Synopsis
Jen, 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.
Actors & Crew
- Jim Henson (1936–1990), the legendary puppeteer, creative producer, and filmmaker who created the Muppets and Sesame Street, co-directed and puppeteered on this film — he plays Jen, The High Priest, and The Emperor (though not their voices). Henson was also known for creating Fraggle Rock and directing Labyrinth (1986). He died in 1990 from toxic shock syndrome caused by invasive strep, and was posthumously named a Disney Legend in 2011.
- Frank Oz co-directed and plays Aughra and Chamberlain (though not their voices). An apprentice puppeteer as a teenager, Oz was hired by the Jim Henson Company in 1963 and went on to perform Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Sam Eagle, and Cookie Monster, and was hired by George Lucas to perform Yoda in the Star Wars saga beginning with The Empire Strikes Back (1980). He also became a prolific film director, helming The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), and What About Bob? (1991).
- Kathryn Mullen performed Kira in the film (though not her voice). An American puppeteer closely associated with Jim Henson projects, she performed Gaffer the Backstage Cat on The Muppet Show, voice directed Dog City, worked as a designer for The Muppet Movie, and performed Mokey Fraggle and Cotterpin Doozer on Fraggle Rock.
- Dave Goelz plays Fizzgig and The General (though not their voices). He joined Jim Henson’s Muppet team in 1973 and is known for performing Gonzo the Great and Waldorf, as well as Boober on Fraggle Rock. In 2002 he was cast as the voice of Figment at Epcot, and in 2015 he voiced Subconscious Guard Frank in Pixar’s Inside Out.
- Voice cast: Jen — Stephen Garlick; The High Priest & The Emperor — Jerry Nelson; Kira — Lisa Maxwell; Aughra — Billie Whitelaw; Chamberlain — Barry Dennen; Fizzgig — Percy Edwards; The General — Michael Kilgarriff.
Budget & Shooting Locations
- Released December 18, 1982 in the US; February 17, 1983 in the UK.
- Shot at Elstree Studios from April to September 1981, with exterior scenes filmed in the Scottish Highlands, Gordale Scar, North Yorkshire, and Twycross, Leicestershire.
- Budget: $25 million.
- Box office: $41.4 million.
- The film’s release was delayed after distributor ITC Entertainment was sold and its new owner grew skeptical of the film’s potential following lukewarm test-screening reactions; Henson ultimately bought back the film rights and funded its release himself.
Rewatch verdict and Cringe Meter
The Dark Crystal remains a singular achievement in puppetry and dark fantasy filmmaking. IMDb rates it 7.1/10 from 77,000 votes, Metacritic gives it a Metascore of 66 (“Generally Favorable”) based on 13 critic reviews, and its User Score sits at 7.4 based on 67 ratings. The film has picked up four wins and five nominations over the years, including a Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film in 1983.
