Disney has made major waves in the last few years buying up family-friendly media properties, such as the Muppets, Marvel Comics and “Star Wars.” But the practice is not new.

Walt Disney himself procured an especially rich property in the 1950s when he scooped up the film rights to most of L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels. So it is something of a surprise that “Oz the Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco in the title role, is only the studio’s second attempt in 60 years to capitalize on those rights (third if you count the made-for-TV “The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz”).

It opens tonight at 9:05 at Carmike Cinemas Sauk Valley 8, 4110 E. 30th St. in Sterling.