Last year, director Guillermo del Toro unveiled the film that some have dubbed his magnum opus. Frankenstein is a culmination of the filmmaker’s greatest loves — and some of del Toro’s shakier habits — so the acclaim is apt. But 20 years ago, del Toro delivered the film that’s still widely considered his very best. If nothing else, it certainly put him on the map: though he’d begun to cross into the mainstream with the one-two punch of Blade II and Hellboy, it was Pan’s Labyrinth that made his status as a master storyteller undeniable.
If the importance of Pan’s Labyrinth is still up for debate, doubts will likely be put to rest when the film returns to theaters this October. Just as del Toro’s unsung romance, Crimson Peak, enjoyed a 4K restoration in 2024, Pan’s Labyrinth is getting a huge upgrade for its anniversary. Not only are Cineverse and Fathom Events teaming up to bring it back to the big screen, but del Toro has been working on a 4K restoration of his horror masterpiece. When it heads back to theaters this time, it’ll be available in 3D and HDR formats.
