Nearly two decades after its release, Pan’s Labyrinth remains one of the most celebrated fantasy films ever made. This year, the film returned to the spotlight during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where a newly restored version was screened to commemorate its 20th anniversary.

During the presentation, director Guillermo del Toro reflected on the challenges of bringing the project to life and spoke about the film’s continued relevance in a world still shaped by war, economic uncertainty, and authoritarianism. Twenty years later, Pan’s Labyrinth continues to resonate not only for its visual imagination, but for the humanity at its core.

To celebrate the anniversary, here are five fascinating facts about the film that make revisiting it more worthwhile than ever.

1. The Notebook That Nearly Disappeared

For years, Guillermo del Toro filled a personal notebook with sketches, creature designs, and handwritten ideas for Pan’s Labyrinth. While traveling in London, he accidentally left the notebook in the back of a taxi and immediately feared the project was lost.

Fortunately, the driver recognized the importance of what he had found, tracked down Del Toro’s hotel, and returned the notebook intact. The filmmaker later described the experience as a kind of sign that the film was meant to be made.

2. It Managed to Scare Stephen King

During a private screening, legendary horror author Stephen King sat beside Del Toro as the film played.

When the now-iconic Pale Man sequence appeared on screen, Del Toro noticed King physically jump in his seat. For a filmmaker who has long admired the author’s work, the reaction felt like the ultimate compliment.

As Del Toro later joked, it was the equivalent of winning an Oscar.

3. The Faun and Pale Man Makeup Won an Academy Award

The unforgettable appearances of the Faun and the Pale Man were created by Spanish makeup artists David Martí and Montse Ribé, whose prosthetic designs and practical effects became some of the film’s most recognizable elements.

Their work earned the Academy Award for Best Makeup, helping cement Pan’s Labyrinth as a landmark achievement in practical creature design.

4. Del Toro Gave Up His Salary

Maintaining complete creative control over the film came at a cost.

Several Hollywood studios offered larger budgets on the condition that the movie be filmed in English. Del Toro refused. Determined to preserve the story exactly as he envisioned it, he turned down those offers and ultimately gave up both his directing and producing salaries.

He even contributed his own money to ensure the film achieved the visual quality he wanted.

5. It Received One of Cannes’ Most Memorable Standing Ovations

When Pan’s Labyrinth premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006, audiences responded with overwhelming enthusiasm.

As the lights came up, applause continued for an astonishing 22 minutes, making it one of the longest and most emotional standing ovations in the festival’s history.

For many who were there, it was immediately clear they had witnessed something extraordinary.

Twenty Years Later

Few films have managed to balance fantasy and reality as powerfully as Pan’s Labyrinth. What begins as a dark fairy tale gradually becomes a story about resistance, innocence, and the choices people make in moments of fear.

Twenty years after its premiere, the film continues to captivate new audiences while reminding longtime fans why it remains one of Guillermo del Toro’s most enduring achievements.