Labyrinth

Movie Details:

Country	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Genres	Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Release date	June 27, 1986 (United States) December 2, 1986 (UK)
Running time	1hr 41min
Age rating	PG
Starring	David Bowie Jennifer Connelly
Directed by	Jim Henson
Screenplay by	Terry Jones
Story by	Dennis Lee Jim Henson
Produced by	Eric Rattray
Cinematography by	Alex Thomson
Edited by	John Grover
Music by	Trevor Jones
Production Company	Henson Associates Lucasfilm
Distributor	Tri-Star Pictures (US) Columbia–EMI–Warner Distributors (UK)

Cast & Characters:

• David Bowie as Jareth, the king of the goblins
• Jennifer Connelly as Sarah, a 16-year-old girl who searches through the labyrinth to find her baby brother Toby
• Toby Froud as Toby, Sarah’s baby half-brother
• Shelley Thompson as Irene, Toby’s mother, and Sarah’s stepmother
• Christopher Malcolm as Sarah and Toby’s father

Storyline:

Sarah is forced by her father and her stepmother to babysit her baby stepbrother, Toby, while they are out. He does not stop crying and she wishes that he would be taken away. Out of the blue, he stops crying and when she looks for him in his crib, she learns that her wish was granted, and the Goblin King Jareth has taken him to his castle in the Goblin City in the middle of a labyrinth. Sarah repents and asks Jareth to give him back, but Jareth tells her that she has to rescue him before midnight. Soon she teams up with some allies. Will they rescue Toby in time?

About Movie:

Labyrinth is a musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, with George Lucas as executive producer. The film features conceptual designs by Brian Froud and was written by Terry Jones. It stars Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King. In Labyrinth, Sarah embarks on a quest to navigate an enormous maze to rescue her infant half-brother Toby, whom she wished away from Jareth.

Production Details

The film began as a collaboration between Henson and Froud, following their previous project, The Dark Crystal (1982). Terry Jones wrote the first draft of the script in early 1984, inspired by Froud’s sketches. Other writers, including Laura Phillips, Lucas, Dennis Lee, and Elaine May, contributed to the script, but Jones received the sole screenwriting credit. Filming took place from April to September 1985 in locations such as Upper Nyack, Piermont, and Haverstraw in New York, as well as at Elstree Studios and West Wycombe Park in the UK.

Box Office and Reception

Labyrinth had a budget of approximately $25 million but underperformed at the U.S. box office, grossing only $12.9 million during its theatrical run. However, it performed better in the UK and internationally, grossing over $34 million worldwide. Upon release, it received mixed reviews from critics and contributed to a challenging period in Henson’s career. Over time, Labyrinth has been re-evaluated and gained a significant cult following.

Legacy

The film has been adapted into various media, including books, video games, board games, and comics. A four-volume comic sequel titled Return to Labyrinth was published by Tokyopop from 2006 to 2010. Additionally, a comic prequel titled Labyrinth: Coronation was published by Archaia Entertainment between 2018 and 2019. In January 2016, it was announced that a sequel was in development; however, this project is described as more of a “spin-off” within the same fictional universe.Labyrinth continues to be celebrated for its imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative use of puppetry and visual effects.

Budget & Box Office Collection:

Budget	$25 million
Opening Day	$3,549,243
Domestic Collection	$13,723,253
International Collection	$942,092
Worldwide Collection	$14,697,103