Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara

In Halloween Town, Jack Skellington is bored and unhappy with the life of being "The Pumpkin King". He sets out to find something exciting and discovers Christmas Town. He takes it upon himself to tak...( read more  read more... )e over the duties of Santa to deliver toys to children across the world. The film was converted to Disney Digital 3-D and re-released in October 2007.

Flixster Users

89% liked it

615,220 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

70 critics

PG, 1 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Henry Selick

Release Date: October 24, 2008

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DVD Release Date: December 2, 1997

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Stats: 56,601 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (56,601)


  • May 9, 2009
    I LOVE Tim Burton's work, Im his greatest fan, this movie is fantastic, so imaginative and dark, a truely gothic fairytale dream come to life. There is nothing much more to say here, its a near perfect film in every aspect and every field.
  • March 19, 2009
    The pefect film for Halloween of Christmas. It has stood the test of time.
  • January 24, 2009
    Jack Skellington: [singing] "What's this? What's this? There's color everywhere! What's this? There's white things in the air! What's this? I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming; wake up, Jack, this isn't fair! What's this?&...( read more)#034;



    In Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, succeeds in overseeing another highly successful Halloween. But Jack is tired of receiving merely these accolades and wants more. In the woods he discovers a door in a tree and falls through into Christmas Land. He returns to Halloween Town all enthused about Christmas and marshals the creepy-crawly denizens of Halloween Town into building toys and skeletal reindeer. They then abduct Santa so that Jack can take his place on Christmas Eve. But Jack's girlfriend Sally has a precognitive dream, one that Jack seems oblivious to, that Christmas will end in disaster this year. The stop motion animated special effects of Nightmare are still pretty impressive but were probably more impressive at the time it was released. The voice talent for The Nightmare Before Christmas is a splendid bunch, taken from the stable of Tim Burton regulars and sketch comedy geniuses. The music and the visuals are inseparable. The songs are at once morbid and joyous, breathing life into characters who are at home with their dark, sinister nature.
  • December 10, 2008
    "Tim Burton's classic returns in 3-D so real, it's scary."

    Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon) is the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, a realm of reality where the inhabitants make it their life's work to scare humans on Halloween. He's good at his work, and is very ...( read more)popular around town, but it all bores him. In a funk one day, he wanders into a wood where every tree is the doorway to realms serving one or another human holiday, and falls through the doorway into Christmas. There, he sees scenes of such glee and good will that he is overwhelmed. He returns to Halloweentown with the inspiration to persuade his fellow citizens to kidnap Santa and do Christmas in their own Halloweentown way -- complete with snakes and shrunken heads. Despite strong arguments against this project by Jack's otherwise loyal girlfriend, Sally (voice of Catherine O'Hara), Santa (voice of Edward Ivory) is duly captured, and the townspeople prepare a very special Christmas for everyone. Jack is excited about the new plan, and at first doesn't notice that Sally isn't around much anymore. Meanwhile, Oogie Boogie (voice of Ken Page), a sinister opponent of Jack's, has re-kidnapped Santa and has captured Sally as well. Since Sally is the true love of Jack's life and (he eventually realizes) the only one who can be relied upon to tell him the truth in every circumstance, a confrontation with Oogie Boogie becomes inevitable.

    Review
    This is a film defined by its style (both narrative and aesthetic). And Burton's style--as always--is remarkable: sometimes cute, sometimes twisted, always nothing short of amazing. The abundance of campy humor and an innocent journey of personal discovery for the protagonist, Jack Skellington, make the film entertaining for younger viewers, while sometimes-unnerving visuals and dark motifs appeal to an older audience as well; truly a masterful blending of themes. The Nightmare Before Christmas is ranked high up there as one of the best musicals ever. Truly memorable classic.
  • October 18, 2008
    The imagery definitely outweighs the story, but since its also geared towards kids, that's no surprise. Still a classic, I'm sure this will be one of the last movies of its kind. It manages to enthrall the young and old(er) alike and manages to work its way into the obligatory ho...( read more)liday category.
  • November 6, 2009
    who dosen't like this movie?
  • November 6, 2009
    I don't think it gets any better in 3D... it was already a great movie... though, at least it's a good chance to finally watch it on a movie teather instead of the usual repetitions on a tv.
    I still want to see it on the big screen but in english.
  • November 5, 2009
    "This was good, would like to see it again"
  • November 5, 2009
    i dont think i will hav any!
  • November 4, 2009
    This is mt fav Tim Burton film, i cant ever gat sick of it i just watch it again and again.







    My fav Tim Burton film Just a wicked film whatch it all the time never get tierd of it.

Critic Reviews


September 17, 2008
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Let's hope the next time Disney re-releases this on home video... they will include the 3D version. full review

October 30, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

The hippest of all holiday classics, the 1993 release rendered anew in 3-D format remains a postmodern three-ring circus of morbid humor, eye-popping puppet animation and show-stopping songs. full review

October 20, 2006
Roger Ebert, Detroit News

The director of the film, a veteran stop-action master named Henry Selick, is the person who has made it all work. And his achievement is enormous. full review

October 17, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a veritable bounty of visual delights. full review

May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Of all the new Halloween films, only this one has the power to truly haunt our dreams. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Working with gifted artists and designers, [Burton] has made a world here that is as completely new as the worlds we saw for the first time in such films as Metropolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari or ... full review

View more The Nightmare Before Christmas reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • kaylalynn96
    July 23, 2009
    This is one of the best movies of all time anyone who dos'nt like it obviously DOES NOT have a very good taste in movies AT ALL! And can't appreciate true masterpeices. Jack and Sally are true icons this movie is a classic. Everyone did a great job on it and so much work was put into it. The Nightmare Before Christmas deserves so much more than what it has gotten.
  • Marilynstates
    March 6, 2009
    I know, but no.

    Jack and Sally, it's happy yet so sad.
  • william012012
    December 15, 2008
    N B C...bee mrry Christmas....hahaha
  • mrbicklethepickle
    August 19, 2008
    It comes out on 2 disc DVD on August 26!!!!

    And I'm gonna buy it! Yipeeeeeeeee!
  • iiambecky
    July 31, 2008
    Ahhhhh it's so great >.<
    Jack is the shizzel..

    I love this movie..
    o.O
    And so does Pete Wentz ^_^

    BONUS

    Anyway.. its a great film :]
    5 stars
  • herlinahiroshi
    July 23, 2008
    the best movie ever!!!!!!!!!
    I like it!!!!!!!
    I like jack!!!!!!!
    I like!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • XTrinaBabyX
    July 22, 2008
    loved this movie soo much...and i love Jackkk =D
  • mikeike
    May 25, 2008
    BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!
  • sarness
    April 20, 2008
    wtf
    i'm watching this movie right now and i find it...okay...
    I thought it was better.
    I dont like some parts when they're singing..
    maybe little kids may love it but i find it a normal movie..altho the animation is great I love it.
  • lilmisspictureperfec
    March 7, 2008
    THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Nightmare Before Christmas Trivia


  • Which 1993 movie featured the character "Jack Skellington"  Answer »
  • In what movie was there a skeletal figure with dreams of bringing christmas to children everywhere?  Answer »
  • The lyrics "kidnap the sandy claws, put in him a box, bury him for 90 years and then see if he talks" are from what movie?  Answer »
  • Jack the Pumpkin King kidnaps Santy Claus. Name the film?  Answer »

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