There's a spooky movie for just about any time of the year nowadays. No one knows this better than fans of the 1993 cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. The beloved film follows Jack Skellington, who, upon discovering the existence of a jolly Christmas Town, makes it his mission to hang up his hat as Pumpkin King of Halloween Town and serve as Santa Claus for the season instead. Jack's existential crisis makes for a thrilling ride through Fall, and bam, splat into Winter.
This film falls into a unique pocket of stop-motion animated films that viewers of all ages continue to appreciate years after their release. Its plucky protagonist, immersive settings, and mesmerizing score seem to pull the audience into its one-of-a-kind atmosphere right along with the characters. There's an element of whimsy that bends the imagination into this unknown world.
As one of Tim Burton's masterful productions, this movie corners the market in terms of recognizable claymation characters, songs that stick in your subconsciousness, and multi-seasonal cheer. But what exactly makes this cherished holiday film so enduring just three decades after its original release? The film is now 30 years old but still feels as fresh and captivating as it did back when it first hit theaters. Let's discover together why The Nightmare Before Christmas is so popular.
Update November 25, 2023: In honor of Nightmare Before Christmas' 30th anniversary, this article has been updated by Amanda Minchin with more reasons why the film has been a holiday classic.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Combines Fantastical Elements With The Real World
When Jack discovers Christmas Town, he leaves Halloween Town and stands in a circle of hollowed-out trees with doors in their trunks, each bearing a motif that corresponds to a different holiday. This is enough to clue audiences in as to where fantasy and reality meet within this universe – these mysterious doors could possibly be tucked away in any old forest, but this, right here, is the right one. The world of the story is extremely immersive, drawing on elements of the fantastical that make it shimmer with fascination.
These characters both live in their own world and interact with the real one. The real world is seen through glimpses, populated by confused kids and horrified parents following Jack's unfortunate attempts at manufacturing his own version of Christmas. As a Roger Ebert wrote in his review for the film back in 1993:
"One of the many pleasures of [the film] is that there is not a single recognizable landscape within it. Everything looks strange and haunting." Put into perspective, given the strange atmosphere of the story, this is true of Halloween Town, Christmas Town, and Burton's version of "normal" family life on Christmas Eve.
The interplay between the real world and the world inhabited by holiday creatures gives the film a unique and removed feel from our reality, cementing its sense of fantasy.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Captures the Magic of Multiple Seasons
Audiences who've seen The Nightmare Before Christmas know that the story crisscrosses back and forth to different holidays. Besides the obvious visual juxtaposition as characters jump between worlds, this multifaceted feeling is captured heavily through the film's songs. "This is Halloween" and "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" encapsulate the spookier side of the film, calling upon a cast of characters from Halloween Town to explain their dastardly deeds through music while simultaneously humanizing them for resident scaredy-cats. "What's This?" and the "Christmas Eve Montage" backing track, on the other hand, rely on typical sounds reminiscent of Christmas, like horns and bells.
Straddling the line between two highly celebrated and beloved holidays makes this movie incredibly easy to rewatch, no matter the time of year. Playing it during the summer months conjures a festive "Christmas in July" feel, while playing it in October encapsulates the spooky season. It then transitions perfectly from the Halloween season into the Christmas season and can be enjoyed any time of the year.
The Iconic Characters of The Nightmare Before Christmas
It's near impossible to talk about the sheer greatness of this film without paying homage to its eccentric cast of characters, from Jack Skellington to Sally to the inhabitants of Halloween Town. The opening song "This Is Halloween" is a masterclass in efficiently poignant character introductions. Audiences meet the creepy crawly townsfolk of Halloween town doing what they do best - scaring people on Halloween.
From the clown with the tear-away face to the two-faced mayor, there's a frightening spook for every fancy. Every citizen of Halloweentown is visually distinct and so iconic it feels like they could support their own story. But, more importantly, the song serves to humanize these mythical creatures. In the words of its inhabitants - "Life's no fun without a good scare/That's our job, but we're not mean/ In our town of Halloween." It's truly all in good fun.
And then there are the two main characters, Jack and Sally. In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack is the figurehead of Halloween, while Sally is the rag-tag product of the mad Dr. Finkelstein. Both have intrinsic wants and needs that are easily distinguishable on screen. Jack thinks he wants to revamp Halloween Town, but, in reality, he wants to figure out his purpose in life. Sally thinks she wants to escape the clutches of the good doctor in order to help both Jack and her community, but she, too needs to find her purpose as well. Sally's ability to see through the follies of Jack's plan demonstrates that she's an intuitively brilliant character. Together they're able to bond over this in what is a delightfully satisfying ending.
The Legacy of The Nightmare Before Christmas
The legacy of Nightmare Before Christmas today lies in its influence on pop culture. Whether it's Halloween, Christmas, or any other time of year, many stores offer Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise featuring its characters year-round. During its typically appreciated seasons each year, decorations often still bear these likenesses as well. In 2008, the album "Nightmare Revisited" came out, drawing upon recognizable musical talents to reinterpret many of the film's songs in a rock style and remind audiences of the film's iconic and timeless nature.
It might surprise you to know that The Nightmare Before Christmas is indeed a Disney movie, but it wasn't always attributed as such. Due to the film's subject and darker setup, Disney initially didn't want it released under their name. It was originally put out under Touchstone Pictures, a label of The Walt Disney Company designed for more mature material that did not fit the Disney brand.
Despite this assumption, the film became wildly popular and a cult classic among kids and adults alike decades later. Because of this popularity, Disney rightfully attached their name to it again. While Disney has shifted away from rereleasing their classic animated films in theaters following the boom of the home video market, Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the few Disney movies that regularly gets played in theaters as it has had multiple rereleases. It's been celebrated as an iconic Disney offering ever since, even becoming a mainstay at the parks in the form of a beloved Haunted Mansion revamp during the holiday season.
As fans can attest, what keeps them coming back for more boils down to fantastical world-building, iconic characters, and holiday-spanning rewatchability.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is Just Fine on its Own
Clearly, The Nightmare Before Christmas is popular, and with good reason. That being said, fans have waited eagerly for a sequel for years, which speaks to just how well-loved the story still is today. Burton, however, is in no hurry to conjure up a sequel. To be fair, he's had mixed success with them in the past. Between his penchant for unique stories and wanting to protect the legacy of the film, it's no wonder he's since refused to indulge on the subject.
While there might be a snowball's chance in hell for a sequel, the good news is the film is stronger than ever thanks to yearly distribution at select movie theaters and streaming on Disney+. The strategy has since panned out, surpassing nearly $100 million in box office revenue thirty years later. In a way, it's a fitting milestone and a testament to why this not-so-traditional holiday classic has endured for so long.
Fans Can Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney+.