Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘The Dark Crystal’?

The Dark Crystal (1982)

tomatometer

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

audience

78

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 154,665

My Rating

Movie Info

Jim Henson ventures into Tolkien territory in his all-Muppet fantasy feature The Dark Crystal. The titular Crystal maintains equilibrium in a mythical kingdom. When the Crystal is broken, the evil Skeksis take over, killing off the good-guy Gelflings and enslaving everyone else. Two of the Gelflings have survived: Jen was raised by the all-knowing Mystics, while Kira grew up amongst the swamp-dwelling Podlings. Jen and Kira join forces to "heal" the precious Dark Crystal and restore order to

Oct 5, 1999

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (37) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (10) | DVD (28)

You have to love a fantasy whose greatest peril is the Bog of Eternal Stench.

July 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | Comments (6)
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The screenplay by David Odell, based on a story by Mr. Henson, is without any narrative drive whatever. It's without charm as well as interest.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comments (3)
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fantastic, but more intense Muppet adventure.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A wonderfully invented world full of characters that transcend their puppet limitations thanks to the energy and creativity of the Jim Hansen and Frank Oz team of puppeteers and voice actors

May 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

A distant, uninvolving experience … characters and emotions, even by the archetypal standards of high fantasy, never come to life, and the overarching mythology seems too self-consciously contrived.

September 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment (1)
Decent Films Guide

An extraordinary, often mesmerizing achievement of design and performance that's held back by an underdeveloped script and a milquetoast leading character.

August 14, 2007 Comment

Crystal is a miraculous rush of innovation and storytelling patience, and, in the last 25 years, the film has grown from a 1982 misfire, to a cult wonder, to a bona-fide classic that's timeless in stature and masterful in execution.

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

Points to the Henson team for trying to broaden the scope of their creatures -- and there's little denying that this particular flick still seems to hold up pretty darn well.

November 15, 2006 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic | Comment
DVD Clinic

Os personagens são bem realizados e animados, mas o roteiro, além de plagiar O Senhor dos Anéis, é burocrático e pouco envolvente.

January 8, 2006 Comments (2)
Cinema em Cena

This ersatz Tolkien with puppets looks and plays like ersatz Tolkien with puppets.

October 12, 2005 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | Comment (1)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Comes off as an overblown puppet show.

June 3, 2004 Comment (1)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Dark Crystal

This isn't the best film of 1982 (otherwise known as the year of the cult film, including the likes of "TRON", "The Thing", and none other than "The Dark Crystal"). Not even close. But it's still worth watching. This was the first major film that tried to sell it's entire world on puppetry alone (and one of the only at

December 4, 2011
Jacob Ethington

Super Reviewer

more action-packed than "the Mothman Prophecies." more hilarious than "the Terminal." more innovative than "Righteous Kill." more tear-jerking than "Fight Club." more suspenseful than "Takers." more witty than "the Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day." more terrifying than "Species." more blood-soaked than "Love Comes

June 20, 2009
LoughnerWasLucid

Super Reviewer

    1. Jen: Wings! I don't have wings.
    2. Kira: Of course not. You're a boy.
    – Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)

Latest News for The Dark Crystal

March 29, 2010:
Dark Crystal Sequel Still Coming?
After more than 25 years, you might have given up hope of ever seeing a sequel to "The Dark...

August 7, 2009:
Brian Henson Promises Fraggle Rock Movie, Dark Crystal Sequel
Still holding out hope for a "Fraggle Rock" movie and a sequel to "The Dark Crystal"? According to...

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,616 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,563 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,222 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,728 taken
created 15 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Dark Crystal (FR)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile