Originally published to FOX5 Vegas on Aug. 29, 2025.

The new Sphere experience, “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” debuted to the public Thursday, bringing with it many questions about the latest addition to Las Vegas’s robust entertainment offerings, and what to expect.

Oz, expanded

If you’ve already seen “The Wizard of Oz” — and let’s face it, who hasn’t — the Sphere experience is an excellent opportunity to look around on the massive screen to see what the various artists who produced the gargantuan version of the film for Sphere’s enormous screen added. Don’t hesitate to turn your head and look at the experience from every angle — there’s plenty of joy in discovering the “extra features” embedded in this version.

Pay no attention —

As Oz the Great and Powerful himself might say, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” In the case of Sphere’s version of “The Wizard of Oz,” the man behind the curtain is AI. Indeed, it’s abundantly clear that this edition heavily uses artificial intelligence technology. Images from the 86-year-old film have been enhanced using AI, to varying degrees of success.

A shorter yellow brick road

Fans of Oz should note that “The Wizard of Oz” at Sphere is not a beat-for-beat recreation of the 1939 classic. There are various detours and cuts to the film. Some moments are expanded upon, utilizing Sphere’s unique presentation capabilities to highlight the more immersive scenes from the movie.

At 75 minutes, the Sphere immersive experience is nearly half an hour shorter than the film. This means moments are lost, so consider the newest Las Vegas attraction something akin to a lengthy theme park ride, rather than a next-gen remaster of a cinematic masterpiece.

‘It’s a twister, it’s a twister!’

The star of the new experience is undoubtedly the tornado sequence. Without going into spoilerish detail, a lot is added to this sequence, and it’s quite the thrill ride. What was already a groundbreaking moment in 1939 is now reimagined on Sphere’s immersive screen. This moment is where Sphere’s Oz leans hardest into its theme park sensibilities.

Over the rainbow — and into your seat

This version of “The Wizard of Oz” doesn’t rest on its laurels, simply placing a classic film on the highest-resolution screen in the world. The Sphere experience incorporates lighting effects, wind, light indoor precipitation, and even some surprise physical additions that won’t be spoiled here. There’s even an instance of falling objects, so be prepared to feel like part of Oz, rather than simply watching it.