‘Doomed as cartoons forever’: Subjection and liberation in Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz

This article reconsiders the importance of Sidney Lumet’s film adaption of The Wiz, which was panned on release and deemed a commercial failure. Despite this, the film has always been cherished by the African American community. I examine why this is, by analysing the film's relationship to blaxploitation, its production and reception history, and some of the film’s scenes. Finally, I consider its legacy and its meaning for later generations.