February 2026

A Goblin World Created for Labyrinth

This in-depth look at the making of Labyrinth first appeared in American Cinematographer's August 1986 issue. For full access to our archive, which includes more than 105 years of essential motion-picture production coverage, become a subscriber today. A vast maze rises up against a painted summer blue sky, luring a young girl deeper into its heart, towards the seductive palace of the Goblin King. Her way is fraught with unexpected perils and pleasures, but as she encounters the terrors of this strange new world, she is aided and befriended by a wise old wizard, a gigantic but lovable monster named Ludo, and a spry old dwarf called Hoggle. You won't find this mythical land on any map, but in the fertile imaginations of Jim Henson and...more