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Trailer

Oz

1997 – 2003Show6 seasons56 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.7Metacritic738.4Rotten Tomatoes93%95%

A brutally violent, relentlessly bleak crime series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Shows with

Episodes

6 seasons · 56 episodes · best: S1E8 "A Game of Checkers" 9.2

Episodes

8.5
8.2
8.3
8.5
8.2
8.3

Story

Life's not a word. It's a sentence.

The daily lives of prisoners in Emerald City, an experimental unit of the Oswald Maximum Security Prison where ingroups - Muslims, Latinos, Italians, Aryans - stick close to their mutual friends and terrorize their mutual enemies.

Feels like

  • Unflinching Prison Drama
  • Extreme Graphic Violence
  • Complex Ensemble Cast
  • Societal Microcosm
  • Psychological Horror
  • Explicit Sexual Content
  • Gritty Realism
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Institutional Critique
  • Cult Classic Status

Cast

24 of 185 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Adam Bernstein, Alex Zakrzewski, Jean de Segonzac
Written by
Tom Fontana, Sunil Nayar, Sean Whitesell
Produced by
Irene Burns

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 12, 1997 · February 23, 2003 · Ended

First aired
July 12, 1997
Last aired
February 23, 2003
Status
Ended
Length
6 seasons · 56 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
54 countries

Tropes

The 'Verse, Deck of Wild Cards, The Television Talks Back +9

  • The 'Verse
  • Deck of Wild Cards
  • The Television Talks Back
  • Cycle of Revenge
  • Scary Black Man
  • Stalker with a Crush
  • Not So Above It All
  • One-Steve Limit
  • Adaptation Name Change
  • Crazy Jealous Guy
  • Welcome Episode
  • Reassigned to Antarctica

12 of 252 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Oz?"

Questions about Oz

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Oz?

HBO Max

In the United States, Oz streams on HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 53 other countries.

Is Oz worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 73).

How long does it take to watch Oz?

56 h

About 56 hours: 56 episodes in 6 seasons of about 60 minutes each, aired from 1997 to 2003.

Will I feel good after watching Oz?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 10 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Can I half-watch Oz?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for complexity and 8 for non-linear narrative.

What tropes does Oz use?

The 'VerseDeck of Wild CardsThe Television Talks BackCycle of RevengeScary Black ManStalker with a CrushNot So Above It AllOne-Steve LimitAdaptation Name ChangeCrazy Jealous GuyWelcome EpisodeReassigned to Antarcticaand 240 more

TV Tropes lists 252 tropes for it, including The 'Verse, Deck of Wild Cards, and The Television Talks Back.