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Fantastic Journey to Oz (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

Fantastic Journey to Oz (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 82 mins · Russian
Directed by
Vladimir Toropchin, Darina Shmidt
Starring
Konstantin Khabenskiy, Dmitriy Dyuzhev, Yuliya Rudina, Sergey Shnurov, Mikhail Khrustalev, Yakov Petrov

A power-hungry sorcerer named Urfin schemes to rule Magic Land, seizing the Emerald City and renaming it Urfinville with an army of wooden soldiers. His plans are disrupted by Dorothy's unexpected arrival. To return home, she must join forces with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and a courageous Lion to defeat Urfin and uncover the secrets of his past.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Fantastic Journey to Oz
  5. 5 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Fantastic Journey to Oz: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Fantastic Journey to Oz (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Long ago, Milena meets Urfin Jus [Konstantin Khabenskiy], a curious young boy who initially offers him a trinket but is declined and walked away. This early moment hints at ambitions that will simmer beneath the surface as the tale unfolds.

Years pass, and Urfin discovers weeds invading his garden. He tries to cut them down, then burns them away, only to wake up to something extraordinary. A bucket of magical dust from the weeds is knocked loose and lands on a wooden puppet, which suddenly springs to life. The puppet’s chase through the room is interrupted by the arrival of the bear [Dmitriy Dyuzhev] [Dmitriy Dyuzhev], who also comes to life, revealing that Urfin possesses powers granted by the enigmatic powder. With the puppet’s guidance, Urfin fashions a small force of wooden soldiers and sets his sights on leadership in a land ruled by the Munchkins. The procession moves toward the Emerald City, signaling the start of a bold, if sly, bid for control.

Meanwhile, a bright-eyed girl named Ellie (with her loyal dog Toto) discovers a pair of silver slippers in her room and uses them to slip into the magical realm of the Munchkins. In this strange land, Ellie encounters the wandering wooden soldiers and is quickly pursued by them, along with Toto. They are herded into a trap that ends with them slipping down into a hidden hole, while the Munchkins emerge safely from their homes. Ellie's journey along the famed Golden Brick Road takes her toward the Emerald City, where she crosses paths with an older Milena, who quietly passes a keepsake to Ellie—Intended to be given to Urfin Jus—and a watchful crow.

The duo’s travels are interrupted when an ogre seizes Ellie and Toto and drags them back to his hut. This perilous detour adds tension to Ellie’s quest as she and Toto navigate new dangers in a cavernous setting.

Back in the capital, Urfin, the Bear, and their wooden soldiers reach the Emerald City. A tense assault unfolds as the soldiers attempt to infiltrate the castle, but the doors remain stubbornly closed. The citizens rise to defend their home, and the invaders attempt to overwhelm the fortress by lining up on each other, essentially using a stacked formation to breach the defenses. The Scarecrow counters with fire to rattle the invaders, while the Bear tries to douse the flames, a task that proves slower than hoped. The clash above and below ground escalates into a chaotic defense of the city.

In the ogre’s hut, Ellie and Toto’s fate grows more perilous as the ogre prepares a grim meal. The Cowardly Lion bursts into the hut, but a trapdoor is activated, plunging the trio into a shadowy cave. The urgency of Ellie’s mission intensifies as the group finds themselves in a precarious, dimly lit corridor far from the safety of the Emerald City.

Parallel to this, Ruf Bilan captures the Scarecrow, revealing a new, sinister motive: to become the master of Urfin. Ruf opens a gate that unleashes the combined forces of the soldiers, Urfin, the Bear, and the puppet into his throne room. He even proposes a new name for the town—“Urfinville”—as a symbol of his dominion. The arrival of the Tin Woodman is announced by the bustling crowd, and a crow disrupts the scene, prompting plans to create a clone of the Scarecrow.

