10 Remakes That Totally Outshone The Original

There were many early adaptions of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the most infamous probably being 1925's silent flick The Wizard of Oz. Featuring a young Oliver Hardy, the film was a critical and commercial disaster.

Several years later, MGM opted to give it another go and turn it into a musical, largely in color. Early prospects were not good. Though only one is credited, the project actually went through four different directors. Buddy Ebsen, who had been cast as the Tin Man, had to drop out because of an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in the makeup used for his character.

Controversies still rage about the treatment of the cast, in particular those playing the Munchkins, and whether or not something horrifying can be seen in the background of one of the shots. It can't, but that's never stopped the conspiracy theories.

But after its world premiere in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in August of 1939, it became a sensation. The film would win an Oscar for its score and be nominated for four more, including Best Picture. It is now an icon, with characters, quotes, songs and more that are among the most recognizable in the world.