The Dark Crystal (1982)

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

See all 3 videos »

Photos

See all 35 photos »

Learn more

More Like This

◄ Prev 6 Next 6 ►

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X

A 16-year-old girl is given 13 hours to solve a labyrinth and rescue her baby brother when her wish for him to be taken away is granted by the Goblin King.

Director: Jim Henson

Stars: David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Froud

Adventure | Drama | Family

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X

A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Stars: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X

Number 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.

Director: John Badham

Stars: Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg, Fisher Stevens

Adventure | Family | Sci-Fi

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X

In 1978, a boy travels 8 years into the future and has an adventure with an intelligent, wisecracking alien ship.

Director: Randal Kleiser

Stars: Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, Cliff De Young

Adventure | Drama | Family

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.1/10 X

A young boy with a distant father enters a world of make-believe and magic through a portal within an antique book.

Director: George Miller

Stars: Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison, Clarissa Burt

Animation | Adventure | Comedy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X

A toon-hating detective is a cartoon rabbit's only hope to prove his innocence when he is accused of murder.

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Stars: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy

Animation | Adventure | Drama

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X

To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she ever suspected.

Director: Don Bluth

Stars: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Dom DeLuise

Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Jim Henson	...	Jen, a Gelfling (performer) / High Priest, a Ritual Master (performer)
	Kathryn Mullen	...	Kira, a Gelfling (performer)
	Frank Oz	...	Aughra, a Keeper Of Secrets (performer) / Chamberlain (performer)
	Dave Goelz	...	Fizzgig, a Friendly Monster (performer) / General, Garthim Master (performer)
	Steve Whitmire	...	Scientist (voice)
	Louise Gold	...	Gourmand (performer)
	Brian Muehl	...	Ornamentalist (performer and voice) / Urzah (performer) / Dying Master (performer and voice)
	Bob Payne	...	Historian, Scrollkeeper (performer)
	Mike Quinn	...	Slave Master (performer)
	Tim Rose	...	Treasurer (performer)
	Jean-Pierre Amiel	...	Weaver (performer) (as Jean Pierre Amiel)
	Hugh Spight	...	Mystic Cook (performer)
	Robbie Barnett	...	Numerologist (performer) / Landstrider (performer)
	Swee Lim	...	Hunter (performer) / Landstrider (performer)
	Simon J. Williamson	...	Chanter (performer) (as Simon Williamson)

See full cast »

View production, box office, & company info

Edit

Storyline

Another planet, another time. 1000 years ago the mysterious Dark Crystal was damaged by one of the Urskeks and an age of chaos has began! The evil race of grotesque birdlike lizards the Skeksis, gnomish dragons who rule their fantastic planet with an iron claw. Meanwhile the orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of the peace-loving wizards called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal which gives the Skesis their power and restore the balance of the universe. Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Taglines:

Another World, Another Time... In the Age of Wonder. See more »

Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »

Edit

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1982 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Dark Chrysalis See more »

Filming Locations:

Twyecross, Leicestershire, England, UK See more »

Edit

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,657,335, 19 December 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$40,577,001

See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Jim Henson Productions, Henson Organisation See more »

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)| 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

See full technical specs »

Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Special Edition DVD and the Blu-Ray disc feature several "workprint" takes showing early passes at dialogue. This early voice-over work differs from the final dialogue in several ways: the Skeksis speak in a foreign language, Frank Oz provided the voice of Aughra (sounding very similar to his voice work for Yoda in the Star Wars movies), and the Mystics were referred to by (presumably) their original name, the ur-Ru. The novelization was apparently based on this earlier version, referring to the "Trial By Stone" contest by its original name - "Hakskeekah" - and calling the Mystics the ur-Ru. In the final film, one reference to ur-Ru was not redubbed: when the Mystics enter the Skeksis Great Hall, SkekOk, the Scrollkeeper sees them and shouts "Ur-Ru!" Moreover, in the film's German dubbed version the Mystics are also referred to as ur-Ru. The filmmaker's decision to rename them came too late for the German dialogue track, which was already in the making at the time. See more »

Goofs

When Jen and Kira are climbing into the Castle via the water duct, Kira bumps her head on the tooth of the water-spouting gargoyle. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Another world, another time, in the age of wonder. A thousand years ago, this land was green and good - until the Crystal cracked. For a single piece was lost; a shard of the Crystal. Then strife began, and two new races appeared: the cruel Skeksis, the gentle Mystics. Here in the castle of the Crystal, the Skeksis took control. Now the Skeksis gather in the sacred chamber, where the Crystal hangs above a shaft of air and fire. The Skeksis with their hard and twisted bodies, their ...
[...]
See more »

Crazy Credits

The opening credits show only the credits for the crew. See more »

Alternate Versions

A Skesis funeral scene for the Emperor was cut from the original release. The negatives from this scene were lost, but a home video of the scene appeared years later on special-edition LDs and DVDs. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Stranger Things: Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street (2016) See more »

Soundtracks

The Pod Dance
(uncredited)
Written by Trevor Jones
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Kira speak a real foreign language or is it made up?

User Reviews

Loved this movie for many ages....

21 January 2004 | by Angel_Meiru – See all my reviews

Though I love the Muppets and other works of Jim Henson, I still say for years since my birth in 1982, The Dark Crystal has always grown on me. From interesting characters to surreal environments, this movie will capture the eyes of the imaginative and Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans. Though it may move slow at times, but it does not bother me. It gets me more into the world of the Dark Crystal, named Thyra.

It was also good for it's symbolism as well. The Dark Crystal like many classic children's shows and movies of its time did not talk down to kids nor underestimate their intelligence for that matter. In fact, the morals and symbolism appeals to non-discriminating adults as well.

P.S. I think the Skeksis are awesome! Especially the General, Chamberlain and the Mad Scientist Skeksis!

51 of 62 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? | Report this

Review this title | See all 232 user reviews »

Getting Started | Contributor Zone »