The Dark Crystal
“Another world, another time... in the age of wonder.”
Synopsis
On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Digital TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-01-17
Top Cast
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Jim Henson
Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master
Kathryn Mullen
Kira, a Gelfling
Frank Oz
Aughra, a Keeper of Secrets / Chamberlain
Dave Goelz
Fizzgig, a Friendly Monster / General, Garthim Master
Steve Whitmire
Scientist (voice)
Louise Gold
Gourmand
Brian Meehl
Ornamentalist / Urzah / Dying Master
Stephen Garlick
Jen (voice)
Lisa Maxwell
Kira (voice)
Billie Whitelaw
Aughra (voice)
Percy Edwards
Fizzgig (voice)
Barry Dennen
Chamberlain / Podling (voice)
Deep Roy
Additional Performer
Kiran Shah
Additional Performer
Jack Purvis
Additional Performer
Bob Payne
Historian, Scroll Keeper
Michael Kilgarriff
General (voice)
John Baddeley
Historian (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 17, 1982
Wide Cinema Exhibition
January 14, 1986
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$44.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.98x
+$29.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jim Henson, Frank Oz
- Screenplay & Story
- David Odell
- Original Score
- Trevor Jones
- Original Title
- The Dark Crystal
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $44.6M
- Production Studios
- ITC Entertainment, Henson Associates
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jim Henson, Frank Oz
David Odell, Jim Henson
Trevor Jones
Oswald Morris
Ralph Kemplen
David Lazer, Gary Kurtz, Jim Henson, Lew Grade
Department Leadership Roster
Jim Henson
Director
David Odell
Screenplay
Gary Kurtz
Producer
Oswald Morris
Director of Photography
Frank Oz
Director
Ralph Kemplen
Editor
Trevor Jones
Original Music Composer
Jim Henson
Producer
Brian Froud
Costume Design
Harry Lange
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Dark Crystal.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Dark Crystal.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dark Crystal
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Dark Crystal about?
On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal and restore order to his world, before the grotesque race of Skeksis find and use the crystal for evil.
Who directed The Dark Crystal?
The Dark Crystal was directed by Jim Henson, Frank Oz.
Who stars in The Dark Crystal?
The principal cast of The Dark Crystal includes Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire.
When was The Dark Crystal released and how long is it?
The Dark Crystal was released in 1982 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Dark Crystal?
The Dark Crystal had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $44.6M at the worldwide box office (2.98 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Dark Crystal?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Dark Crystal was composed by Trevor Jones.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Dark Crystal?
The Dark Crystal holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).