Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth will reopen in Mexican theaters this October after two decades, presented in a 4K and 3D restoration overseen by the director. The 2006 film—originally released under the title El laberinto del fauno—weaves dark fantasy with the harsh realities of Francoist Spain, following a young girl named Ofelia as she moves between a nightmarish stepfather, Captain Vidal, and a hidden area populated by fauns, fairies, and grotesque creatures.
The re-release coincides with the film’s 20th anniversary, a milestone that follows its critical acclaim: three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup, along with a 22-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. This time, moviegoers will experience two versions: a 2D restoration derived from the original 35mm negative and a 3D conversion meticulously supervised by del Toro, featuring frame-by-frame refinements and an updated soundtrack.
Del Toro’s commitment to the restoration excluded artificial intelligence, a stance he defended during the Comic-Con of San Diego. He stated, “We’re protecting the beauty and the emotional weight of the original work.” The director has long opposed AI in filmmaking, arguing that manual craftsmanship preserves the authenticity of his creative vision.
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Del Toro’s lifelong love of monsters
The film’s director has spoken openly about his lifelong fascination with monsters, dating back to childhood. He once recounted a childhood ritual: “Una noche pedí [al monstruo de mi casa] que, si me dejaba ir a hacer pis, seríamos amigos para siempre (…) y los adoro desde aquel día. Son mis criaturas favoritas.” This affinity for the strange and the supernatural permeates his filmography, from Hellboy to The Shape of Water.
Pan’s Labyrinth marked a key moment in del Toro’s career. After its release, he faced professional uncertainty, admitting in a 2026 interview that he feared it might be his final project. “I thought there was no future for me. Securing the kinds of films I wanted to make seemed impossible.” Yet the movie’s success cleared the path for later triumphs, including Crimson Peak and Pinocchio, which earned him two additional Oscars.
Mexico’s nationwide 4K and 3D revival
Mexican audiences will be able to see both restored versions beginning October 15 at Cinépolis theaters as part of the +QUE CINE series. Miguel Rivera, Cinépolis’s global programming vice president, announced plans to screen the film in over 300 locations nationwide, offering both the 4K restoration, directly from the original negative, and the 3D version, which required extensive frame-by-frame adjustments by a specialized team.
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The story is set in 1944 Spain, where Ofelia, portrayed by Ivana Baquero, relocates with her pregnant mother to the home of her stepfather, Captain Vidal, played by Sergi López. There, she encounters a labyrinth ruled by a faun (Doug Jones), who claims she is a lost princess destined to complete three deadly trials. Meanwhile, Vidal’s fascist regime conducts brutal crackdowns on rebels in the surrounding countryside, creating a brutal divide between Ofelia’s fantastical refuge and the violence of her real-world surroundings.
Del Toro uses the fantasy elements to explore themes of resistance and escape. The laberinto serves as a metaphor for defiance against oppression, with Ofelia’s trials reflecting the struggles of those fighting under Franco’s dictatorship. The film’s fusion of horror and fairy-tale imagery has solidified its place in del Toro’s work, where monsters often embody both terror and liberation.
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