The Wiz

Right now you can watch The Wiz in the US on Philo, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Diana Ross — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Philo.

The Wiz is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. What makes The Wiz work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1978. The rules of The Wiz's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give The Wiz a chance. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Diana Ross's performance is the anchor the more ambitious moments need. The world-building pays off in ways you will not anticipate on a first watch.