The Nightmare Before Christmas is a beloved stop-motion animated film directed by Henry Selick, based on a story by Tim Burton. With its gothic charm and quirky characters, it has become a cult classic, blending Halloween spookiness with Christmas cheer in a way only Tim Burton’s imagination could deliver.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: Halloween Town
The movie opens with a song that introduces the audience to Halloween Town, a place where spooky creatures and monsters live and celebrate Halloween all year long. The town’s beloved leader is Jack Skellington, the “Pumpkin King,” who is adored for his ability to create the most terrifying Halloween celebrations. However, despite his success, Jack is bored and longs for something more in life.
Jack Discovers Christmas Town
Wandering through the forest, Jack stumbles upon a series of doors, each leading to a world dedicated to a different holiday. Drawn by curiosity, he opens the door to Christmas Town and is immediately captivated by its joyful and festive atmosphere. The snow, twinkling lights, and overall warmth deeply contrast with his usual dark surroundings.
In a whimsical and catchy musical number, “What’s This?”, Jack explores Christmas Town with childlike wonder. He becomes obsessed with the idea of Christmas and decides to bring the holiday to Halloween Town.
Jack’s Plan: Christmas Takeover
Back in Halloween Town, Jack gathers the townsfolk and explains his newfound love for Christmas. Despite not fully understanding the holiday, he decides to take over the role of Santa Claus for the year. The Halloween Town residents, excited by Jack’s enthusiasm, begin preparing for their version of Christmas—complete with spooky toys and creepy decorations.
Meanwhile, Sally, a ragdoll-like character who secretly loves Jack, senses that his plan is a terrible idea. She tries to warn him, but Jack is too excited and determined to listen.
Kidnapping Santa Claus
Jack assigns the mischievous trio Lock, Shock, and Barrel the task of kidnapping Santa Claus. They succeed, bringing Santa to Halloween Town and locking him up. Jack, now dressed as “Sandy Claws,” takes off in his coffin sleigh, pulled by skeletal reindeer, to deliver presents. However, the gifts—created by Halloween Town’s citizens—are terrifying and dangerous, leading to chaos and panic in the human world.
Oogie Boogie’s Plot
Santa Claus, imprisoned by the evil Oogie Boogie, faces mortal danger. Oogie Boogie is a gambling-obsessed villain who plans to kill Santa, adding to the tension as Christmas spirals out of control. Sally, determined to save both Jack and Santa, sneaks into Oogie’s lair but gets captured herself.
Jack Realizes His Mistake
As Jack flies around delivering presents, he quickly realizes that his attempt to take over Christmas has gone horribly wrong. The humans respond with fear, shooting Jack down from the sky. Crashing into a cemetery, Jack reflects on his actions in the poignant song “Poor Jack.” He finally understands that Christmas and Halloween are two separate, distinct holidays and that he was wrong to try to merge them.
Jack Saves Christmas
Jack returns to Halloween Town to set things right. He confronts Oogie Boogie, rescues Santa and Sally, and restores order. Santa, although initially upset, forgives Jack and brings Christmas back on track.
Jack and Sally’s Love
In the final scene, Sally and Jack share a quiet moment atop the iconic spiral hill under a full moon. Jack, now wiser and more content, realizes that Sally has always cared for him, and the two finally embrace, hinting at a future together.
Movie Ending
The Nightmare Before Christmas ends on a high note, with Santa saving Christmas and Jack returning to Halloween Town, no longer disillusioned but filled with new appreciation for his role as the Pumpkin King. Jack and Sally’s romantic moment brings the film to a warm conclusion, combining the spooky and sweet elements of the movie in a beautifully crafted scene.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Nightmare Before Christmas does not have any post-credits scenes. The movie wraps up its story during the final scenes, and no additional sequences are included after the credits roll. However, the credits are accompanied by Danny Elfman’s music, which is always worth listening to if you’re a fan of the soundtrack!
