Labyrinth

Sarah is a moody teenager stuck babysitting her baby stepbrother, and in a flash of frustration she wishes the goblins would take him away. When the Goblin King answers and Toby actually disappears, she steps into an uncanny realm to get him back. The world she enters is ruled by the enigmatic Jareth, a place of shifting rules where a giant maze guards the king's castle. Sarah meets a parade of puppets, tricksters, and odd allies as she presses forward, using wit and stubbornness more than brute force. The film keeps its surprises and the final outcomes intact for first-time viewers, while offering music, elaborate creatures, and surreal set pieces that shape Sarah's tests along the way.

Released in 1986, Labyrinth was directed by Jim Henson from a concept credited to Terry Jones and Dennis Lee. The cast is led by Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie, and the production showcases Henson's puppetry combined with lavish costume and set work.

While Labyrinth did not collect major industry awards at the time of its release, its technical work has been praised in later analyses. Fans and critics have cited the film's inventive puppetry and production design as highlights, and those elements often get singled out in retrospectives and articles.

Over time Labyrinth grew a strong cult following, fueled in part by David Bowie's magnetic performance and the memorable songs he performs, including "Magic Dance." The movie's imagery, from the labyrinth itself to the goblin designs and Jareth's look, has influenced cosplay, music videos, and fantasy aesthetics, and it remains a frequent reference in popular culture.

Critics and audiences have come to appreciate Labyrinth at different paces, reflected in steady fan ratings and ongoing reappraisal. The movie balances coming-of-age themes with questions about responsibility and the lure of fantasy, asking whether escaping into a dreamland helps or hinders growing up. Its mix of theatricality, music, and handcrafted effects keeps conversations alive decades after release.