Meanwhile, Ellie, Toto, and the Cowardly Lion explore the cavern, where Toto activates magical shards that conjure a spider-like monster. The trio is pursued, and the Lion shares a story of past chases by fangthers and a spell that pushed them toward a dangerous cliff. They press onward, determined to reunite with their friends and find a path to safety.

The Tin Woodman finally reaches Emerald City, only to confront an impostor Scarecrow. The puppet misleads the Woodman into thinking he is the rightful king, and when they reach a door, the Woodman leaves behind his ax and steps into a trap. A jail cell follows, and a fire sprinkler triggers rust, erasing the Woodman’s oil can from memory. The real Scarecrow remains imprisoned, while Urfin confronts the mysterious Gingema’s book, trading it for access to powerful magic.

As Ellie disrupts the wooden sentries and sneaks into the castle, she reunites with the Scarecrow and helps him escape his own cell. The imposter Scarecrow delivers the slippers to Urfin, who hopes to win the affection of everyone. With the book’s guidance, Urfin resolves to use the silver slippers to fulfill his wish for universal adoration, and Gingema’s enigmatic text hints at the slippers’ power.

The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and a friendly wooden soldier break free from captivity, discovering that Urfin’s magic powder is nearly exhausted and cannot revive the army to its original malevolent state. The crow reminds Urfin that he is not a wizard, and the imposter Scarecrow supplies Urfin with the coveted slippers. Urfin imprisons Ellie, then returns to his room, donning the slippers and choosing a colossal robot as a dramatic instrument of punishment for the city.

A fierce battle erupts as the robot stomps through the streets. The Lion aims to lower Ellie’s cage, but a broken lever threatens to doom her; a rope’s quick save ensures she remains safe. Ruf captures the cage, and Ellie’s slippers glow, but she refuses to abandon her friends or her mission to help the city. The trinket Milena once offered is shown to Urfin, rekindling his desire for acceptance. The robot’s assault intensifies until the animal and human allies discover a way to counter it: the anthropomorphic cage’s magic channels a combined force that weakens the machine.

The robot finally falters, only to lurch back to life, surprising everyone with its resilience. As Ellie’s slipper slips from her foot, she hurls the remaining slipper toward the robot, delivering a final, dramatic twist. The robot is suddenly teleported to a random world, ending its rampage and letting the Emerald City breathe a sigh of relief. The populace erupts in celebration of Ellie’s bravery, and she continues to search for a way home.

Despite her best attempts, Ellie’s magic spell cannot immediately ferry her back, and the crowd begins to sing the spell in unison. In a final twist of fate, the familiar figure of Dorothy finds her way home, his or her arrival signaling a bittersweet end to the journey. The city’s people rejoice, grateful for Ellie’s courage while recognizing that some mysteries of the magical land remain beyond the reach of even the best intentions.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:06

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Plot questions answered

Fantastic Journey to Oz Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Fantastic Journey to Oz (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

How does Urfin Jus get his magical powers in the movie?

Urfin discovers magical powder growing among weeds in his garden. After trying to burn the weeds away, he accidentally knocks the powder onto a wooden puppet, which comes to life. The puppet reveals that the powder grants life-giving powers. Urfin uses this powder to animate a wooden puppet and later create an entire army of wooden soldiers, giving him the power to conquer Munchkinland and threaten the Emerald City.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Milena offers Urfin a trinket, hinting at his future ambitions for power and acceptance.

  • urfin jus
  • magic powder
  • wooden soldiers
  • powers
  • how he got magic
Q2

What powers do the silver slippers have?

The silver slippers are magical artifacts that can transport their wearer between worlds. When Ellie discovers them in her room and puts them on, she is transported to the land of the Munchkins. Later, Urfin discovers from Gingema's book that wearing the slippers can grant the wearer's deepest wish, in Urfin's case, the desire to be loved by everyone. In the final battle, one slipper gets thrown at the robot and teleports it away, ending the threat.

Foreshadowing: The slippers appear at the very beginning of Ellie's journey, establishing their importance to both her arrival and departure.

