On August 28th, 2025 a new chapter unfolded for one of the most beloved classics in cinematic history, The Wizard of Oz. The film that enchanted audiences for generations now returns reimagined for the 21st century inside the breathtaking Sphere in Las Vegas. The 86-year-old film found fresh life in a way that fused nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. With such a new-found invention, The Sphere gained the ability of transporting visitors straight from the desert of Nevada to the magical land of Oz.
Rising from the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Sphere quickly rose to become one of the city’s most dazzling attractions. The exterior, The Exosphere, a glowing marvel to both locals and tourists alike with its 580,000-square-foot LED screen, showcased iconic scenes from the movie. Capable of lighting up the night sky with vivid animations visible for miles upon miles, The Sphere continues to make an impact on the Las Vegas skyline. Construction for this ambitious project began back in September 2018 all the way to September 2021, welcoming its first guests. But while the outside of The Sphere captivates onlookers with its futuristic brilliance, the inside truly transforms imagination to reality.
On April 4th, 2025, the Exosphere came alive with a swirling digital twister, tossing debris and a house across the giant globe. The project’s unveiling became every bit as theatrical as the film itself. Once the digital storm cleared, viewers met with a familiar sight: the same little farmhouse resting atop the Wicked Witch of the East. To complete the illusion, the Sphere showcased a massive inflatable display of a 50-foot-long, 22-foot-high tribute featuring the witch’s black-and-white striped tights and her iconic ruby-red slippers. The spectacle stopped passersbys as they reveled in the brand new attraction. Instantly, the ruby red slippers paired with an announcement flooded social media with awe-struck videos. Tickets officially went on sale on June 10th, 2025, organizers chose the date with touching symbolism as it marked Judy Garland’s 103rd birthday.
On October 20th, 2025, The Sphere made a special announcement regarding The Wizard of Oz showings. Between August 28th and October 17th, the experience accumulated $130 million after The Sphere sold over 1 million tickets in total.
When opening night finally arrived on September 28th, the event Oz itself. According to The Hollywood Reporter,, James Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of The Sphere Entertainment Co., personally welcomed guests dressed in a striking emerald-green suit and top hat, a nod to the fabled Emerald City. “For the first time,” Dolan promised during his opening remarks, “you’re going to feel like you’re part of the story. You’ll see the film at unparalleled scale and resolution… you will experience what it feels like to be inside a tornado. I can tell you, anybody can blow wind in your face; not anybody can make you feel like you’re in a tornado.”
Before the film began, the massive screen transformed into the illusion of a grand old theatre. Guests heard the faint sounds of a live band warming up, as though the orchestra hid somewhere just behind the curtain. Then, just before the final call, a booming, disembodied voice of the Wizard himself echoed through the auditorium, commanding guests to return to their seats. The crowd laughed and hurried back, ready for another round down the yellow brick road.
As the lights dimmed and the first notes of “Over the Rainbow” faded, the audience plunged into the heart of Kansas merely moments before the infamous tornado. The Sphere’s state-of-the-art technology transformed the theatre into a storm unlike anything viewers will ever experience. The sound of rushing wind swelled from all directions as massive high-powered fans kicked in, whipping through the audience with bursts of air that made it feel as though the dome made a storm come to life. Cut-out leaves and bits of debris swirled through the air, dancing in the projecting funnel cloud that wrapped around the massive 16K screen. The audience gasped and laughed as the farmhouse began to spin, the screen curving seamlessly around them, blurring the line between film and reality.
Then, as Dorothy’s house crashed down in Oz, the chaos melted into a breathtaking calm. The dull grays of Kansas gave way to the dazzling colors of Munchkinland. Gigantic mechanical butterflies began to flutter above the crowd, their wings catching the soft glow of the screen’s technicolor landscape. Bubbles floated freely through the air, glimmering under the lights, as if welcoming Dorothy and the audience into this strange, wonderful new world.
The experience seemed as if crafted in an almost childlike sense of wonder. When Dorothy found herself arguing with the grumpy talking apple trees, foam apples tumbled gently from the ceiling, bouncing across seats and aisles as the crowd laughed in delight. Later, as the travelers drifted to sleep in the field of poppies, a light snowfall began to fall, dusting the audience in a cool shimmer of artificial snow. The transition from scene to scene felt effortless, as though The Sphere itself breathed life into the classic story.
But the true spectacle came when the Wizard finally appeared. The booming voice echoed through the space as real flames burst from the sides of the stage, synchronized perfectly with his words. The heat pulsed through the audience, making every command feel larger than life. And just when everyone thought the dust settled, the sky above them filled with giant animatronic flying monkeys, swooping and gliding overhead as the Wicked Witch’s army descended upon the heroes, their glowing eyes and beating wings made the entire theatre feel like transportation straight into the chaos of Oz.
Once finished, the guests found themselves in a haze, stunned at the beauty of such a performance. For a film that inspired dreamers for nearly a century, people refuse to classify The Sphere’s Wizard of Oz experience as a mere re-release—it is a revival. The experience becomes proof that some stories never lose their magic; they simply find new ways to shine.
