Labyrinth

Right now you can watch Labyrinth in the US on Netflix and Hulu, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and ITVX Premium — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 2,775 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. David Bowie leads a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Labyrinth is worth clearing space for. Labyrinth treats its concept seriously enough to follow it all the way through. Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah, a teenager with an active imagination, summons the Goblins to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into a fantastical world to rescue him from the Goblin King. Guarding his castle is the labyrinth itself, a twisted maze of deception, populated with outrageous characters and unknown dangers. The human element stays intact thanks to David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, who anchor every scene. It hit screens in 1986. The rules of Labyrinth's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers burned by ambitious sci-fi that could not sustain its premise should give Labyrinth a chance. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for David Bowie in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.