  • silver slippers
  • magic
  • transport
  • oz
  • ellie
  • wish granting
Q3

What is the trinket that Milena gives to Ellie and why is it important?

Milena gives Ellie a trinket with instructions to deliver it to Urfin Jus. This small object carries emotional significance, it is the same trinket Milena once offered to Urfin when they were children, which he declined. When Ellie finally shows the trinket to Urfin during the final battle, it rekindles his suppressed desire for acceptance and love, causing him to hesitate and contributing to his defeat.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening scene shows young Milena offering this trinket to young Urfin, who walks away without taking it.

  • trinket
  • milena
  • urfin
  • keepsake
  • emotional weapon
Q4

Why does Urfin want to conquer the Emerald City?

Urfin's motivation stems from a deep longing to be loved and accepted. When he reads Gingema's book, he learns that the silver slippers can grant his wish for universal adoration. This drives him to seize control of Emerald City and eventually use the slippers. His desire for power is ultimately a manifestation of his childhood insecurity, shown when he rejected Milena's trinket, rather than pure malice.

Foreshadowing: Young Urfin's rejection of Milena's trinket early in the film hints at his emotional walls and need for acceptance.

  • urfin
  • conquer
  • power
  • motivation
  • love
  • adoption
Q5

Who is the fake Scarecrow and what happens to him?

The fake Scarecrow is a wooden puppet created by Urfin's magic. When the real Scarecrow is captured by Ruf Bilan, Urfin sends the impostor to deceive the Tin Woodman. The imposter successfully tricks the Woodman into entering a jail cell, where he becomes trapped and forgotten. The fake Scarecrow later delivers the silver slippers to Urfin, playing a key role in his plan. After the battle, the puppet likely loses its magic as Urfin's powder supply runs out.

Foreshadowing: Urfin's army of wooden soldiers establishes that he can create sentient wooden beings.

  • fake scarecrow
  • impostor
  • puppet
  • wooden soldier
  • deception
Q6

How does Ellie destroy the giant robot in the final battle?

Ellie uses the magic of the silver slippers to destroy the robot. When the robot corners her cage, one of her slippers slips off. She throws the remaining slipper directly at the robot, and the slipper's magic teleports the robot to a random world, instantly neutralizing the threat. This moment also allows Ellie to finally activate the spell to return home.

Foreshadowing: The silver slippers' teleportation power was established when Ellie first arrived in Oz and later when Urfin attempted to use them.

  • robot
  • battle
  • teleport
  • silver slipper
  • defeat
  • ellie
Q7

How does Ellie finally get back home at the end of the movie?

After the robot is defeated, Ellie attempts to cast the return spell using the silver slippers, but it doesn't work immediately. The crowd then begins singing the spell together, and Ellie's magic finally works, Dorothy finds her way home. The film implies that the combined belief and support of the Oz citizens helps power the magic, allowing her to return to her own world.

Foreshadowing: The slippers' established ability to transport between worlds sets up this resolution.

  • ellie
  • home
  • return
  • oz
  • spell
  • transport
  • dorothy
Q8

Why does the Tin Woodman get trapped in jail?

The Tin Woodman arrives in Emerald City looking for his friends but encounters the fake Scarecrow. The impostor tricks him into believing he is the rightful king and leads him to a door, where the Woodman foolishly leaves his ax behind before stepping through. He immediately falls into a jail cell. When he tries to oil himself to escape, a fire sprinkler triggers and causes him to rust, erasing his memory of where he put his oil can.

Foreshadowing: The fake Scarecrow's deception was set up earlier when Ruf Bilan captured the real Scarecrow.

  • tin woodman
  • jail
  • trap
  • rust
  • oil
  • impostor
  • scarecrow
Q9

What is the connection between Milena and Urfin?

