Jennifer Connelly’s star has been shining bright in recent years thanks to Top Gun: Maverick, but long before she was Penny Benjamin, she was Sarah — a teenage girl lost in a dreamlike world of goblins, puppets, and magic. Now, nearly four decades after its release, Labyrinth is heading back to theaters to celebrate its 40th anniversary in a fully remastered 4K presentation.
Fathom Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company have announced that Jim Henson’s Labyrinth will return to theaters January 8–11, 2026, giving fans a chance to experience the fantasy classic on the big screen once more. Presented by Fathom Entertainment in partnership with Sony Pictures and The Jim Henson Company, the event will feature the film plus a new special featurette celebrating Labyrinth’s enduring fandom — filmed at the UK’s “Labyrinth Experience & Masked Ball,” hosted by Thames Con in association with Henson’s company.
Released in 1986, Labyrinth stars Connelly, then just 14, in her breakout role as Sarah, a teenage dreamer who must navigate a magical maze to rescue her baby brother from the clutches of The Goblin King, played by David Bowie in one of his most iconic screen performances. The film was directed by Jim Henson and executive produced by George Lucas, with a story by Henson and Dennis Lee, and a screenplay by Terry Jones (Monty Python’s Flying Circus). Trevor Jones composed the score, with several original songs — including “Magic Dance” — performed by Bowie himself.
Behind the camera, the film remains a visual marvel. It features jaw-dropping practical effects, imaginative creature design by legendary artist Brian Froud, and the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which brought to life a world of goblins, beasts, and the unforgettable companions who help (and hinder) Sarah’s journey. Among the creature performers were Henson mainstays Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Karen Prell, Kevin Clash, Steve Whitmire, and Brian Henson.
How Labyrinth Became a Cult Classic
When Labyrinth first opened in 1986, it didn’t quite find its audience — earning just $14 million on a $25 million budget. But over the years, it’s grown into a beloved cult classic. On Rotten Tomatoes, it now holds a Certified Fresh 77% critic score and an 86% audience rating.
For many, the film represents the pinnacle of practical fantasy filmmaking, as it’s unbelievably tactile, surreal, and emotionally resonant in ways CGI has rarely matched. It was also Jim Henson’s final major film as a director before his death in 1990, following The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and The Dark Crystal (1982).
“The magical combination of Jim Henson, George Lucas, David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, and hundreds of extraordinary creatures and puppets made Labyrinth a landmark fantasy classic,” said Ray Nutt, CEO of Fathom Entertainment. “We are honored to bring this 1986 epic back to theaters for its 40th anniversary and provide a brilliant night at the movies for audiences of all ages.”
Labyrinth: 40th Anniversary plays in theaters January 8–11, 2026, remastered in 4K.
via Collider