Labyrinth (1986)
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 36
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 13
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 3
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 339,818
My Rating
Movie Info
George Lucas produced and Jim Henson directed this gothic fantasy which pits living and breathing actors Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie (who, along with Trevor Jones, provides the film's music) against a motley collection of Muppet monsters. The film centers upon teenage Sarah (Connelly), who lives in a fantasy world of myth and magic, evil spells, and wondrous enchantment. She is baby-sitting her little brother when she cavalierly wishes that goblins would take him away. She gets her wish,
Jun 27, 1986 Wide
Oct 12, 1999
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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Cast
-
David Bowie
Jareth -
Jennifer Connelly
Sarah -
Toby Froud
Toby -
Brian Henson
Hoggle -
Shelley Thompson
Stepmother -
Christopher Malcolm
Father -
Natalie Finland
Fairy -
Shari Weiser
Hoggle -
Ron Mueck
Ludo/Ludo's Voice/Firey... -
David Barclay
Didymus -
David Shaughnessey
Didymus -
Karen Prell
The Worm/The Junk Lady/... -
Timothy Bateson
The Worm/The Four Guard... -
Kenny Baker
Goblin Corps -
Sean Barrett
Goblin -
Robert Beatty
Left Door Knocker -
Douglas Blackwell
The Four Guards/Goblin -
John Bluthal
Goblin -
David Bradshaw
Fireys -
Kevin Clash
The Four Guards/Fireys -
Warwick Davis
Goblin Corps -
Malcolm Dixon
Goblin Corps -
Percy Edwards
Ambrosius -
Dave Goelz
Didymus, Fir, Left Door... -
Louise Gold
Ballroom Dancer -
David Healy
Right Door Knocker -
Michael Hordern
The Wiseman -
Danny John-Jules
Firey 3/Firey 4 -
Peter Mandell
Goblin Corps -
Peter Marinker
Goblin -
Toby Philpott
Fireys -
Ian Thom
Fireys -
Steve Whitmire
The Four Guards/Firey 4... -
Charles Augins
Firey -
Anthony Jackson
The Four Guards/Goblin -
Frank Oz
The Wiseman -
Sherry Amott
Firey -
Marc Antona
Goblin Corps -
John Aron
Ballroom Dancer -
Anthony Asbury
Fireys, One of the Four... -
Elfrida Ashworth
Ballroom Dancer -
Michael Henbury Ballan
Goglin Corps -
Danny Blackner
Goblin Corps -
Richard Bodkin
Fireys -
Denise Bryer
The Junk Lady -
Peter Burroughs
Goblin Corps -
Toby Clark
Goblin Corps -
Tessa Crockett
Goblin Corps -
Terry Dane
Ballroom Dancer -
Margaret Foyer
Ballroom Dancer -
Alistair Fullarton
Fireys -
Anthony Georghiou
Goblin Corps -
Elizabeth A. Gilbert
Ballroom Dancer -
Moira Grant
Ballroom Dancer -
Paul Grant
Goblin Corps -
Derek Hartley
Ballroom Dancer -
Cheryl Henson
Fireys -
Andrew Herd
Goblin Corps -
Douglas Howes
Ballroom Dancer -
John Key
Goblin Corps -
Rollin Krewson
Fireys -
Hoi San Lee
Ballroom Dancer -
Mark Lisle
Goblin Corps -
Janis Mackintosh
Ballroom Dancer -
Penny Marsden
Ballroom Dancer -
Kim Mendez
Ballroom Dancer -
Rob Mills
Ludo/Firey 3 -
Wendy Millward
Ballroom Dancer -
Leonie Pallete
Ballroom Dancer -
Caroline Pope
Ballroom Dancer -
Katie Purvis
Goblin Corps -
Nicholas Read
Goblin Corps -
Kerry Shale
Goblin -
Linda Spriggs
Goblin Corps -
Penny Stead
Goblin Corps -
Sharon White
Ballroom Dancer -
Albert Wilkinson
Goblin Corps -
Richard Jones
Goblin Corps -
Michael Attwell
Goblin
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All Critics (40) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (15) | DVD (32)
An innovative mix of sophisticated puppetry and special effects, Labyrinth has all the components of classic myth.
Unfortunately, this contemporary (at least, for the era) fairy tale, directed and co-written by Muppets creator Jim Henson, never sets a timely tone beyond the 1980s. It remains disappointingly tethered to yesteryear.
Henson's imagination is boundless. But his movie has no pep. It's a dream in neutral.
A real masterpiece of puppetry and special effects, an absolutely gorgeous children's fantasy movie.
A remarkable achievement.
Great energy and creativity went into the construction, production and direction of this movie, but it doesn't have a story that does justice to the production.
Labyrinth has stood the test of time astonishingly well.
Muppet creator Jim Henson went dark, but not too serious in this entertaining, but meandering trifle.
Surreal coming-of-age fantasy -- with Muppets.
The plot may be old and the music dated, but Henson's creatures are timeless.
Henson's vision and the wonderful bag of puppetry tricks he turns to are enough to make "Labyrinth" a winner.
Plays like The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland crossed with a middling episode of "The Muppet Show" guest-starring David Bowie … suffers from a distinct lack of charm.
The chaotic narrative proceeds in fits and starts, and the sights and sounds are often dated, but somehow the film's wit and wonder linger in the mind.
A long and colorful quest filled with crazy critters and creative set design.
Audience Reviews for Labyrinth
Story by Terry Jones serves no surprises or originality in it. Here is fantasy film full of genre cliches and characters which are way too familiar from other similiar fantasy films. There is also oddly uneven cheesy musical numbers with David Bowie as a goblin king. These scenes are quite confusing and simply does not fit into the film's overall mood.
When it comes to acting there is not that much to praise here. Jennifer Connelly is in one of her weakest roles here and David Bowie is just plain oddity as the film's goblin king.
Many will embrace this film possibly because it was important for them back when they were children but the honest truth is that this is quite weak film from visionary creature designer Henson and his company. As a curiosity it might work, but just as a curiosity.
Super Reviewer
-
- Jareth: Everything I've done, I've done for you. I move the stars for no one.
-
- Jareth: You remind me of the babe.
- Goblin: What babe?
- Jareth: The babe with the power.
- Goblin: What power?
- Jareth: Power of voodoo.
- Goblin: Who do?
- Jareth: You do.
-
- Goblin: [poking Ludo with a biting stick] Try this one on for size, you big hippie!
-
- Sarah: [during battle] Ludo, call the rocks!
-
- Hoggle: [sadly, after Sarah broke free from the crystal] Oh, she'll never forgive me. What have I done? I've lost my only friend. That's what I've done.
-
- The Junk Lady: What's the matter, my dear, don't you like your toys?
- Sarah: [comes to her senses] It's all junk!
- The Junk Lady: [picks up a music box] Well, what about this? This is not junk, eh?
- Sarah: [smashes music box] Yes, it is!
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Foreign Titles
- Labyrinth (DE)
- Dentro del laberinto (ES)


Top Critic
Even David Bowie is not very good here, and I'm a fan. It's like he couldn't take it seriously either.
Jennifer Connelly looks pretty, but she's not good either. Extremely unconvincing.
Didn't really like the puppets. I guess maybe kids would enjoy this. I can't picture an adult, although the ratings suggest otherwise.