The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, Las Vegas

Oct. 17 - (HLR) From the moment the lights dim, you’re swept straight into Kansas—quite literally. The Sphere’s wraparound visuals and rumbling seats transform the twister sequence into a heart-pounding thrill ride. Wind whips through the aisles, debris swirls overhead, and when Dorothy’s farmhouse lifts off, it feels as though the entire audience goes with it. The tornado effects—wind, leaves, and seat-shaking vibrations—are easily the best part of the show.

Once in Oz, the colors burst into breathtaking life. Glinda’s shimmering pink bubble envelopes the entire dome, and the Yellow Brick Road seems to stretch on forever. The expanded imagery and AI-enhanced visuals make every frame glow, though occasionally characters near the edges of the screen appear blurred or eerily still, as if caught mid-thought. (A few glossy-eyed moments from Dorothy add to that uncanny feeling.)

But longtime fans should be warned: this is not the complete film. To fit multiple showings into the day, the runtime has been trimmed to about 75 minutes—roughly 27 minutes shorter than the original. Some beloved moments are gone entirely: the Cowardly Lion’s “If I Were King of the Forest” has been excised (a loss some won’t mourn), the Munchkinland sequence is abbreviated, and Aunt Em’s exchange with Miss Gulch is missing lines. The editing is mostly smooth, but those who know the movie by heart will feel the absences.

Audience interaction adds a modern Vegas flair—foam “WOZ” apples tumble from the rafters during the orchard scene (though not nearly enough of them), and snow falls in the poppy field—at least for those not seated too high up. The life-sized flying monkeys circling by drone are equal parts amusing and bizarre.

As for comfort, the aisles are narrow and the seats rather tight—fine for a short film, but not for lingering. Still, every seat offers a clear view, and with visuals filling nearly the entire structure, there really are no “bad seats.” The show begins promptly, so don’t be late or you’ll miss that magnificent Kansas prelude.

Skip the VIP tickets—reports suggest they’re not worth the premium. The standard experience is more than enough to dazzle. After the film, a brief live performance keeps the energy high, rounding out the evening with Vegas-style spectacle.

In the end, The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere is both a tribute and a reinvention—a breathtaking sensory journey that honors the magic of the original while daring to play with its form. It may be missing a few pages from the script, but the heart, spectacle, and sheer wonder remain firmly intact.

Bottom line: For lifelong fans, it’s a surreal and sometimes jarring remix of a classic; for families and newcomers, it’s a knockout. Either way, it’s an unforgettable trip down the Yellow Brick Road—Las Vegas style.

Rating: ★★★★½ (4½ out of 5)