Harkening back to the days of the 50s science fiction offerings, Disney’s The Black Hole was sort of a Jules Verne meets Gene Roddenberry epic, following the familiar plot of a team of space traveling earthlings who must escape the clutches of an evil mad scientist and/or robots.

In the far reaches of space, the crew of spaceship Palomino finds themselves dangerously close to a black hole. They decide the best course of action is to run away, until they spot the lost ship, Cygnus, floating in the vicinity. They soon discover that the ship is inhabited by the lone Dr. Hans Reinhardt and his army of robots, who intent to fly into the black hole and discover the source of all energy. Sensing that the good doctor might need to be fitted soon for a straightjacket, the crew tries to escape only to have their attempts thwarted by the team of robots. Time is running out, however, as the ship continues to drift closer and closer to the entrance.

The Black Hole was Disney’s first foray into the realm of PG-rated films and cost a pretty penny to make, not only due to the impressive special effects but also an A-list cast that included Ernest Borgnine, Anthony Perkins, and Maximilian Schell. And yet, the film was only modestly successful and lingered in its own seemingly black hole for almost 20 years before it was finally re-introduced on DVD and VHS so that old fans and future generations alike could enjoy this well-made space tale.