Do you want to see ‘Labyrinth’?

Labyrinth (1986)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 13

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

audience

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 339,818

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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,

PG, 1 hr. 41 min.

Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Cult Movies

Directed By: Jim Henson

Written By: Terry Jones

In Theaters: Jun 27, 1986 Wide

On DVD: Oct 12, 1999

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Labyrinth Trailer & Photos

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

Critic Reviews for Labyrinth

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (15) | DVD (31)

An innovative mix of sophisticated puppetry and special effects, Labyrinth has all the components of classic myth.

August 9, 2007 Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

| Comment

Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Critic

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.

August 2, 2007 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comments (3)

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Top Critic

Henson's imagination is boundless. But his movie has no pep. It's a dream in neutral.

June 29, 2007 Full Review Source: Boston Globe

| Comment

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Top Critic

A real masterpiece of puppetry and special effects, an absolutely gorgeous children's fantasy movie.

June 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune

| Comment

Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

A remarkable achievement.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Nina Darnton

New York Times

Top Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment (1)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Muppet creator Jim Henson went dark, but not too serious in this entertaining, but meandering trifle.

August 15, 2011 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy

| Comment

Wesley Lovell

Oscar Guy

Surreal coming-of-age fantasy -- with Muppets.

December 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

The plot may be old and the music dated, but Henson's creatures are timeless.

September 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Henson's vision and the wonderful bag of puppetry tricks he turns to are enough to make "Labyrinth" a winner.

September 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

James Plath

Movie Metropolis

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.

September 21, 2007 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide

| Comment

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films Guide

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.

July 25, 2007 Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

A long and colorful quest filled with crazy critters and creative set design.

November 15, 2006 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVD Clinic

A made-for-kids movie with just enough weird stuff in it to appeal to teens.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Labyrinth

View All

An imaginative, initially charming David Lynch meets Tim Burton meets Disney mesh of a story concerning a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must find her baby brother in a dark, mysterious dream-like world ruled by an intimidating figure (David Bowie) within a certain time-frame, or she will never see him again. Jim

June 24, 2007

Dan Schultz

Super Reviewer

Another classic from my childhood, Bowie is cool here (although when I was a kid I thought he was a female hahaha) the Labyrinth is really twisted and cool looking, great imagination and creature design all round with some awesome classic effects with the good old ways of matte painting and puppetry, the 'Magic Dance'

August 8, 2007

Phil Hubbard

Super Reviewer

Labyrinth Quotes

View All

1. Jareth: I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave.
– Submitted by Arthel B (2 months ago)
1. Jareth: Turn back, Sarah. Turn back before it's too late.
2. Sarah: I can't. Don't you understand I can't?
3. Jareth: What a pity.
– Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)
1. Goblin: Put that magic jump on me. Slap that baby, make him free.
– Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)
1. Sarah: Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great... You have no power over me.
– Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)
1. Jareth: Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for *you*! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn't that generous?
– Submitted by Adrian G (3 months ago)

Submit a Quote from 'Labyrinth'

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Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.