Milena and Urfin knew each other as children, as shown in the film's opening. Milena offered Urfin a meaningful trinket, but he declined it and walked away, indicating he was already dismissive of emotional connections. Years later, adult Milena secretly guides Ellie's journey by giving her the trinket to deliver to Urfin. This suggests Milena has been watching Urfin's descent into villainy and hopes the trinket might awaken his lost humanity.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene establishes their childhood connection and foreshadows the trinket's role in Urfin's redemption.

  • milena
  • urfin
  • relationship
  • childhood
  • trinket
  • connection
Q10

What happens when Urfin's magical powder runs low?

As the final battle progresses, the Scarecrow and his allies discover that Urfin's magical powder is nearly exhausted. This means his wooden army cannot be easily revived or maintained at full strength. When the robot is finally defeated and Urfin's power is broken, his creations likely lose their animation, explaining why the fake Scarecrow and soldiers no longer pose a threat after the battle.

Foreshadowing: The powder's discovery earlier in the film establishes it as the source of all Urfin's power.

  • magic powder
  • army
  • low
  • strength
  • wooden soldiers
  • urfin power
Q11

Who is Ruf Bilan and what are his motives?

Ruf Bilan is a character who captures the Scarecrow with his own agenda. Unlike Urfin, Ruf wants to become the master of Urfin himself. He opens a gate that lets Urfin's army roam freely into his throne room and proposes renaming the town 'Urfinville' as a symbol of his planned dominion. He represents another would-be tyrant in the story, though his plans are ultimately undone as the heroes escape and the main battle unfolds.

Foreshadowing: Ruf Bilan's introduction as a captor establishes him as an obstacle separate from Urfin.

  • ruf bilan
  • master
  • conquest
  • motive
  • scarecrow
  • capture

Movie threads

More Movies Like Fantastic Journey to Oz, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Fantastic Journey to Oz tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Magical Good vs Evil Quests like Fantastic Journey to Oz

Colorful adventures where a band of heroes must defeat a magical tyrant. If you enjoyed the classic battle against Urfin in Fantastic Journey to Oz, you'll love these movies. This section features similar family-friendly fantasy films where brave heroes embark on a clear-cut mission to stop a power-hungry sorcerer or ruler, filled with magical creatures, hopeful themes, and triumphant endings.

  • adventurous
  • magical
  • heroic
  • hopeful
  • thrilling
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, action-oriented
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a straightforward 'good vs evil' structure. A villain seizes power in a magical realm, disrupting its peace. A hero, often an outsider or an ordinary person, is drawn into the conflict and gathers a team of quirky, loyal allies. Their linear quest involves overcoming obstacles set by the villain, leading to a final confrontation that restores order and highlights themes of friendship and courage.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to a lighthearted, adventurous tone, a fast pace that maintains excitement, and a narrative centered on a unambiguous magical conflict. They provide a cohesive experience of heroic fantasy that is thrilling yet safe and ultimately uplifting.

Found Family Adventures like in Fantastic Journey to Oz

Journeys where a lone hero finds courage and friendship with a unique team. Fans of Dorothy teaming up with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion in Fantastic Journey to Oz will appreciate these selections. Here you'll find movies where the central joy comes from a group of distinct, charming characters bonding on a shared mission, emphasizing themes of friendship, loyalty, and collective courage.

  • friendship
  • heroic
  • hopeful
  • adventurous
  • quirky characters
  • teamwork
  • Tone: hopeful, playful
  • Pacing: fast, with character moments
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern begins with an isolated or displaced main character. Through the course of a journey, they meet a series of unique individuals, each with their own quirks and strengths. As they travel together, they evolve from a mere group into a true family, learning to rely on one another. Their combined talents become the key to overcoming the central conflict, proving that teamwork and friendship are the real magic.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their focus on the emotional arc of building a team. They share a light emotional weight, a playful and heroic mood, and a pace that allows for character bonding moments amidst the action. The similarity lies in the heartfelt dynamic between the central group of adventurers.

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Fantastic Journey to Oz (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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