At a Glance
- Las Vegas Sphere’s Wizard of Oz pulls in nearly $200 million in ticket sales.
- Tickets ranged from $100 to $400, with the immersive 160,000-sq-ft screen.
- The venue plans to keep showing the film through April 2026 and expand to Abu Dhabi.
- Why it matters: It shows how immersive venues can drive blockbuster ticket revenue amid a shift to streaming.
The Sphere, a giant spherical cinema in Las Vegas, has turned a classic movie into a cash-generating event, raking in almost $200 million in ticket sales for its 1939 Wizard of Oz re-imagining.
A New Kind of Movie Experience
Michelle Madrigal, a California-based content creator, said the immersive 160,000-sq-ft screen made her feel transported to Oz.
Michelle Madrigal stated:
> “The smells, the colors … it was just so beautiful to see in person,”
Tickets ranged from $100 to $400, and the venue opened in August, drawing massive crowds.
- 160,000-sq-ft spherical screen
- Ticket price range: $100-$400
- Revenue: nearly $200 million by December
Industry Response and Future Plans
Other theaters have leaned into nostalgia, with Warner Bros. sending fake-blood trucks for “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” and Lionsgate making viewers walk on treadmills for “The Long Walk.”
IMAX continues to re-release classics, with “The Shining” drawing 50 million ticket sales annually.
James Dolan, executive chairman of Sphere Entertainment, said the venue will run Wizard of Oz forever.
James Dolan stated:
> “Ultimately, we’ll run ‘The Wizard of Oz’ forever. It’s hard for me to imagine a better product than ‘Wizard of Oz.'”
He plans to open a Sphere in Abu Dhabi and smaller versions elsewhere.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticket price range | $100-$400 |
| Revenue from Wizard of Oz | ~ $200 million |
| Planned end of run | April 2026 |
Key Takeaways
- The Sphere’s immersive experience has proven highly profitable, generating nearly $200 million in ticket sales.
- The model showcases how large-scale venues can compete with streaming by offering unique, communal experiences.
- James Dolan plans to expand the concept beyond Las Vegas, potentially making the Sphere a global phenomenon.
The success of the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere signals a shift toward experiential cinema in a streaming-dominated market.
