually very harmful and could have had a very harmful effect on the actress.

How The Wizard of Oz Put Judy Garland’s Life in Danger?

The Wizard of Oz was truly a classic that launched actress Judy Garland to international stardom. While her memorable performance gained everyone’s attention, it also had several questionable elements attached to it.

The Corridor Crew comes together to praise a now-infamous 1985 Wizard of Oz movie for its combination of stop-motion and VFX work to bring one of its new creatures to life. L. Frank Baum's fantasy novel was first brought to the screen in 1910, but it's the pivotal 1939 The Wizard of Oz which is most celebrated to this day. The Wizard of Oz stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a young girl who is transported to the magical world and tasked alongside three fantastical friends and her dog, Toto, to vanquish the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) in order to return home.

Ever since its release, there have been multiple retellings and reimaginings of Oz across television and film. These include features made to continue the story, like 1972's Journey Back to Oz, to explorations of how the world became what it is, like 2013's Oz The Great and Powerful,...

Spoilers for "Wicked" follow.

Jon M. Chu's new musical fantasy "Wicked," which is officially called "Wicked: Part I," according to the title card, is based on the hit 2003 Broadway show that was, in turn, based in the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The novel, in itself, was a reimagination of L. Frank Baum's 1900 kid-lit classic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," but Maguire took his book's primary inspiration from Victor Fleming's 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," arguably the most famous movie of all time. In making an 85-year cycle from the screen, to the page, to the stage, and then back to the screen, "Wicked" retains a lot of the iconography and basic aesthetics of Fleming's film and repackages them for a modern sensibility. 

Some of what audiences will see in "Wicked" will feel natural, as the look and feel of Oz has bled into the mass subconsciousness,...

After years of delays and anticipation, the first half of Jon M. Chu's sprawling, two-part movie adaptation of "Wicked" — the massively popular Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" — is finally hitting theaters, and Chu has assembled an all-star cast to bring Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's Broadway hit to the big screen. "Wicked" flips the script on L. Frank Baum's original story about Dorothy (Judy Garland in the classic 1939 "Wizard of Oz" film) exploring the magical land of Oz by focusing on Elphaba, a young girl born with green skin who struggles to fit in at the prestigious Shiz University and ultimately becomes the legendary pop culture villain The Wicked Witch of the West (memorably portrayed by Margaret Hamilton in the '39 movie).

So, who's in Chu's "Wicked" movie, decades after Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth originated the lead roles of Elphaba and Galinda on stage?...

Stephen Schwartz’s musical prequel has been brought to the big screen, with Erivo’s charismatic Elphaba exerting a planetary pull over a star-studded cast

As Kermit the Frog and the Hulk discovered: it’s not easy being green. Now another verdant character is gleefully brought to the screen by lyricist-producer Stephen Schwartz, screenwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, and director Jon M Chu in an adaptation of Schwartz’s Broadway musical, the first of two parts. It’s a sugar-rush fantasy with the overpowering star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically dunks you face-down in a hyperreal ball pit of M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours. I don’t have showtune-rapture in my DNA but this movie made a cleaner, sharper, cartoonier kind of sense to me than the stage show which I saw back in 2011.

This film is the prequel origin myth for Schwartz’s emerald supervillain-hero,...

It was a wonderful day in Oz when the Wicked Witch of the West died, or so you’d think from the celebratory mood of the residents of Munchkinland. Every man, woman and child were whooping with joy, crying tears of relief, tearing down terrifying posters of the green-hued tyrant like they’d been liberated from the second coming of Stalin. Thank god that a young woman from the exotic, faraway paradise known as “Kansas” found that lethal bucket of H2O! Rejoice, you petite friends of Dorothy. The reign...

Julia Louis-Dreyfus began her career in comedy, as so many comedians do, with the Second City, the stalwart and long-lived comedy troupe based in Chicago. She was only 21, but Louis-Dreyfus gave such an impressive performance at a Second City event that she was immediately asked to join the cast of "Saturday Night Live." It seems that NBC talent scouts lurk at Second City performances all the time. She starred on "SNL" from 1982 until 1985, becoming friends with writer Larry David during her tenure. A few years later, David and comedian Jerry Seinfeld created the sitcom "Seinfeld," wherein Louis-Dreyfus starred as Jerry's friend Elaine.

