‘Labyrinth’ 40th Anniversary: Dark Fantasy That Would Never Get Made Today Returns to Theaters

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Despite all the sparkle, songs, and focus on David Bowie’s appearance, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth is genuinely frightening! It’s surprising for a children’s movie featuring a pop star, a young actress, and puppets, but it’s full of both disturbing and thought-provoking scares—and even a truly awful-smelling Bog of Eternal Stench.

Even today, the 1986 film Labyrinth stands out because it embraces an idea that’s become rare: that children can enjoy—and even benefit from—being genuinely scared by movies, unlike many modern, overly safe blockbusters and superhero films.


Tri-Star Pictures

The movie opens with Sarah, a teenager played by Jennifer Connelly, making a thoughtless wish – she asks goblins to take her annoying baby brother. Surprisingly, the goblins – and her wish – come true, launching her into a wild adventure through a fantastical labyrinth ruled by the Goblin King Jareth, portrayed by David Bowie. Jareth’s songs are memorable, and Sarah finds some helpful friends along the way, but the film consistently throws unsettling and frightening imagery at the viewer.

Consider the Fire Gang, creatures resembling birds who can detach and reattach their limbs, and who spend a disturbing scene playfully trying to tear off Sarah’s head. Or the Junk Lady, an elderly woman who tries to bury Sarah under a huge pile of her old toys while wistfully saying, “Everything you’ve ever loved is right here.” And fundamentally, the movie revolves around a magical creature kidnapping a baby and threatening to keep him trapped in a frightening goblin realm forever.


Tri-Star Pictures

One reason Labyrinth remains so beloved is that it genuinely feels like a traditional fairy tale. This was the intention of Jim Henson and Brian Froud, who previously created the similarly fantastical (and perhaps even scarier) film, The Dark Crystal. Their stories feature humans stumbling into the world of fairies, only to find creatures who follow their own strange rules and don’t care much about human safety. Success isn’t about good defeating evil; it’s about surviving challenges and finding a way to escape.

Sarah constantly complains that things aren’t fair as she navigates the confusing and challenging labyrinth—and that’s exactly what the maze is supposed to be like. The magical creatures in this movie don’t play by any rules of fairness. In fact, Labyrinth feels less like a typical Disney film and more like the old Irish tale of Oisín, a man who lived for centuries in a magical realm, only to crumble to dust when he finally returned home.


Tri-Star Pictures

It’s no surprise that Labyrinth is often considered a defining movie for many young women who felt different growing up. Beyond David Bowie’s music and the incredible puppets, the film respects its viewers by allowing them to experience genuine fear and enjoy being immersed in its fantastical world. The main character, Sarah, embodies this spirit – she’s not easily scared or discouraged by the strange and frightening things she encounters, like doors that transform into armored knights or a smelly swamp. In fact, when she first meets the large, shaggy creature Ludo, her immediate reaction is to politely tell him he seems friendly. Sarah’s bravery doesn’t make the movie less frightening, but it does offer a sense of comfort to the audience when things get intense.


Tri-Star Pictures

It’s no surprise kids love things like black holes, wolves, and tornadoes – scary topics are strangely captivating! Children are still figuring out what’s truly frightening, and that makes these subjects especially interesting. They’re naturally drawn to things that give them a little thrill. Films like Labyrinth tap into this balance of fear and enjoyment, and they confidently allow viewers to experience it, just like the main character, Sarah.

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2026-01-08 20:11