Return to Oz (1985)

Return to Oz is a 1985 dark fantasy film serving as an unofficial sequel to the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz, and is based on L. Frank Baum's early 20th century Oz novels, mainly being a combination of The Land of Oz (1904) and Ozma of Oz (1907). Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Silver Screen Partners II, the film was co-written and directed by Walter Murch in his directorial debut. It stars Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie, and Fairuza Balk as Dorothy Gale in her first screen role. In the plot, an insomniac Dorothy returns to the Land of Oz to find it has been conquered by the wicked Nome King and his accomplice Princess Mombi. Dorothy must restore Oz with her new friends Billina, Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and the Gump.

In 1954, Walt Disney Productions bought the film rights to Baum's remaining Oz books to use in the television series Walt Disney's Disneyland; this led to the proposed live-action film The Rainbow Road to Oz, which was never completed. Murch suggested making another Oz film in 1980. Disney approved the project as they were due to lose the film rights to the series. Though MGM was not involved in the production, Disney had to pay a large fee to use the ruby slippers created for the 1939 film. Return to Oz fell behind schedule during production, and, following a change of Disney management, Murch was briefly fired.

Return to Oz was released in theaters on June 21, 1985. It performed poorly at the box office, grossing $11.1 million in the United States on a $28 million budget, and received mixed reviews, with critics praising the visual style, special effects, and faithfulness to the books, but criticizing it for its terrifying imagery. However, it performed well outside the US, and has since acquired a cult following from fans of the Oz books who regard it as more faithful to L. Frank Baum's works than the 1939 film. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.