Jim Henson’s Epic Movie Adventures Labyrinth And The Dark Crystal, Along With Fan-Favorite Behind-The-Scenes Specials, To Be Distributed By Shout! Studios

The Jim Henson Company, an established leader in innovative and iconic entertainment, has tapped Shout! Studios, a multi-platform media company, for a new worldwide distribution agreement for Jim Henson’s renowned fantasy adventure movies LABYRINTH (starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly) and THE DARK CRYSTAL (starring Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, and Frank Oz), including streaming, video-on-demand, broadcast, digital download, and all packaged media, as well as limited non-theatrical rights. The announcement was made today by Kerry Novick, Vice President of Global Distribution at The Jim Henson Company, and Shout! Studios Executive Vice President, Melissa Boag.

In addition to the popular cult hits LABYRINTH and THE DARK CRYSTAL, this multi-year distribution alliance also provides Shout! Studios with the same global distribution rights for the fan-favorite behind-the-scenes specials INSIDE THE LABYRINTH and THE WORLD OF THE DARK CRYSTAL. Shout! Studios plans an extensive rollout of the two ground-breaking movies as well as the related specials content, beginning with the digital release of LABYRINTH and THE DARK CRYSTAL across all major digital entertainment platforms on February 6, 2024.

"Jim Henson was a prolific and deeply creative artist, innovating both filmmaking and puppetry with these iconic fantasy films that have come to define the genre over the decades since their release,” said Kerry Novick, Vice President of Global Distribution at The Jim Henson Company. “With our new partner Shout! Studios, fans will easily be able to enjoy The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth and their respective making-of specials, and new audiences around the world will be introduced to these seminal titles that are such an important part of Jim Henson’s legacy.”

“We are very excited about the new opportunity with The Jim Henson Company. Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal are timeless fantasy movie adventures that captivate audiences around the world. It is truly remarkable to see these two movies and their extraordinary characters enchant a new generation of pop culture fans,” stated Melissa Boag, Shout! Studios Executive Vice President, Kids & Family Entertainment.

LABYRINTH
Produced by The Jim Henson Company and Lucasfilm Ltd. with creatures brought to life by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, LABYRINTH was directed by Jim Henson, who worked closely with acclaimed artist and Conceptual Designer Brian Froud, and Executive Producer George Lucas to create a mesmerizing fantasy movie adventure.

LABYRINTH, starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, was originally released in 1986. The film is an unforgettable fantasy adventure that follows Sarah Williams (Connelly) as she makes her way through the labyrinth of the Goblin King Jareth (Bowie) in search of her little brother Toby. A mainstay of the fantasy genre with its spectacular visual effects and ground-breaking animatronics, LABYRINTH is of special interest to David Bowie fans worldwide as the film contains original songs written and recorded by Bowie especially for the film.

THE DARK CRYSTAL
From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this puppetry work of genius recounts the timeless tales of good versus evil, becoming a cult favorite around the world. Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, the film features innovative animatronics and uniquely memorable characters created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™. Since its initial release in 1982, the film has earned a place in cinematic history as a masterpiece of fantasy and continues to reign as one of the must-see classics of its genre.

Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra where evil Skeksis are in control and the Gelfling Jen, the last of his kind, is sent on a quest by the peaceful Mystics to find the missing shard that will restore balance and heal the world.

About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained a leader in family entertainment for over 65 years and is recognized as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics, and digital animation. Henson’s most recent credits include the Oscar®-winning Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio for Netflix, the Emmy®-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock for Apple TV+, and the feature film The Portable Door for MGM+. The Company is currently in post-production on a new reimagining of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day starring Eva Longoria and Cheech Marin for Disney+. Other television credits include Slumberkins, Harriet the Spy and Fraggle Rock: Rock On, all for Apple TV+, Word Party for Netflix, Earth to Ned for Disney+, and the Emmy-winning Netflix Original series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, along with Dinosaur Train (PBS), Splash and Bubbles (PBS), Sid the Science Kid (PBS), and Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix), as well as popular classics Fraggle Rock, The Storyteller, and the sci-fi series Farscape. Feature film credits include The Star (Sony Pictures Animation), Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Disney), and the ground-breaking fantasy titles The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth.

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and post-production facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson Alternative credits include The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell (Netflix), the feature film The Happytime Murders, and the popular live puppet improvisational show Puppet-Up! – Uncensored.

About SHOUT! STUDIOS
Launched in 2003, Shout! Studios is a multiplatform media company specializing in film and TV distribution, development, and production. The company has evolved with the changing entertainment landscape to excel in all forms of content distribution, including theatrical, digital streaming, broadcast and in-flight licensing, physical media, and more. Shout! Studios owns and manages a large portfolio of contemporary and classic feature films, series, animation, and documentaries. The company’s creative acquisition mandate has established it as a leading independent distributor, with partners and properties including Aardman Animations, ALF, The Carol Burnett Show, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, the Roger Corman New Horizons Pictures Library, GKIDS, ITV Studios, The Johnny Carson Show, LAIKA Studios, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (in partnership with creator Joel Hodgson), and Sesame Street, alongside many others. Shout! Kids focuses on live-action and animated kids and family properties including anime, and the company releases genre and horror films and television shows under the Scream Factory imprint. Shout! Studios also produces, acquires, and distributes new films, and operates the acclaimed streaming service Shout! TV and its family of FAST channels. Shout! Studios is based in Los Angeles, California.