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10 Movies Like The Wizard of Oz To Watch If You Enjoy Classical Fantasy

November 10, 2022
movies like the wizard of oz

Nearly 80 years after its premiere, The Wizard of Oz continues to be a cultural treasure and is celebrated by thousands of live performances yearly. We have curated a list of 10 magical movies like The Wizard of Oz that we hope you will like, check them out.

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film by Victor Fleming and an adaptation of the 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Young Dorothy (Judie Garland) finds herself in a magical world after she and her dog Toto are swept away by a tornado from their Kansas farm to the Land of Oz. She makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as she makes her way wearing sparkly red shoes on the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard, all while a Wicked Witch of the West sets out to stop them. 

The Wizard of Oz is one of the most famous musical films in Hollywood. So many moments of the film including when Dorothy enters the colourful Land of Oz will be memorable beyond time.

List of Movies Like The Wizard of Oz

  1. Alice in Wonderland
  2. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
  3. Mary Poppins 
  4. The Sound of Music
  5. E.T 
  6. Beauty and The Beast
  7. Hugo
  8. Home Alone
  9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

1. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice in Wonderland is an American dark fantasy film and is based on the 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The story became popular after the release of the 1951 animated film of the same name. Alice in Wonderland (2010) details the story of a young girl called Alice (Mia Wasikowska) as the titular protagonist, she falls through a rabbit hole and finds herself in a world full of anthropomorphic creatures. 

The second protagonist, named Mad Hatter, is played by Johnny Depp. The movie has some incredibly well-imagined creatures like the White rabbit, the Cheshire cat, Caterpillar, the White Queen (Anne Hathway) and the evil Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) with her dragon-like creature, Jabberwocky. If you are looking for movies like The Wizard of Oz with a young protagonist entering a dream world then Alice in Wonderland should be the perfect option for you.  

You can also watch the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) if you wish.

2. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (1971)

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory is an American musical fantasy directed by Mel Stuart. The story follows a poor small boy named Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder). When Charlie finds a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, he and 4 other young winners are given a chance to visit the highly secretive Chocolate Factory of Willy Wonka. 

Critics gave Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory a fairly positive review but the box office performance was average during the movie’s original release. It only gained its cult following after the 1980s through repeated television airings and home DVD sales. Now the 1971 movie is recognised as one of the most iconic films and it inspired the 2005 remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If you want to watch children’s movies like The Wizard of Oz then Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory might be the right choice for you. 

3. Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins by director Robert Stevenson is an American musical fantasy classic. The movie was first released in 1964 and holds a special place in the history of filmmaking. The protagonist Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) is a quintessential English nanny who visits a dysfunctional family in London employing her unique skills and brand of lifestyle to improve the family’s dynamic. 

The movie was created as a mix of live-action and animation and received universal acclaim from critics, especially high praise for the work of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Mary Poppins is heartwarming and funny, and the sets and the songs of the movie are full of life. You might enjoy Mary Poppins’ most wonderful and cheerful story if you are looking for movies like The Wizard of Oz. 

Also Read: Movies like Super 8

4. The Sound of Music (1965)

The musical drama film The Sound of Music is one of the most commercially successful movies of all time. The story is based on Maria Von Trapp’s memoir called The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, published in 1949 to promote her family’s singing group after the death of her husband, Georg. In America, The Sound of Music first came out as a musical in 1959. The story of the movie The Sound of Music begins with Maria (Julie Andrews) a young, free-spirited woman studying to become a nun.

Maria is sent to a villa of a retired naval officer, Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) as a governess to his 7 children. After the death of his first wife, Georg tries to raise the kids in strict military discipline. Maria, on the contrary, responds to the children’s misbehaving with patience, kindness and singing. Julie Andrews’ performance in this movie musical is extraordinary and the songs of The Sound of Music hold an eternal place in the history of Cinema. Be sure to check out The Sound of Music if you enjoyed movies like The Wizard of Oz.

5. E.T the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T The Extra-Terrestrial is an American sci-fi film produced and directed by the iconic Steven Speilberg. The movie follows the story of Elliot (Henry Thomas) who befriends an alien ‘E.T.’ that is left behind on Earth. This children’s adventure film E.T the Extra-Terrestrial is considered among the greatest movies ever made. 

