You’re sitting on the couch, the snacks are ready, and you’re about to hit play on a certified classic. But then that nagging question hits you: how long is wizard of oz anyway? You’ve got things to do. Maybe you’re wondering if you can squeeze it in before bed or if your kids will actually sit through the whole thing without a meltdown.
Honestly, the answer isn't just a single number on a DVD box. It depends on whether you're talking about the 1939 Technicolor masterpiece, the original 1900 book by L. Frank Baum, or the massive Broadway spectacles that have toured the world.
The 1939 Movie: Short, Sweet, and Surprisingly Lean
The version everyone knows—the one with Judy Garland and those iconic ruby slippers—is actually much shorter than people remember. We tend to think of these "Golden Age" epics as three-hour marathons like Gone with the Wind.
But The Wizard of Oz? It clocks in at almost exactly 102 minutes. That’s 1 hour and 42 minutes.
It’s a remarkably fast-paced movie. From the moment the house drops in Munchkinland to the final "there's no place like home," the story moves at a breakneck speed. You’ve got the sepia-toned Kansas opening, the transition to Oz, the meetings with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, the Wicked Witch’s castle, and the big reveal of the Wizard—all in under two hours.
Why does it feel longer to some of us? Probably because it’s so dense with music. There are about 10 major musical sequences packed into that timeframe. If you were to strip out the songs, you’d be left with a very short film indeed.
What happened to the "Long" version?
There’s a bit of Hollywood legend here. The original "preview" cut shown to test audiences in 1939 was actually much longer—about 120 minutes. MGM executives panicked. They thought the movie was dragging, so they started hacking away at it.
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They famously almost cut "Over the Rainbow" because they thought the Kansas sequence was too slow. Imagine that. The most famous song in movie history almost ended up on the cutting room floor because someone was worried about the runtime.
Other things weren't so lucky:
- The Jitterbug: A massive, expensive musical number where the Wicked Witch sends a "bug" to make the heroes dance until they collapse. It was fully filmed but cut because it felt "dated" even in 1939.
- Extended Dances: Ray Bolger (the Scarecrow) had a much longer, acrobatic dance during "If I Only Had a Brain." You can find bits of this on special edition Blu-rays today.
- The Triumphant Return: A long sequence of Dorothy and her friends returning to the Emerald City with the Witch’s broom was trimmed down significantly.
If you’re looking for a "Director's Cut" that is four hours long, don't bother. It doesn't exist. Most of that deleted footage was lost or destroyed decades ago, though the audio for "The Jitterbug" survived.
How Long Is the Book? (It’s Not a Long Read)
If you’re asking how long is wizard of oz because you’re planning to read it to your kids (or yourself), you’re in for a treat. The original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is quite short.
Most editions are around 35,000 to 40,000 words.
For context, that’s about 150 to 200 pages depending on the font size and the number of illustrations. A fast reader can knock it out in about two or three hours. It’s significantly shorter than a modern Harry Potter book.
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Interestingly, while the book is short, the "time" Dorothy spends in Oz is way longer than in the movie. In the film, it feels like she’s there for maybe two days. In L. Frank Baum’s book, they spend weeks traveling. They have to cross rivers, fight "Kalidahs" (half-tiger, half-bear monsters), and visit entire villages made of china.
The movie condensed a massive trek into a 102-minute sprint.
The Stage Musicals: Pack a Snack
If you’re heading to a theater to see a live production, the answer to how long is wizard of oz changes completely. Live theater is a different beast.
- The RSC Version (The most common one): This is the version most schools and community theaters perform. It’s based heavily on the 1939 movie. Including the intermission, you’re looking at about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
- The Wiz: The soulful 1970s reimagining. This one usually runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Wicked: Okay, it’s a prequel, but it’s part of the Oz mythos. If you’re seeing Elphaba and Glinda, be prepared for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
In a live show, you have to account for scene changes, the intermission (usually 15-20 minutes), and the fact that actors can’t teleport across the stage like they can in a film edit.
Why the Length Matters for SEO and Your Saturday Night
When you search for the runtime, you’re usually trying to figure out if you have time for a "double feature" or if the kids will lose interest.
The 102-minute runtime of the movie is actually its secret weapon. It’s one of the reasons it became such a staple on television. In the 1950s and 60s, CBS started airing it annually. With commercials, a 102-minute movie fits perfectly into a two-hour time slot. It became a "tradition" because it was the perfect length for a family event that ended right at bedtime.
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A Quick Cheat Sheet for Runtimes:
- 1939 Movie: 1 hour, 42 minutes.
- Audiobook: Roughly 3 hours and 45 minutes.
- Broadway/Live Stage: 2 hours, 15 minutes to 2 hours, 45 minutes.
- Reading the Book: 2 to 4 hours for most adults.
Misconceptions About the "Real" Length
I’ve heard people claim there’s a version of the movie that explains what happened to the characters in Kansas after Dorothy woke up. Sort of an extended epilogue.
That’s mostly a myth. While there were scripts that had more dialogue for the farmhands (Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke), they were never meant to be a massive part of the film. The movie ends exactly where it should.
Another thing people get wrong is the "Dark Side of the Moon" thing. You know, the urban legend that if you start Pink Floyd's album at the third roar of the MGM lion, the music matches the movie? If you do that, the "length" of the experience is basically the length of the album (about 43 minutes), after which you're just watching a silent movie or restarting the CD. It’s a fun trip, but it doesn't change the actual runtime of the film.
Practical Takeaways for Your Watch Party
If you’re planning to watch The Wizard of Oz tonight, here is the expert advice you actually need:
- Check the Version: If you’re watching a "Restored" 4K version, the runtime might be listed as 103 minutes due to updated title cards or restoration credits. It's the same movie.
- The "Toddler Factor": Because the movie is 102 minutes, it’s actually a great "starter" movie for kids. The shift from sepia to color happens about 20 minutes in, which is usually right when a kid's attention starts to waver. That burst of color usually buys you another 40 minutes of quiet.
- The Intermission: If you're watching the movie at home, the "natural" place to pause for more popcorn is right after they leave the poppy field and see the Emerald City for the first time. That’s almost exactly the halfway point.
Basically, The Wizard of Oz is the perfect length. It doesn't overstay its welcome, but it creates a world that feels much bigger than the 102 minutes we get to spend there.
Next time you're at a trivia night and someone asks how long is wizard of oz, you can confidently tell them it's 102 minutes—but it almost lost its best song because the studio thought that was too long.
Go check your streaming service or dust off that Blu-ray. If you start now, you'll be finished well before your next scheduled task. Just make sure you have the volume up for the Cowardly Lion’s "If I Were King of the Forest"—it's the best part of those 102 minutes.