History Film / TheDarkCrystal

* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil: Literally, since the Mystics and Skeksis are actually two halves of one being -- if one of them dies, so does their counterpart.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: The urSkeks do this at the end of the film, unless they just return to their homeworld.

* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: The reason the Skeksis never sent the Garthims against the Mystics? Their mutual lives are linked -- if a Mystic dies, so does a Skeksis.

** The [=urRu=]. When the Chamberlain's hand is stabbed, his counterpart says unemotionally, "So, my hand," when a deep gash appears in it. When one of them is consumed by fire, the urRu consumed by flames doesn't even murmur in the slightest, and the others glance but continue on unemotionally.

* EmptyShell: The Podling slaves drained of their essence and the Garthim.

* GenocideSurvivor: Jen and Kira survived the genocide of the Gelflings by the Skeksis; Jen because the Mystycs took him under their wing, Kira because her mother hid her before the garthims came, and she was later found and raised by Podlings.

* ShamefulStrip: A G rated version: after the Chamberlain loses the Trial by Stone, the other Skeksis tear all his elaborate robes and the like off while he squawks in terror and exile him.

-->''[=skekUng=]'': I hate your whimper!

* StaffOfAuthority: The Skeksis emperor carries a scepter which designates his office. In the death scene of the first emperor, Chamberlain indicates his eagerness to take over by reaching for the scepter.

* VillainBall: One of the Skeksis stabs Kira ''after'' she throws the Shard to Jen, even though holding her hostage is the one thing that might've stopped him from using it. Instead, they're reduced to pleading with him to stop when Kira's blood is fresh on their hands and he's got nothing left to lose; yeah, like that's going to work.

* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The evil Skeksis rule Thra while attended by servants, wearing opulent dress, dining with JabbaTableManners, and plotting against each other.

* {{Fauxshadow}}: SkekSil the Chamberlain is set up perfectly to pull a HeelFaceTurn, but then he just... doesn't.

A [[TheEighties 1982]] science fiction/fantasy film produced by Creator/JimHenson (of ''Franchise/TheMuppets'' fame) and co-directed by Henson and Creator/FrankOz with creature design by fantasy artist Creator/BrianFroud. It's inarguably Henson's most ambitious project, created entirely with [[{{Muppet}} animatronic puppets]] and miniature sets, and with a heavy emphasis on WorldBuilding.

* GrotesqueGallery / UglyCute: A fascinating case, since the entire world is composed of Muppets and environments that are either deliberately alien or designed off of nature's [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute less cute]] critters, making the whole thing one dark fairy tale based on look alone.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: [[AllThereInTheManual The Skeksis were once very easy to get along with]]; by the time of the film, they slip into this trope.

A Creator/{{Netflix}}[=-produced=] {{prequel}} series detailing the war between the Skeksis and the Gelflings and the ensuing decay of Thra, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', was released in August 2019.

* NoOntologicalInertia: If a Skeksis dies or is wounded, the corresponding Mystic suffers identically, and vice versa.

* {{Synchronization}}: Between the urRu/Mystics and the Skeksis.

* Fauxshadow: SkekSil the Chamberlain is set up perfectly to pull a HeelFaceTurn, but then he just... doesn't.

A Creator/{{Netflix}}[=-produced=] {{prequel}} series, ''Series/TheDarkCrystalAgeOfResistance'', was released in August 2019.

* WorldHalfFull: By the ending. Sure, the Crystal is healed, the [=urSkeks=] are restored and the land becomes green and good again, but the Gelfling race is still all but extinct with seemingly [[AdamAndEvePlot only two left]], not to mention the decimation of the Podling race[[note]]well, not really, since there are shots of the zombie Podlings being restored by the healing of the Crystal[[/note]]. There's a feeling that while things are much better, they aren't as good as the time before all the strife began; much like the scarring of Mordor and its surrounding lands in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', the mistakes of the [=urSkeks=] and the evils of the Skeksis can never be completely undone.
* WorldHealingWave: The result of healing the Crystal.

* TickingClock: Jen has until the three suns align to complete his quest.

* MacGuffinEscortMission: Pretty much the whole movie; get the shard to the Dark Crystal before the Three Suns meet.

** Fizzgig looks cute until he opens his mouth.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [=SkekZok=]'s actions causes the downfall of the empire, through killing Kira, giving Jen the resolve to heal the Crystal.

** On the other hand, it is known that life can appear in extreme conditions, such as caustic pits or places more than 100 degrees Celsius.

* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu:
** Aughra, when cussing out (in her language) the Skeksis for sending their mooks to burn down her observatory rather than just asking her for the location of the Gelfling.
** The Skeksis are taken aback and the Ornamentalist cries out in offense, "Oh, how ''rude''!"

* EyeScream:
** Aughra can remove her own eyeball at will and use it like a remote camera. While it doesn't hurt her, it certainly is weird...
** In the backstory, she lost her other eye and came to be how she looks in the film when she laid on the ground to watch the Great Conjunction. A beam of intense light struck her eye, destroying it and burning her badly. She considered the knowledge she gained from the experience to be [[EquivalentExchange well worth the loss]].

A [[TheEighties 1982]] science fiction/fantasy film produced by Creator/JimHenson (of ''Franchise/TheMuppets'' fame) and co-directed by Henson and Creator/FrankOz with creature design by fantasy artist Creator/BrianFroud. This was one of Henson's most complex works, being done completely with [[{{Muppet}} animatronic puppets]] and extensive WorldBuilding.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: The idea of only female Gelflings having wings isn't as bizarre as it sounds, as there are some real life insects (such as the fig wasp) where only the females have wings. Although that's usually because the male either isn't as important to the species' propogation as the female (as in the case of fig wasps), or the male gets something else to compensate, such as a stinger.

* ArtisticLicenseAstronomy: It's very difficult for a planet to find a stable orbit around a trinary star system. Even so, if we accept the premise, poor Thra would be roasted by the combined luminosity and proximity of the three Suns, and life would not be able to survive.

* KarmaHoudini: Played down. At the film's conclusion, all of the (remaining) Skeksis are reformed with their Mystic counterparts, and are restored to their urSkek selves, ironically getting the immortality and power they desired in the process. However, none of them wanted that to happen, as in the process, they lose their individuality.

** [=skekSo=]'s situation and eventual death in the film is due entirely to his own actions, as his manipulation of the Darkening in ''Age of Resistance'' causes him to rot and decay much faster than his fellow Skeksis.
** [=skekTek=] is pushed into the Crystal's pit, just like the Gruenak slave he murdered in ''Age of Resistance'', by [[TheDogBitesBack the animals he imprisoned and experimented on]].