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Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Draws Up to $2 Million a Day, Fueling Talks on Harry Potter and Star Wars

Analysts say the high-margin, AI-refitted film is turning the venue’s movie strategy into a 2026 profit engine.

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“The Wizard of Oz at Sphere,” a $100 million AI-enhanced version of the 1939 classic formatted to the Las Vegas entertainment venue’s 160,000 square-foot projection space, is selling as much as $2 million in tickets each day since opening in August.
© Sphere Entertainment
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Overview

  • Reports cite 4,000–5,000 attendees per showing, two to three shows daily, and average tickets near $200, producing up to $2 million in daily sales.
  • Sphere spent nearly $100 million to reformat the classic with 16K visuals, 4D effects and generative AI, trimming the runtime to about 70–75 minutes as preservation concerns surface.
  • Wolfe Research projects the run could exceed $500 million next year, with Sphere segment adjusted operating income approaching $200 million under the venue-first revenue model.
  • James Dolan has held preliminary talks with Warner Bros. about Harry Potter and approached Disney about Star Wars, with reporting that Disney wants greater creative involvement; no agreements have been announced.
  • The shortened format allows multiple daily screenings, including on concert days, with tickets currently on sale through March 2026 and reusable in-venue effects positioned for future titles.