The Dark Crystal

Play trailer

1:19

The Dark Crystal

PG

1982

1h 35m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Jen (Stephen Garlick), raised by the noble race called the Mystics, has been told that he is the last survivor of his own race, the Gelflings. He sets out to try to find a shard of the dark crystal, a powerful gem that once provided balance to the universe. After the crystal was broken, the evil Skeksis used sinister means to gain control. Jen believes that he can repair the dark crystal and bring peace back to the world, if he can only find the remaining shard.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Dark Crystal's narrative never quite lives up to the movie's visual splendor, but it remains an admirably inventive and uniquely intense entry in the Jim Henson canon.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

05/02/2019

As narrative, the incidents in The Dark Crystal are unremarkable; as the excuse for special effects, fanciful decor and eccentric characters, they do nicely enough.

Go to Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

05/02/2019

Jim Henson and Frank Oz... designed and directed this 1983 film, in which no human actors appear (except as crude long-shot doubles for the animated figures); it's a cute gimmick, but the puppets are so stiff and inexpressive that the film drops dead.

Go to Full Review

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

05/02/2019

4/5

The Dark Crystal has an ethereal alien quality to its startling visions, far removed from the Earth-bound contours of traditional fairy tales.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

02/17/2024

3/4

An epic tale in the tradition of The Lord of the Rings.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

02/10/2024

3.5/4

Dark and visionary, this compelling fantasy film uses amazing puppetry to tell its story.

Go to Full Review

Phil Edwards

Starburst

07/29/2022

The Dark Crystal is such a dud... it's dull.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

ENG

2d

Seeing this film on the big screen made me appreciate just how much care, thought, and love Jim Henson poured into this film.

See more

Athena Fields

Nov 27

My all time favorite from my childhood!

See more

Google

Nov 24

Always neat to see a movie not seen in over 40 years. It is dated compared to what we see today but it was not bad by any means

See more

Meghan

Nov 12

Forever a favorite—the lengths Jim and his team went to create this world are a gift to this planet

See more

James H

Oct 15

I always wanted to see it, but never got to. It is very metaphysical!

See more

J H

Oct 15

This is one of my wife's and my favorite movies from childhood. Was incredible to finally see it on the big screen as part of the anniversary celebration of the Jim Henson Company!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jim Henson

Director

Frank Oz

Director

John Baddeley

Historian

Stephen Garlick

Jen

David Buck

Slave Master

Barry Dennen

Chamberlain

Return to Oz

59%

71%

Return to Oz

Watchlist

Ghost Dad

6%

32%

Ghost Dad

Watchlist

A Kid in King Arthur's Court

5%

27%

A Kid in King Arthur's Court

Watchlist

Warriors of Virtue

18%

47%

Warriors of Virtue

Watchlist

Magic in the Water

21%

58%

Magic in the Water

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

12 Movie- and TV-Tied Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play

Brandon Routh’s Five Favorite Films

Second "Grudge" Rolls Into Production

The Dark Crystal: Trailer 1

1:19

The Dark Crystal: Fathom Events Trailer

0:30

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Jen (Stephen Garlick), raised by the noble race called the Mystics, has been told that he is the last survivor of his own race, the Gelflings. He sets out to try to find a shard of the dark crystal, a powerful gem that once provided balance to the universe. After the crystal was broken, the evil Skeksis used sinister means to gain control. Jen believes that he can repair the dark crystal and bring peace back to the world, if he can only find the remaining shard.

Director: Jim Henson, Frank Oz
Producer: Gary Kurtz, Jim Henson
Screenwriter: David Odell, Jim Henson
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Jim Henson Productions, Incorporated Television Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 1982, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2011
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now