Type of Movie
This film is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy with elements of horror, romance, and dark humor. It’s a mix of holiday genres, straddling the line between a Halloween movie and a Christmas classic.
Cast
- Chris Sarandon as Jack Skellington (speaking voice)
- Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington (singing voice) and additional characters
- Catherine O’Hara as Sally / Shock
- William Hickey as Dr. Finkelstein
- Ken Page as Oogie Boogie
- Paul Reubens as Lock
Film Music and Composer
The film’s iconic soundtrack was composed by Danny Elfman, who also provided the singing voice for Jack Skellington. The music is an integral part of the film, with memorable songs like “This is Halloween,” “What’s This?” and “Sally’s Song.” Elfman’s gothic, whimsical score perfectly complements the film’s tone.
Filming Locations
As a stop-motion animation film, The Nightmare Before Christmas was primarily “filmed” on intricate miniature sets. These handcrafted sets took months to create, with every character and prop painstakingly moved frame by frame. The film’s dark and gothic aesthetic was brought to life through this meticulous stop-motion process.
Awards and Nominations
- Nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards (a rare nomination for an animated film).
- Won the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.
- Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Tim Burton originally conceived the story as a poem in the early 1980s.
- It took around 3 years to complete the stop-motion animation.
- Each second of the movie required about 12 stop-motion moves.
- Danny Elfman has said that Jack Skellington was the character he most related to in his career, as the character’s search for meaning mirrored his own.
- Over 400 heads were used to animate Jack Skellington’s many expressions.
Inspirations and References
- The film was inspired by Tim Burton’s love for holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his fascination with combining the aesthetics of Halloween and Christmas.
- The poem Burton wrote was inspired by his own experiences with seasonal transitions—seeing stores take down Halloween decorations and put up Christmas items sparked his imagination.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no publicly known alternate endings for The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, some deleted scenes were storyboarded but never animated. One of these involved a different version of Oogie Boogie’s defeat, but the final film stuck with the gambling sequence.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The movie is not directly based on a book but was inspired by a poem written by Tim Burton. There have been several adaptations of the movie into books, including a picture book retelling. The poem differs slightly from the movie as it’s shorter and focuses more on Jack’s desire to steal Christmas rather than the broader story of the town and its inhabitants.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Jack’s discovery of Christmas Town (“What’s This?”).
- Sally’s song of longing and love (“Sally’s Song”).
- Jack’s disastrous Christmas Eve flight as Sandy Claws.
- The confrontation with Oogie Boogie.
Iconic Quotes
- Jack Skellington: “What’s this? What’s this? There’s color everywhere!”
- Jack Skellington: “Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t believe it!”
- Oogie Boogie: “You’re jokin’, you’re jokin’, I can’t believe my ears!”
- Sally: “I sense there’s something in the wind, that feels like tragedy’s at hand.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Zero, Jack’s ghost dog, has a glowing nose resembling Rudolph.
- Oogie Boogie’s lair is filled with hidden gambling symbols, reinforcing his persona as a gambler.
- Look closely at the books in Dr. Finkelstein’s library—you’ll see references to classic monster movies.
- The three trick-or-treaters (Lock, Shock, and Barrel) have a color scheme that reflects their roles: red (devil), blue (witch), and white (skeleton).
Trivia
- Jack Skellington makes cameo appearances in other Tim Burton films, like James and the Giant Peach.
- Tim Burton didn’t direct the movie—Henry Selick did. Burton was busy working on Batman Returns.
- The character Zero’s nose is a tiny, glowing jack-o’-lantern, a subtle Halloween twist on Rudolph.
Why Watch?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a perfect blend of Halloween spookiness and Christmas charm, making it a timeless film for both holidays. With its incredible stop-motion animation, catchy songs, and heartwarming message, it’s a movie that appeals to both children and adults, offering something magical and darkly humorous for everyone.
Director’s Other Movies
- James and the Giant Peach (1996)
- Coraline (2009)
- Monkeybone (2001)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Corpse Bride (2005)
- Coraline (2009)
- Frankenweenie (2012)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