"Seinfeld," once might recall, was something of a hit, lasting 180 episodes over nine seasons. Louis-Dreyfus was nominated for seven Emmys, winning one. She would go on to win another Emmy for her performance in "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and an additional nine Emmys for "Veep," eight of them for acting.

In a fun bit of classic Hollywood trivia, The Wizard of Oz cut one particular song from the movie, but the movie still made a subtle reference to it as the story progressed. Adapted from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the story depicts the journey of Dorothy Gale, who is transported to the magical land of Oz after her Kansas home is swept up by a tornado. The cast of the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie includes Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, and Billie Burke. The movie was a critical success; The Wizard of Oz was praised for its memorable quotes and use of color; it has since been regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.

One of the most memorable aspects of the movie was its music, which won an Oscar for Best Original Score in 1940. The Wizard of Oz soundtrack includes popular songs such as "Ding,...

The Wizard of Oz is a key part of cinema history that is still enchanting audiences today. The 1939 movie is about a young girl named Dorothy (Judy Garland) who is caught in a tornado and sent to the land of Oz. With the help of her friends Glinda the Good Witch (Billie Burke), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) Dorothy goes on a journey to meet the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan), find a way back home, and escape the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).

A decided classic, The Wizard of Oz's connection to the upcoming movie musical Wicked is more complicated than one might expect. The highly anticipated new film depicts the origins of the Wicked Witch, Dorothy's primary antagonist and the person the Wizard of Oz requests Dorothy kill before he sends her back to Kansas.

Wicked and its namesake musical and book have all taken major influence from 1939's The Wizard of Oz movie and the 1900 book by L. Frank Baum that inspired it. Indeed, many of the Wizard of Oz book and movie characters appear in Wicked, since the movie tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. While The Wizard of Oz focuses on Dorothy and her quest to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked goes back in time, serving as a prequel, to focus on Elphaba and her journey that ultimately leads to her becoming the Wicked Witch of the West.

While the Wicked Witch of the West is present as the primary villain in L. Frank Baum's original book, The Wizard of Oz made some significant changes to her for the movie. In fact, there was one major creative choice about the Wicked Witch's appearance made...

For a cool million-dollars-plus, a pair of the famed and rare Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz can take a hallowed place on your very own shoe rack.

The slippers, worn on-screen by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic MGM musical, are up for auction at Heritage Auctions, with the current bid at $812,500. Add in the buyer’s premium — a fee paid by the winning bidder to the auction house — and the price is currently at $1,015,625.

The auction continues through December 7.

With four pairs of Ruby Slippers known to exist — including a pair in the Smithsonian — the shoes up for auction are visible in the most iconic scenes of the film, including the “We’re Off to See the Wizard” dances, the Poppy Field scene, the Tap Your Heels scene and the shot in which the Wicked Witch nearly electrocutes herself by trying to remove the slippers from Dorothy’s feet prematurely.

Hugh Grant established himself as one of the most popular romantic heroes with repeated hits in the genre. However, after many years of dabbling in different genres, the actor delivered a diabolical performance in an unexpected field.

The Notting Hill lead’s performance as the evil Scottish man in Heretic shocked audiences and critics alike due to his chilling performance. One would believe the actor would be an avid fan of the genre but that’s far from reality. Grant revealed he had been terrified of the genre ever since he watched The Wizard of Oz.

The musical which haunted Hugh Grant for years Hugh Grant in Notting Hill | Credits: Universal Pictures

Hugh Grant has given huge hits as a romantic lead in movies like Love Actually, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Two Weeks Notice, and many more. But the actor unleashed his potential as an antagonist in the horror thriller Heretic...

The Wizard of Oz is available on many different platforms online. The 1939 fantasy musical is adapted from the L. Frank Baum children's novel of the same name, starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton. It was both a commercial and critical success, grossing $29.7 million against its $2.8 million budget and going on to win two Oscars, for Best Score and Best Original Song (for the iconic tune "Over the Rainbow"), in addition to three other nominations, including Best Picture.

