I Saw “The Wizard of Oz” At The Las Vegas Sphere Last Night, And It Surpassed The Hype.

I’m in Vegas this weekend for a bachelor party, and I got in a night before everybody so I got the chance to go and see “The Wizard of Oz” at The Sphere last night. 

And it was fucking amazing. 

I just wrote last week about how bad I wanted to see it, so I wasn’t going to come here and miss the chance.

After the Red Sox got completely dominated by that 22 year old kid from Walpole, (seriously insane performance), I hopped on Ticketmaster, grabbed a seat in the 200 level for about $120. A lot of people told me that was the best spot to sit. But to be honest I think being even higher up-  the 300 or 400 level is probably the move. The screen is so stupidly big that looking straight or slightly down feels way better than craning your neck up. If you’re in the 100s, you’re basically watching the movie like you’re in the front row at an IMAX, which is not ideal.

First off, the Sphere has their act together. Getting cars and Ubers in and out was super smooth. Security lines were wicked quick. Concessions had zero wait. Even the workers were hyping it up like Disney employees. While waiting for a glass of wine they were asking us “are you guys excited to see the greatest show ever?” I asked one guy how many times he’d seen it, and he said 30. A woman said 50. And they weren’t just saying it, they were still genuinely excited about it. When’s the last time you heard an arena worker rave about their job?

I walked in to the main part of the Sphere and it was a packed house, every seat full. 

Behind me was an entire row of moms with their daughters. Their reactions alone were worth the price of admission. They were oohing and aahing like it was a Disney ride. 

During the twister scene, it legit felt like we were about to get sucked out of our seats. Massive fans blew real wind and leaves through the crowd, seats were shaking with bass, and the sound design made the whole thing feel alive. The moms were screaming. The daughters were screaming. Honestly, I almost screamed. It was hilarious.

They also nailed the balance between keeping the nostalgic aspect in tact and ramping things up a tad. They didn’t butcher the original film by any means, but the stuff they added in- subtle backgrounds, mountain landscapes, trees- it all fit perfectly. You could see where the old footage ended and the new enhancements started, but it never felt CGI or cheap. Then there was the experiential stuff: butterflies flying through the crowd, leaves swirling, pyro when they meet the Great and Powerful Oz, monkeys flying overhead. It was immersive without being corny.

Anyone saying this was “too much” is nuts. It’s not. It was like part movie, part ride, but not in a Universal Studios gimmicky way. It felt natural.

The picture was gorgeous, but the sound was the MVP. I’ve seen U2 and Dead & Co. in the Sphere, and those shows blew me away. But hearing a movie with dialogue, music, and sound effects coming at you in 360 degrees was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. 

That’s a whole different beast. It was like 3D sound. Seats rattling, booming bass, whispers coming from behind you-  total sensory overload.

If you’re bringing a girl to Vegas and you want a date move that isn’t just “nice dinner, lose money at blackjack, fight about the strip club,” this checks the box. Dinner and Oz at the Sphere = elite weekend. Thank me later.

If you’ve got kids, especially daughters, this is a must. It’s pure, wholesome fun. 

The coolest part of the entire thing was when the lights came up at the end and literally everyone in the building, every age and background, had a smile on their face. That doesn’t happen anymore. Not in 2025.

And I know Clem will kill me for this- I know James Dolan is enemy #1 for Knicks fans, but credit where it’s due: this was his vision. And it’s a home run. This is a revolution in how movies can be experienced. It should be the start of a trend.

If they do Harry Potter next, it’ll gross a trillion dollars. Guaranteed.

Until then, all I can say is: everyone should see The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. It’s unlike anything else in the world right now, which is crazy because for once, it’s right here in America and nowhere else.