MovieChat Forums > Labyrinth (1986) Discussion > People above 30, Why you didn't watch La...

People above 30, Why you didn't watch Labyrinth at theaters?

posted 10 years ago by do-arellano-mayra
103 replies | jump to latest

It makes me curious. A movie that everyone loves but very few watched in a theater. I'm not even sure whether it played in my country or not. I was 6 back then and my family didn't go to movies often.

The people who got the chance to see it in the theaters and didn't, did you ask your parents to take you and they refused?

Or you heard it wasn't good and avoided it?

Why do you think it didn't become popular until the video and later DVD release?

I've used the movie for an ESL group and everybody loved it!

[–] PreachCaleb 10 years ago

We couldn't afford it.

Can't stop the signal.

[–] scndform 10 years ago

I was 25 when it came out. It didn't interest me at that time because it was supposed to be a kid's movie. I didn't see it until my children where old enough to be entertained by it and I got a VHS copy.

[–] boxerrebellion 8 years ago

This was no more a "kids'" movie than Dark Crystal was... which means that I didn't know ANYONE under 35 or 40 who DIDN'T see it when it came out.

[–] mysticnox 10 years ago

I would have but my mum didn't like it. Mum thought it was "weird" and "not for children". I watched it at a friends house. Mum thought it would give me nightmares which I still don't understand considering that I just loved things like Michael Jacksons Thriller back then. If anything was going to scare me, that would have. I have always loved movies and their special FX. Sometimes I wish I had pursued that as a career.

[–] fiatlux-1 10 years ago

I honestly don't remember why.
I was 10 when it came out, and even though I watched a lot of TV back then, I barely remember seeing ANY ads for this film.

All I can remember is not knowing 'what kind' of film this was, meaning who it was being marketed to.

I think this is mainly what hurt the film, and made people stay away from it.
No one knew which age-group it was *for*.
That was much more important to people, especially parents, back in the 1980s.

I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus.
Didn't he discover America?
Penfold, shush.

[–] dsrtrosy-1 10 years ago

I honestly have no memory of this movie being released. I heard about it in my 30s, even though I would have been 15 or 16 when it came out, and so in the age range of the target audience.

[–] danny_goss 10 years ago

Im 36 now and i had quite a good mum :) she took us to see Labyrinth, Never Ending Story, Return to Oz all the movies i still love today

[–] grotifer 9 years ago

Likewise, I saw all those films at the cinema, along with the Dark Crystal, James Bond films, Supergirl, The Black Cauldron and Krull.

[–] herbsuperb 10 years ago

I was four. I may have gone, but wouldn't remember. Earliest movie I really remember seeing in theaters was Back to the Future 2 and Ghostbusters 2 (both 1989).

Love Labyrinth though. It's a hoot. Henson magic can't be beat.

[–] Willus_A 10 years ago

In '86 my girlfriend and I were 20 when we went to see it in the theatre. We thoroughly enjoyed it and were surprised that it didn't do better at the box office. We correctly predicted it would catch on when it came out on cable and video.

"Hogs have futures, I don't."
Dr. Johnny Fever

[–] sundog4 10 years ago

I did :)

loved it then & still watch it every few years

just saw that Hulu added it, so watching it now as I type

[–] marciwoolson 10 years ago

I DID see it in the theater!!! I was stationed in Newport RI and saw "Labyrinth" during it's first run at the Jane Pickens theater in the heart of downtown (http://www.janepickens.com/. Escher, Henson, Bowie, Goblins...what's not to like? I was 28. I bought the video soon after and picked up a copy of the dvd today for a young guest- he's nine. Even amongst my 20 and 30-something relatives, this film is a huge favorite. I don't understand why it didn't do better initially, nor why it remains such a hidden treasure. To me it remains PURE magic, even nearly 30 years after the film first hit theaters.