The success of The Wizard of Oz has led to the creation of many sequels, prequels, remakes, and follow-ups in the nearly 90 years since its premiere. This includes 2024's Wicked, which is an adaptation of the stage musical adapting the prequel novel by Gregory Maguire, as well as the 1978 musical adaptation The Wiz, the 1985 sequel Return to Oz, the 2013 Sam Raimi prequel Oz the Great and Powerful,...

Mere mortals have been fascinated by witchcraft for hundreds of years, and the film industry has taken note, with witch-themed movies going back more than 100 years.

In 1922, the silent partly documentary-style Swedish film “Haxan” sought to understand the roots and misunderstandings of witchcraft, and the mania that surrounded the witch hunts. Controversial at the time, it is now considered one of the most influential of the early horror films. Less than 20 years later, Margaret Hamilton would make the Wicked Witch the standard for evil witches, and help make “The Wizard of Oz” a timeless classic.

SEE25 best TV witches, ranked worst to best

In the decades since, witches have appeared in just about every genre of film. Early romantic comedies “I Married a Witch” and “Bell, Book and Candle” were so popular they inspired the classic 1960s TV series “Bewitched.” But while a witch’s antics on the small screen were amusing audiences,...

Wicked, which bills itself as the untold story of Oz's witches, serves as a prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel on which the classic 1939 movie is based. Still, the Broadway musical-turned-movie has fans wondering where, exactly, in The Wizard of Oz's timeline Wicked takes place. Directed by John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Wicked is a duology of movies that centers on Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), the green-skinned witch who will turn out to be the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), and Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande).

With so many spin-offs, adaptations, and takes on Oz out there, it can be a challenge to keep The Wizard of Oz's timeline straight. In fact, even the first Wicked movie, which chronicles Elphaba and Glinda's university days, unfolds in a very different Oz than the one chronicled in the second of Wicked's two parts.

There are some actors who you recognize immediately. They are unique, iconic, and simply stand out because they have a magic about them that can’t be replicated. Sadly we lost one of these icons recently when the news was reported that Shelley Duvall had passed away at the age of 75. Duvall had gone out of the public eye for a number of years until quite recently. But with her passing the world lost an actress that was unique, talented, and brought to the screen a special sort of magic that’s hard to find. So in celebration of the life of Shelley Duvall, let’s take a look back on Whatever Happened to This Horror Star.

Shelley Duvall was born in 1949 in Blanco, Texas. Shelley was the oldest child of her parents Bobbie Ruth and Robert Duvall. Her other three siblings were all sons, Scott, Shane, and Stewart. I...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Fly Me to the Moon.

Fly Me to the Moon is a zany retelling of the Apollo 11 mission with positive reviews and great chemistry between the leads. The movie has small ties to Hidden Figures, which sheds light on the sexism and racism faced by women at NASA during the Space Race. Both Fly Me to the Moon and Hidden Figures excel in setting the scene of the 1960s and infusing history with humor and heart.

The Apple Original movie Fly Me to the Moon serves as the perfect reminder to watch a 2016 NASA Space Race movie, which holds a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fly Me to the Moon is a zany retelling of the Apollo 11 mission to land a man on the moon, which takes massive creative liberties. Fly Me to the Moon's reviews have been relatively positive, with critics praising the...

Few films have had as lasting a cultural impact as The Wizard of Oz. A box office bomb when it was released in 1939, it quickly morphed into a beloved family classic whose most famous imagery the Yellow Brick Road, the Emerald City, the ruby red slippers have become iconic. There's hardly a person who doesn't know the story of Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), a Kansas farm girl who's transported to a magical land and embarks on a journey home with a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley), and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), pursued along the way by the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and guided along by the Good Witch of the East (Billie Burke). Its impact can be found across music, movies, and Broadway shows, including David Lynch's blood-soaked, sexually explicit Palme d'Or winner, Wild at Heart.

