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Oz

  • TV Series
  • 1997–20031997–2003
  • 18A18A
  • 55m
IMDb RATING
8.7/10
97K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
551
10
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Oz (1997)
Home Video Trailer from HBO Home Video
Play trailer0:31
6 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

A series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.A series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.A series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.

IMDb RATING
8.7/10
97K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
551
10
  • Creator
    • Tom Fontana
  • Stars
    • Ernie Hudson
    • J.K. Simmons
    • Lee Tergesen
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Tom Fontana
  • Stars
    • Ernie Hudson
    • J.K. Simmons
    • Lee Tergesen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 207User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #75
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 15 wins & 53 nominations total

    Episodes56

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos6

    Essential Guide to Rita Moreno
    Clip 8:44
    Essential Guide to Rita Moreno
    Oz: The Complete First Season
    Trailer 0:31
    Oz: The Complete First Season
    Oz: The Complete First Season
    Trailer 0:31
    Oz: The Complete First Season
    Oz: Season 5
    Trailer 1:16
    Oz: Season 5
    Oz: Season 1
    Trailer 0:31
    Oz: Season 1
    Oz: Season 6
    Trailer 0:31
    Oz: Season 6

    Photos770

    Oz (1997)
    Leon in Oz (1997)
    Craig muMs Grant in Oz (1997)
    Terry Kinney in Oz (1997)
    J.K. Simmons in Oz (1997)
    J.K. Simmons in Oz (1997)
    Philip Casnoff in Oz (1997)
    Otto Sanchez and Michael Wright in Oz (1997)
    Terry Kinney in Oz (1997)
    Craig muMs Grant in Oz (1997)
    Ernie Hudson in Oz (1997)
    Derrick Simmons in Oz (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Warden Leo Glynnas Warden Leo Glynn
    56 episodes56 eps • 1997–2003
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • Vern Schillingeras Vern Schillinger
    56 episodes56 eps • 1997–2003
    Lee Tergesen
    Lee Tergesen
    • Tobias Beecheras Tobias Beecher
    56 episodes56 eps • 1997–2003
    Dean Winters
    Dean Winters
    • Ryan O'Reilyas Ryan O'Reily
    56 episodes56 eps • 1997–2003
    George Morfogen
    George Morfogen
    • Bob Rebadowas Bob Rebadow
    56 episodes56 eps • 1997–2003
    Terry Kinney
    Terry Kinney
    • Tim McManusas Tim McManus
    55 episodes55 eps • 1997–2003
    Rita Moreno
    Rita Moreno
    • Sister Peter Marie Reimondoas Sister Peter Marie Reimondo
    55 episodes55 eps • 1997–2003
    Harold Perrineau
    Harold Perrineau
    • Augustus Hillas Augustus Hill
    55 episodes55 eps • 1997–2003
    Eamonn Walker
    Eamonn Walker
    • Kareem Saidas Kareem Said
    51 episodes51 eps • 1997–2003
    Craig muMs Grant
    Craig muMs Grant
    • Poetas Poet
    49 episodes49 eps • 1997–2003
    Luna Lauren Velez
    Luna Lauren Velez
    • Dr. Gloria Nathanas Dr. Gloria Nathan
    48 episodes48 eps • 1997–2003
    Granville Adams
    Granville Adams
    • Zahir Arifas Zahir Arif
    48 episodes48 eps • 1997–2003
    Tom Mardirosian
    Tom Mardirosian
    • Agamemnon Busmalisas Agamemnon Busmalis
    47 episodes47 eps • 1998–2003
    Kirk Acevedo
    Kirk Acevedo
    • Miguel Alvarezas Miguel Alvarez
    48 episodes48 eps • 1997–2003
    BD Wong
    BD Wong
    • Father Ray Mukadaas Father Ray Mukada
    46 episodes46 eps • 1997–2003
    Chuck Zito
    Chuck Zito
    • Chucky Pancamoas Chucky Pancamo
    46 episodes46 eps • 1998–2003
    Philip Scozzarella
    • Officer Joseph Mineoas Officer Joseph Mineo…
    46 episodes46 eps • 1997–2003
    Scott William Winters
    Scott William Winters
    • Cyril O'Reilyas Cyril O'Reily
    45 episodes45 eps • 1998–2003
    • Creator
      • Tom Fontana
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit
    OZ chronicles McManus' (Terry Kinney) efforts to control the inmates of Em(erald) City as well as the drug trade and the violence. There have been many groups of inmates during the run of the show and not everybody makes it out alive. There are the gangstas (Adebisi, Wangler, Redding, Poet, Keene, Supreme Allah), Muslims (Said, Arif, Hamid Khan), Italians (Pancamo, Nappa, Schiebetta), bikers (Hoyt), Aryans (Schillinger, Robson, Mark Mack), Christians (Cloutier, Cudney), Latinos (Alvarez, Morales, Guerra, Hernandez), gays (Hanlon, Cramer), and a pile of others (the O'Riley brothers, Keller, Stanislovsky, etc.). And a great "everyman" character called Beecher offers a good look at a normal man who made one tragic mistake. Besides the regular inmates, there are guest stars such as Method Man, Luke Perry, Master P, Treach, etc. and a bunch of prison staff doctors (Dr. Nathan), a nun/psychologist (Sister Peter Marie), a bunch of guards--some honest, some crooked--and, of course, the warden, Leo Glynn. The whole thing is narrated and held together by inmate Augustus Hill, who provides the show with context and some sense of theme, and ties everything together nicely. —LorgSkyegon
    • male rape
    • prison
    • italian
    • gay
    • aryan brotherhood
    • 210 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You're inside now.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • 18A
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some cast members that played prisoners have noted that, throughout the series, if you showed up late to the set, your punishment would be that your character would either die or be raped the next week.
    • Goofs
      When Doctor Gloria Nathan (Lauren Velez) talks to Ryan O'Reilly (Dean Winters) about his cancerous tumour in his chest, she says that the lump is "under the left nipple". However, he was clearly bleeding from the right nipple and ever clutching the right one while in the infirmary...
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Vern Schillinger: Niggers are up to something

    • Connections
      Featured in The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1999)

    User reviews207

    Review
    Top review
    Not only the best show on TV currently, but one of the best shows of all-time.
    Consistently well-written and acted, Oz is without a doubt the best thing on TV. Quality wise, it's up there with the first 4 seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street as the most compelling hour of television drama. Presenting a harsh and realistic view of prison life, Oz is a wonderful mixture of superb acting and character development; all of which rides on a nuanced and erudite core (Foucault's Panopticon is the inspiration for Em City's design...and ultimate failure). It is the only show on TV, that I can think of, that has presented characters who were intensely dislikable one moment and oddly empathetic the next. That I am repulsed by, sympathetic with, intrigued about, and involved with every character that has lived, died or survived on the show, is no small feat. Good TV exists. And, for my money, Oz is not only good TV, it is better than most films released throughout the year.
    helpful•136
    14
    • Evan Locci
    • Dec 4, 1998

    FAQ17

    • Its been 23 years since Oz aired... Why no Bluray as of yet?
    • Is that a real tattoo getting inked in the credits?
    • Why is season 4 longer than the others?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 12, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • В'язниця «Оz»
    • Filming locations
      • Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Rysher Entertainment
      • The Levinson / Fontana Company
      • Viacom Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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