1986 Fantasy Classic, Named Among ‘Iconic Movies to Stream,' Almost Cast Another Music Legend
In 1986, Muppets creator and filmmaker Jim Henson introduced Labyrinth, a musical fantasy movie that became a massive cult classic and continues to captivate audiences from different generations.
Long before modern CGI and visual effects dominated the screen, the movie showcased the peak of practical effects in cinema, blending a heartfelt coming-of-age story with groundbreaking technology for its time.
Beyond this, the movie also featured an interesting ensemble headlined by music icon David Bowie and the then-well-established teen star Jennifer Connelly.
The story centers around a teenager named Sarah, played by Connelly, who embarks on a journey to rescue her baby brother after he is kidnapped by Jareth, the Goblin King, portrayed by the late singer-songwriter.
With little time to navigate a dangerous and surreal maze filled with bizarre characters and puppets, she needs to save her brother from Jareth before he becomes a goblin forever.
Although Labyrinth received a lukewarm response and was considered a box-office failure, it received nominations at the 1987 BAFTA Awards for Best Special Visual Effects following its theatrical release.
It was only when the David Bowie-led musical movie appeared on home video that it achieved high VHS sales and frequent rentals at stores.
Decades later, the 1986 film remains among the most remarkable and iconic fantasy movies of the '80s and '90s and is now one of the top classic movies to stream today, as cited by Netflix's Tudum.
Did You Know? Labyrinth Almost Didn't Cast David Bowie as the Lead Role
The music legend's portrayal was highly regarded as his most iconic project and a career-defining moment in acting.
However, before Bowie landed the platinum-blond-haired, dramatic-makeup-wearing character, he wasn't the first choice for the role.
In fact, fellow music stars like Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Prince, Mick Jagger and Sting were considered for the role.
Lo and behold, Bowie ended up getting the part and officially joined the film. But after signing, it turned out that the script and the story were heavily rewritten.
"He went for David Bowie, and it all went away for about a year," screenwriter Terry Jones revealed as reported byUltimate Classic Rock, "When the script came back, I didn't recognize any of it," he added, noting, "Jim said, ‘Can you do a bit more to it? David Bowie doesn't want to do it anymore because it wasn't funny anymore.'"
While many musical fantasy films have come and gone, Labyrinth's lasting legacy proves that its magic and Bowie's timeless screen presence still hold a special place in pop culture today.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 9:18 AM.