Quick Links What Happens in Episode 847 Sesame Street? Margaret Hamilton Exposed the Issue Of Being Typecasted Episode 847 Works to Show off Sesame Streets True Purpose What Does the Skit in Episode 847 Teach Fans About the Wicked Witch of Oz? Episode 847 of Sesame Street featuring the Wicked Witch of the West was taken off-air due to complaints of scaring children. Margaret Hamilton's performance as the Witch in 1976 was meant to teach kids about fear and manners. The controversial episode highlights Sesame Street's core values of bravery, kindness, and addressing fears with humor.

Sesame Street has been on television for over 50 years and still manages to influence the latest generation of children. The show utilizes a team of adorable and amicable puppets to help tackle modern issues such as divorce, anxiety, and immigration. As such, this beloved show will always be recognized for helping children understand complex situations whilst also nurturing their developing minds.

Gary Larson's The Far Side has a clown obsession, with fans voting a Wizard of Oz-inspired strip as the #1 funniest clown comic. Larson's iconic clown strips include funny, dark and surreal humor, turning clowns into recurring and memorable characters. Larson's Wizard of Oz strip claimed 19% of the vote, compared to the second-place strip which got 13%.

Gary Larson's The Far Side combines surreal humor with a subtle darkness, making clowns the perfect subject matter. Across The Far Side's entire run, Larson included clowns again and again - everything from a Godzilla-sized harlequin to a clown therapy session. Screen Rant shared the best of The Far Side's clown strips and asked readers to vote for their number 1.

Published January 7, 2024, Screen Rant's 12 Funniest Far Side Comics That Prove It's Obsessed with Clowns presented readers with a dozen of Larson's best gags and asked them to pick their favorites. With over 1800 respondents,...

Wicked's trailer reveals Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and previews the musical's take on "Defying Gravity," among other details. Some viewers are questioning the color of Dorothy's slippers in the Wicked trailer. Wicked stays true to L. Frank Baum's original book and adds its own twist, including a third-act reveal about the shoes.

Wicked, the film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical of the same name, dropped its premiere trailer. The tease gave viewers a first look at Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the Wicked movie, and previewed the movie's take on "Defying Gravity," the musical's show-stopping first-act finale song. However, one detail in the Wicked trailer has given some viewers pause: the color of Dorothy's slippers. Notably, Wicked is a prequel to L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a novel that was itself adapted into the classic 1939 movie that stars Judy Garland as Dorothy.

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More than eight decades after The Wizard of Oz changed the landscape of the entire film industry, a new Funko Pop! collection based on the movie has been announced to celebrate the classic's 85th anniversary. First shared by ComicBook, new Funkos of Dorothy (Judy Garland), the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and even the titular Wizard (Frank Morgan) will be a part of the collection, which is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and on Entertainment Earth. The unforgettable legacy of The Wizard of Us continues through the new Funko Pop! collection, which is currently scheduled to start shipping around June.

The Wicked movie adaptation needs to change the way it portrays Dorothy from the stage musical, as she is never seen onstage in the original production. It may be challenging for the Wicked movie to replicate the theater trickery that conceals Dorothy's appearance as a shadowy silhouette onscreen. The Wicked movie should consider giving Dorothy a proper cameo with dialogue and a visible face, potentially introducing a new musical moment for the character. Actresses such as Millie Bobby Brown or Rachel Zegler could be great choices for the role.

One particular aspect of the Wicked stage musical must be changed in the upcoming 2024 film adaptation, and it has to do with The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is a Broadway musical loosely adapted from Gregory Maguire's book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The book, in turn, is based on L. Frank Baum's...

Great movie quotes capture the essence of a film and can be recognized even out of context. The circumstances and delivery of a quote can enhance its impact and popularity. Movie quotes have the power to express complex emotions and themes in a concise and memorable way.

Some movie quotes are so famous that even people who haven't seen the movies they come from will be able to recognize them instantly. The best quotes can summarize the entire thrust of a movie, revealing the themes and the tone with just a few words. Great delivery helps a quote catch on, but the circumstances are often more important. Any great movie can have outstanding quotes, as long as the script does all the work required to set up a poignant moment.

The best movie quotes can be stripped from their context and still hold meaning. This is how quotes work their way into the cultural lexicon.

