For many today, "Labyrinth" remains a rewatchable childhood staple. Whether you connect with its coming-of-age narrative about overcoming great odds, are dazzled by its stellar puppetry, or simply can't get enough of David Bowie and his endless array of catchy tunes, there's an undeniable charm oozing from the film that can't quite be compared. However, when first released, that unique identity may have been the film's undoing. On a $25 million budget, "Labyrinth" only managed to snag a measly $12 million at the US box office. This, combined with its middling critical response, brought great disappointment to Jim Henson at the time.
Speaking with Collider, Jim's son, Brian Henson, hypothesizes that audiences during this period simply weren't ready for the fantasy film's eclectic mix of concepts and tones. "The fact that the film was not received well when it was first made is really because it was so different," Henson comments. "It wasn't 'The Dark Crystal' and it wasn't 'The Muppets,' and it was kind of 'Dark Crystal'-ish, but then it was comedy and it was David Bowie, and I think people just didn't really understand it." Over time, thanks to the film's success on home video, people did learn to understand and love the film for all its oddball eccentricities.
The quirky nature of "Labyrinth" has undeniably stood the test of time. But could a potential followup breath new life to the cult gem?
