I was always unsure whether “The Nightmare Before Christmas” was a Halloween or Christmas movie, so I never got around to watching it. Even though I have heard great things about this stop-motion movie, I could not decide when to watch it. And even after watching it, I am still not sure.
The story takes place in Halloween Town, and the main character, Jack Skellington, does go to Christmas Town early on, getting really interested in Christmas. The movie came out in October 1993, which makes it seem like it is supposed to be scary.
But the movie begins in the middle of the action, and we do not really see Halloween Town during its famous holiday. Instead, it is all about Jack trying to take over Santa’s job, which makes it feel more like a Christmas story.
Still, the movie’s famous scary music suggests it is more about Halloween. The song “This Is Halloween” is especially popular and I always enjoy it when stores play it to mark the start of the spooky season. Another song I can not get enough of is “Kidnap the Sandy Claws,” which has a really catchy sound.
Also, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” merchandise usually appears in October, and I do not often see the characters used in Christmas decorations. So, I guess that means the movie is more about Halloween.
The characters, like Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie, are all about Halloween. The movie’s look is also very dark, with pumpkins, bats, black cats, and gravestones that make you think of Halloween.
The movie’s sense of humor is dark too, and it made me laugh. For example, when Jack is called “Bone Daddy” or when Sally escapes by detaching her arm, I found it really funny. The movie’s playful but dark mood seems to point to it being a Halloween movie.
The creepy animation and ghostly feel of the movie add to the Halloween vibe, with things like wriggling worms, sewn-together skeletons, and the old-school, jerky movements of the stop-motion characters. The gothic style shows all sorts of spooky beings like ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and other mythical monsters.
Tim Burton’s movies always have a certain spooky and dark style, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is no exception. Despite any issues with Burton, this movie is a lot like “Frankenweenie” and “The Corpse Bride,” with a mysterious and magical stop-motion style.
The movie almost goes full circle, starting with the end of Halloween and then showing Jack’s fascination with Christmas, only for him to realize it is not right for him. The main message is about being true to yourself, as Jack finds out he should not have tried to take over Christmas, which really fits the Halloween theme.
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If you ask the director, Henry Selick, he will tell you it is a Halloween movie.
So, if I had to choose, I would say it is a Halloween movie, which might not be surprising. I will admit I judge movies by their titles, so I never wanted to watch this one during Halloween because of the word “Christmas” in it. But during Christmas, I prefer simple, feel-good movies instead of dark ones. However, for those who do not mind, this movie is great to watch any time of year.
My roommate mentioned she is not into traditional Christmas movies, so this one is a nice change for her. No matter what kind of Christmas or Halloween movies you like, this is a fantastic movie to watch whenever you want; I just prefer it during Halloween.
People May Ask
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas considered a Halloween or Christmas movie?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is mostly seen as a Halloween movie. It is got a lot of Halloween themes and the director, Henry Selick, said it is a Halloween movie. But, because it has Christmas parts too, some people watch it for both holidays.
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie in Claymation?
No, it is not Claymation. It is a stop-motion movie, which means they used models and took pictures of them one frame at a time to make the movie. Tim Burton and Henry Selick, who made the movie, are known for their work in stop-motion, not Claymation.
Who was Jack Skellington before he died?
There is a fun theory that Jack Skellington might have been a pirate before he became the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. This idea comes from his appearance as Captain Jack in the movie James and the Giant Peach.
Why is Nightmare Before Christmas the best Christmas movie?
People love The Nightmare Before Christmas because it is unique. It has amazing stop-motion animation, a great soundtrack, and a story that teaches a good lesson about appreciating what you have. It is also different from other Christmas movies because it has a spooky twist, which makes it stand out.