The famed poppy field scene in The Wizard of Oz utilized fake snow made out of asbestos. Asbestos is an incredibly dangerous carcinogen, one which is directly linked to the development of mesothelioma. The production of The Wizard of Oz was additionally plagued with numerous health hazards, including poisoning from aluminum makeup and injuries from pyrotechnic stunts.

The snow in 1939's The Wizard of Oz was made using the toxic mineral asbestos. A lot has changed in the entertainment world since then, but this famous Judy Garland movie still inspires creativity to this day, especially with its numerous practical effects. Unfortunately, some of the tricks that the crew used were more than a little hazardous to everyone involved with the production. This included the use of asbestos.

Updated Dec. 30, 2023: This article has been updated with additional content about the utilization of asbestos in The Wizard of Oz.

The poppy...

Director Lindsey Anderson Beer developed a script for a sequel to The Wizard of Oz that she hopes will one day be made. Beer's script for the sequel aimed to capture the joy and whimsy of the original, while also incorporating a darker and more modern edge. The world of Oz has been expanded and reinterpreted in various projects over the years, making Beer's sequel ideas a potential fit for the franchise.

Director and writer Lindsey Anderson Beer opens up about her unmade vision for a sequel to The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland and Margaret Hamilton, the celebrated 1939 feature is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's fantasy novel that saw a young girl transported to a fantastical world of witches, magic, and living scarecrows. Beer's latest feature is Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, a prequel to Stephen King's classic horror tale.

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The Wicked Witch of the West is the cruellest character in The Wizard of Oz, constantly trying to ruin Dorothy's life and threatening to kill her dog Toto. The Winged Monkeys serve as henchmen for the Wicked Witch, causing misery wherever they go and showing no regard for others. Glinda the Good Witch is kind and helpful to Dorothy but lacks the magical assistance when Dorothy faces the Wicked Witch alone.

The Wizard of Oz characters are a key reason the classic Hollywood movie is still so beloved as it is well over 80 years after its release. Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum's novel, tells the story of a young farm girl named Dorothy Gale who is swept up by a tornado with her little dog Toto and sent to the magical land of Oz. The movie remains a magical experience, setting her...

The original The Addams Family TV series began what has become a surprisingly durable franchise. It brought cartoonist Charles Addams' ghoulish creations to life for the first time and refining many of his ideas for use in later adaptations. The recent success of the Wednesday series on Netflix has renewed interest in the show. While it remains resolutely a product of its time, there's a lot about the old 1960s sitcom for fans to enjoy.

Halloween makes an excellent time to stream an episode or two, which are invariably lightweight and make a nice option for appropriate viewing, especially for people who prefer laughs to scares. Some of them make particularly good choices, either because of the specific content, or because of the prominent use of holiday-adjacent notions like outlandish costumes and black magic. These are among the 10 best episodes for the spooky season, with the series itself streaming free with ads on Amazon Prime.

Mere mortals have been fascinated by witchcraft for hundreds of years, and the film industry has taken note, with witch-themed movies going back more than 100 years.

In 1922, the silent partly documentary-style Swedish film “Haxan” sought to understand the roots and misunderstandings of witchcraft, and the mania that surrounded the witch hunts. Controversial at the time, it is now considered one of the most influential of the early horror films. Less than 20 years later, Margaret Hamilton would make the Wicked Witch the standard for evil witches, and help make “The Wizard of Oz” a timeless classic.

SEE25 best TV witches, ranked worst to best

In the decades since, witches have appeared in just about every genre of film. Early romantic comedies “I Married a Witch” and “Bell, Book and Candle” were so popular they inspired the classic 1960s TV series “Bewitched.” But while a witch’s antics on the small screen were amusing audiences,...

Iconic films like The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind would face major hurdles if made today, with safety concerns and controversial themes. Movies like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre pushed boundaries in their time, but their portrayal of certain characters would be seen as harmful by modern standards. Films like Jaws and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial benefitted from limitations in special effects, but advancements in CGI mean their stories would be different if made today.

Given the changing standards and values in Hollywood, several iconic movies would likely come out very differently if they were made today. That's only natural, considering that filmmaking is meant to evolve and shift with the years. Every decade has its classic releases which endure, not only as great movies, but as defining cultural moments. As such, any film that had a major cultural impact is important; it tells a vital...