Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Steelbook & Collector’s Editions Are Cheap At Amazon

The Dark Crystal originally released in 1982 and was directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Henson created the story concept, and Muppets writer David Odell penned the script. The Steelbook Edition is currently available for just $1 more than the 35th Anniversary Edition from 2018.

The Dark Crystal revolves around the characters Jen and Kira, two Gelflings on a quest to bring balance back to the world of Thra by restoring a powerful crystal that overthrowing the evil Skeksis who rule the land.

The beloved film is often referred to as the first live-action Hollywood blockbuster actors on screen. The Dark Crystal’s animatronics were designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The puppeteering in the roughly 90-minute film is astounding even 40-plus years later, and the 4K restoration is wonderful thanks to Dolby Vision and HDR10 as well as immersive surround sound. Audio tracks include Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.

The Limited Edition Steelbook is a two-disc set. The 4K Blu-ray disc contains the film, audio commentary, and a new Q&A from a fan event with The Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson (Jim’s daughter).

A second, standard Blu-ray disc has the film and a bunch of other special features. Here’s everything you’ll find on the two discs.

The Dark Crystal Special Features

• 4K version of the film
• Standard Blu-ray version of the film
• Fan event Q&A with Lisa Henson
• Audio commentary with conceptual designer Brian Froud
• The myth, magic, and Henson legacy feature
• The world of The Dark Crystal documentary
• Reflections of The Dark Crystal: Light on the path of creation
• Reflections of The Dark Crystal: Shard of Illusion
• Picture-in-picture storyboard track
• Original Skeksis language scenes with introduction by screenwriter David Odell
• Deleted scenes
• Photo galleries
• Theatrical trailers

The Dark Crystal Collector’s Edition is available to ship now from Walmart and in 1-4 weeks from Amazon. While it doesn’t come with the cool steelbook case, the Collector’s Edition has several other collectibles–including a replica of the infamous crystal–and a pretty awesome display box. Here’s what’s included:

• The Dark Crystal Display Box
• Glass Shard Replica (1:1)
• 28-page informational & art book
• 5 Art Cards
• Logo sticker
• 2 discs (4K + 1080p)

The Collector’s Edition comes with 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs, and the on-disc special features are the same as you’d get with the Steelbook Edition.

Henson’s final feature film as a director came in 1986 with Labyrinth, a movie that mixed live-action and puppetry. It featured stars like Jennifer Connelly as 16-year-old Sarah and David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King. It was sadly a box office bomb at the time, but in the decades after it was released it has received glowing reviews and a devoted fanbase. The film follows Sarah as she embarks on a quest to rescue her infant brother Toby from the center of an enormous maze after she wished him away to Jareth.

Like The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth is dark fantasy that strays very far away from your typical Muppets movie. The two-disc set comes with a collectible steelbook featuring an illustration of Toby surrounded by goblins. Technical specifications are the same as The Dark Crystal. The native 4K restoration has Dolby Vision and HDR10 and three audio tracks: Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.

The special features are split across the two-disc set, with most of them appearing on the standard Blu-ray disc. The 4K disc has the film, audio commentary, a fan event Q&A, and a video that teaches you how to Contact Juggle like David Bowie.

Labyrinth Special Features

• 4K version of the film
• Standard Blu-ray version of the film
• Fan event Q&A with Brian Henson and Toby Froud
• Contact juggling tutorial
• Audio commentary with conceptual designer Brian Froud
• Reordering time: Looking back at Labyrinth
• The Henson Legacy
• Remembering the Goblin King
• Anniversary Q&A
• Inside the Labyrinth documentary
• Journey through the Labyrinth: Kingdom of Characters
• Journey through the Labyrinth: The quest for the Goblin City
• The Storytellers: Picture-in-picture track
• Deleted and alternate scenes, including audio commentary with Brian Henson
• Theatrical trailers

Labyrinth originally released on 4K Blu-ray in 2016 for its 30th anniversary, but that $25 edition is only a few bucks less than the Limited Edition Steelbook.

Labyrinth’s Collector’s Edition is very similar to the one for The Dark Crystal, except it fittingly trades the glass shard for a Glass Crystal Ball and a display stand made out of wood. Here’s the full list what’s included:

• Labyrinth Display Box
• Glass Crystal Ball with wood stand
• 28-page book
• 5 Art Cards
• Logo sticker
• 2 discs (4K + 1080p)

Once again, you will miss out on the steelbook case, but the on-disc content is the same.