The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

See you again in five years.

Warner Bros. is known for their habit of repackaging classic titles, with their most popular mainstays earning a "new" edition every five years like clockwork. Those quote marks are included because, of course, there's really nothing new about most of them besides for different cover artwork or maybe some printed goodies, so this new 85th Anniversary "Theater Edition" of The Wizard of Oz -- a film that needs absolutely no introduction -- fits their multi-dip M.O. like a glove... or, in this case, a ruby slipper. Arriving in Steelbook packaging with a handful of vintage promotional material reproductions and a handsome outer case that's reminiscent of the 2005 three-disc Collector's Edition DVD boxed set, it's a very nice package that die-hard fans will find hard to resist this holiday season. However... since the on-disc content is identical to WB's 80th Anniversary 4K edition, a few nitpicks with that release also apply to this one.

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For details about the 2160p/HDR10+ (Dolby Vision capable) transfer, please see my review of WB's 80th Anniversary 4K edition. Again, this is a beautiful presentation of the film and holds up pretty much flawlessly five years later.

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, more details about the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix can be found at the review linked above. This means, of course, that The Wizard of Oz's original mono mix is once again not included on the 4K disc, which is doubly frustrating since the studio seems to have taken strides to preserve original audio tracks in recent years.

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in matte-finish Steelbook packaging with a bold image of the Wicked Witch of the West kneeling (melting?) menacingly against an emerald green background below the film's logo. The back cover is a more traditional and illustrative composite of our four brave heroes following a winding yellow path towards the castle -- no bricks to be seen anywhere. Inside is a two-panel promotional still of our heroes frightened as a shadowy threat approaches, with a Digital Copy insert on the left and both discs on overlapping hubs on the right.

Also included with this release, tucked inside a matte black envelope bearing a stylized film logo and anniversary year, is an assortment of replica promotional items seen in both collaged images above and the one below. These include eight lobby cards, three mini poster reproductions, and also a replica program and ticket from the film's one-night showing at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, August 15, 1939 with an admission price of $2.20; adjusted for inflation, that's close to $50 today! It's a nice assortment of goodies that gives this "Theater Edition" its name and should delight die-hard fans and packaging collectors alike. The Steelbook and envelope are housed in a sturdy slipcase as seen in the top image, which ties everything together quite nicely. A handsome set indeed, and one that actually takes up less shelf space than you might think -- it's about the width of two 4K keepcases.

As mentioned earlier, on-disc content is identical to the 80th Anniversary 4K edition. These are covered in more detail in the linked reviews above and below but are listed below for your convenience.

4K DISC

• Audio Commentary - A familiar legacy group track featuring film historian John Frick along with Barbara Freed-Saltzman, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr, Jane Lahr, Hamilton Meserve, Dona Massin, William Tuttle, Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy and Jerry Maren.

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic

BLU-RAY DISC (Identical to Disc 2 of the 75th Anniversary Edition)

• Audio Commentary (same as above)

• The Making of The Wizard of Oz

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook

• We Haven't Really Met Properly…

• Music & Effects Track

• Original Mono Track

• Sing Along Tracks

• Audio Jukebox

• Leo is on the Air Radio Promo

• Good News of 1939 Radio Show

• 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Broadcast

• Stills Galleries

• Trailers

The Wizard of Oz 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Wizard of Oz is probably the most enduring and well-known film of its generation, and perhaps even film history as a whole. Often imitated but never duplicated, it holds up pretty damn well 85 years after its original debut, standing ready to delight and possibly confuse/scar another generation of young movie-goers. That said, Warner Bros.' 4K UHD "Theater Edition" is aimed at older film buffs and die-hard packaging collectors, offering the same great put not quite perfect A/V treatment as their 80th Anniversary 4K edition, instead sweetening the pot with attractive deluxe packaging and a nice assortment of replica promotional goodies. It's quite simply a great-looking set that'll end up under more than a few Christmas trees, but I wouldn't blame anyone for treating themselves a month early.