Many years ago, the mysterious Dark Crystal was damaged and an age of chaos began, led by the evil race of grotesque birdlike lizards, the Skeksis, who rule with an iron claw. Meanwhile the Gelfling orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of peace-loving creatures called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal and restore balance to the universe. Genius filmmaker Jim Henson co-directed The Dark Crystal with puppeteer Frank Oz. Though marketed as a family-friendly film (no surprise considering Henson created the Muppets), its darker tone put audiences off but over time has gained a substantial cult following.