Labyrinth – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Labyrinth

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1986

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jim Henson's puppet masterpiece is visually stunning and deeply weird, but the creepy older-man-pursues-teen vibe hasn't aged well.

7.3/10

77%

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Labyrinth

movie

PG, 1986

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jim Henson's puppet masterpiece is visually stunning and deeply weird, but the creepy older-man-pursues-teen vibe hasn't aged well.

7.3

77%

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7.3/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Labyrinth is a visual feast and a testament to practical effects magic. The puppetry, the music, the sheer weirdness—it's all genuinely impressive and unlike anything made today.

But let's be honest: the Jareth-Sarah dynamic is deeply uncomfortable in 2025. Bowie's Goblin King spends the entire film obsessing over, manipulating, and trying to seduce a teenage girl. Younger kids won't pick up on the romantic subtext and will just see a weird villain, but once your kid hits 11 or 12, the 'I ask for so little, just let me rule you' vibe gets creepy fast.

The other challenge is that it's genuinely slow and weird by modern standards. Kids raised on Marvel pacing might struggle with the first 20 minutes. But if your kid has patience for older films and isn't easily scared by creepy puppets, there's real magic here.

It's a flawed classic—worth watching once for the cultural literacy and the puppetry alone, but not the timeless masterpiece some Gen X parents remember it being.

Age Fit

Best for kids 8-14 who can handle creepy puppets and slower 80s pacing. Younger kids will be scared; older teens will find it dated unless they're into cult classics. Adults who grew up with it still love it, but nostalgia does heavy lifting.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The film has heart and models Sarah's growth from self-centered teen to responsible sister, but the predatory undertones are impossible to ignore. A 39-year-old David Bowie's Goblin King obsessing over, manipulating, and pursuing a 16-year-old girl reads very differently in 2025 than it did in 1986. The romantic framing of this dynamic ('I ask for so little, just let me rule you') is genuinely uncomfortable. That said, the movie does show cooperation with quirky creatures and models perseverance.

Imaginative

This is peak Jim Henson puppetry and practical effects wizardry. The maze itself is endlessly creative—doors that lead nowhere, helpful worms, the Escher-inspired gravity-defying staircase scene, talking door knockers, a junkyard lady. It's weird, surreal, and visually stunning in ways CGI still can't replicate. The world-building invites kids to imagine their own labyrinths and strange creatures. Bowie's songs add another layer of theatrical fantasy.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 8+, noting language includes 'hell,' 'damn,' and 'oh my God.' The scary factor is real—creepy puppets, the Bog of Eternal Stench, hands coming out of walls, decapitating creatures (the Fireys). But the biggest safety concern is the predatory dynamic between Jareth and Sarah. While nothing explicit happens, the subtext of an adult man pursuing and trying to seduce a teenager is present throughout. For kids under 10, they'll likely miss this entirely and just see a weird villain. Older tweens might pick up on it.

Enriching

Sarah's arc is about growing up and taking responsibility—she learns her bratty 'it's not fair!' attitude has consequences. The film explores themes of perseverance, problem-solving, and the power of words ('You have no power over me'). That said, it's not particularly deep, and the entertainment value is more about spectacle than meaningful takeaways. It's a fun watch that might spark conversations about responsibility and growing up, but it's not going to change anyone's life.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Practical effects and puppetry that still look incredible—this is Henson at peak creativity
David Bowie's music and costumes are iconic, campy, and theatrical in the best way
Sarah's journey from bratty teen to responsible sister models growth and perseverance
The maze itself is endlessly imaginative with memorable creatures and surreal logic
It's a cult classic that's genuinely weird and won't insult your kid's intelligence

⚠

What to Watch For

The romantic framing of a 39-year-old villain pursuing a 16-year-old girl is uncomfortable by modern standards—younger kids won't notice, but tweens might
Some genuinely scary moments: creepy puppets, the Fireys who remove their heads, hands grabbing from walls
80s pacing is slower than modern kids are used to—it takes time to build
Mild language ('hell,' 'damn') and some bathroom humor (Bog of Eternal Stench)

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Sarah had to learn that actions have consequences? What would you have done differently?"
"Which creature in the Labyrinth would you want as a friend? Which one was the scariest?"
"Sarah says 'You have no power over me' at the end. When have you had to stand up for yourself like that?"
"The Goblin King offers Sarah her dreams if she gives up. What would be hard for you to say no to?"

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