Pan's Labyrinth

Year: 2006

Runtime: 118 min

Language: Spanish

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Budget: $19M

DramaMysteryThrillerFantasyWar

In post-civil war Spain, a young girl named Ofelia escapes the harsh realities of her life through a captivating imagination. Living with her pregnant mother and cruel stepfather, a ruthless captain of the Francoist army, she discovers a mystical labyrinth. There, she encounters a faun who claims she is a princess and tasks her with three dangerous quests to prove her royal lineage and return to her true kingdom. As she journeys deeper into this fantastical world, Ofelia must confront both the dangers within the labyrinth and the darkness of her stepfather's actions, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Pan's Labyrinth yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Underworld, Francoist Spain, Ancient Stone Labyrinth

The Underworld, depicted as a royal realm, is where spirits and fairytale creatures reside, often linked to the fate of souls. Francoist Spain, set in the backdrop of 1944, showcases the harsh realities of a civil war-torn nation under oppressive regime. The Ancient Stone Labyrinth serves as a pivotal setting, a mystical place where Ofelia embarks on her transformative journey through magical challenges to reclaim her identity.

🏰 Fantasy 🇪🇸 Historical 🌌 Mystical

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:26

Main Characters – Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Meet the key characters of Pan's Labyrinth (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:26

Major Themes – Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Explore the central themes of Pan's Labyrinth (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:26

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Dark Fairy Tales like Pan's Labyrinth

Mythical quests and magical worlds used to explore mature, brutal themes.If you loved the blend of brutal reality and dark fantasy in Pan's Labyrinth, explore these movies. This list features similar films where fairy tale logic is used to tell mature, emotionally heavy stories about war, fascism, and moral choices, creating a uniquely haunting experience.

dark fantasydreamlikeoppressivemelancholicbrutalmythicalhaunting

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow protagonists, often children or young adults, who encounter a strange, otherworldly realm. This fantasy world, however, is not an escape but a reflection or direct confrontation with the darkness of their real-life circumstances. The narrative intertwines a mythical quest with a grim reality, where success in one world may come at a terrible cost in the other.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared core concept: using dark, often Gothic, fantasy to dissect serious human struggles. They share a melancholic, dreamlike mood, a high emotional weight, and a bittersweet or bleak resolution that challenges traditional fairy tale endings.

Movies about Innocence Under Tyranny like Pan's Labyrinth

Young protagonists navigating oppressive worlds of war and authoritarian rule.For viewers who appreciated the perspective of a child confronting fascism in Pan's Labyrinth, this collection features similar movies. Discover stories where young characters face the horrors of war and oppression, exploring themes of rebellion, moral choice, and the bittersweet loss of childhood.

oppressivewar-tornbrutalsuspensefulcoming of agerebellionmelancholic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a young protagonist whose world is invaded by an impersonal, violent ideology. Their personal journey of growth and understanding is forced to accelerate, often involving a moral awakening or a defiant act. The story contrasts the naive perspective of youth with the stark cruelty of the adult world, creating a powerful emotional arc.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of childhood confronted with extreme political or social violence. They share a dark, oppressive mood, a steady pacing that builds dread, and deliver a heavy emotional impact, frequently culminating in a bittersweet ending where innocence is sacrificed for a greater understanding or a moral victory.

Unlock the Full Story of Pan's Labyrinth

Don't stop at just watching — explore Pan's Labyrinth in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Pan's Labyrinth is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Pan's Labyrinth Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Pan's Labyrinth, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Pan's Labyrinth Timeline

Track the full timeline of Pan's Labyrinth with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Pan's Labyrinth Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Pan's Labyrinth that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Pan's Labyrinth

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Pan's Labyrinth: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Pan's Labyrinth

Discover movies like Pan's Labyrinth that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.