‘David Bowie was a crazy workaholic’: Labyrinth at 40 – an oral history

Labyrinth premiered 40 years ago, featuring David Bowie in a pivotal role and Jennifer Connelly in her breakthrough performance. The film, directed by Jim Henson, centers on Sarah, a teenager who must rescue her baby half-brother from Jareth, the Goblin King. Described as a dark fantasy akin to 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' the narrative follows Sarah's journey through a shifting maze, evolving into a coming-of-age story. Henson's company, Creature Shop, was responsible for the visually innovative puppet designs that populated the film. Despite its groundbreaking visuals, Labyrinth did not perform well at the US box office upon its initial release, and critical reception was mixed. The film's status as a cult classic was cemented years later through its availability on home video and DVD.