Elliot, with the support of his friends and family, tries to help E.T. find his way home safely. E.T the Extra-Terrestrial is a simple movie about friendship, love and a little bit of magic. This classic tale of E.T is based on the imaginary friend Speilberg created as a young boy. The great acting, brilliant story and impressive visual effects of E.T the Extra-Terrestrial are too good to miss. If you are a fan of movies like The Wizard of Oz then you will be very pleased with E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, check it out. 

6. Beauty and The Beast (2017)

Beauty and The Beast is a live-action musical romantic fantasy film based on Disney’s animated 1991 Beauty and The Beast. The animated version is an adaptation of Jean-Marrie’s 1756 version of the 4000-year-old fairy tale. The story of the movie looks at a young village girl named Belle (Emma Watson) who goes in search of her father Maurice (Kevin Kline) to an old victorian mansion.

Belle discovers her father is imprisoned in the house by The Beast (Dan Stevens) and so she sacrifices herself to be in place of her father. Over time Belle discovers that The Beast is more than just a monster and she also becomes very fond of all the magical living objects like Lumiere, Mrs Potts, Cogsworth and Chip. The live-action adaptation’s production design, costumes, songs and story are an absolute delight to watch. If you are on the lookout for movies similar to The Wizard of Oz then Beauty and The Beast will be worth checking out.

7. Hugo (2011)

Hugo was directed by the iconic director Martin Scorsese. The movie is based on a novel by Brian Selznick called The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film tells a story of a boy who lives alone in the Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris in the 1930s. He maintains all the railway clocks (the job of his father) after his dad falls sick and eventually dies. 

The little boy, Hugo Cabret, admires movie-making. He finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding his father and the pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès (The real-life inventor who made some of the first few films.) Hugo tells a heartwarming story that beautifully celebrates the art of filmmaking. 

If you are searching for movies like The Wizard of Oz then Martin Scorsese’s award-winning Hugo might be very good for you. 

8. Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is a Christmas special comedy film by Chris Columbus and it follows the story of a young boy named Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left behind, all by himself when the large family of McCallister go on a vacation to Paris. Kevin discovers that burglars are trying to rob his house, so he sets up a series of creative traps to defend himself and his home. 

In Home Alone, Kevin is the family’s youngest son and is often the subject of ridicule by his older siblings. Kevin is seen as an irresponsible child, something he sets out to prove wrong when he is alone. There are few movies as successful as Home Alone, and it has become a true Christmas classic. If you are looking for movies like The Wizard of Oz and haven’t yet seen Home Alone, then you must definitely give it a try.

9. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Based on the 1950 novel fantasy series written by C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is also the first Narnia series film. The movie follows the story of 4 young siblings in the magical winter world. 

When in their grandparent’s house, Lucy (Georgie Henley) is playing hide and seek with her siblings Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell ) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes),]. Lucy hides in the wardrobe only to find herself in a world called Narnia. Upon her return, no one believes her story but when all the siblings find themselves there, they are forced to face difficult challenges to survive. This epic world of Narnia goes beyond imagination. So if you’re looking for films similar to The Wizard of Oz then you might want to check out Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Also Read: Movies Like the Grand Budapest Hotel

10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2010)

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the second movie by Chris Columbus on this list. This movie is based on the Greek mythology and fantasy novel series Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is the titular protagonist of the movie series. 

Percy is a dyslexic teenager that finds himself being accused by his substitute maths teacher of having stolen Zeus’ lighting bolt. This is when he discovers that he is the descendant of a Greek god and so he sets out on an adventure where he faces the challenge of settling an ongoing battle between the Gods. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief became extremely popular upon its release and if you want to see movies similar to The Wizard of Oz, this one could be the right choice for you. 

Honourable Mentions 

Here are a few films like The Wizard of Oz that are not a part of this list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Frozen
  2. Ride of The Guardians
  3. Ferris Bueller’s day off
  4. Back to the Future
  5. Encanto
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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