The Nightmare Before Christmas

PG

Released Oct 29, 1993

1 hr. 15 min.

Kids & Family

Holiday

Fantasy

Comedy

Animation

TRAILER

for The Nightmare Before Christmas: Trailer 1

List

95%

108 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the "real world." When Jack accidentally stumbles on Christmastown, all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life -- he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over the role. But Jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously awry.

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Critics Consensus

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.

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Michael

I like everything about this movie. It's one of the few movies I have seen that seems to hold up no matter how old it is. I was glad to see it return to theaters, it was a great experience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Len

cool stop motion art, songs were mehhh.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

Full Review

Claire

the theater is old and needs updated. love that they do reshowings though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

Full Review

Tee

I absolutely love this movie💕💜✨tim Burton is amazing ! I felt like a child seeing this in 3D all the wonder and amazement came back to me, just like the first time I ever saw it🎃✨🎄 amazing cast! perfect movie!! I miss you pee wee❤️✨❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/23

Full Review

Zilla

Probably my 50th time seeing it, but the first in 3D! Very nice

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/06/23

Full Review

Elvin urbina

A classic masterpiece remastered to the highest quality 🔥

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

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Henry Selick

Director

Danny Elfman

Jack Skellington

Chris Sarandon

Jack

Catherine O'Hara

Sally

William Hickey

Evil Scientist

Glenn Shadix

Mayor

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36%

43%

Ernest Saves Christmas

40%

72%

Hocus Pocus

TRAILER

for Hocus Pocus

25%

51%

Ernest Scared Stupid

35%

53%

3 Ninjas

13%

48%

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The Nightmare Before Christmas: Trailer 1

1:25

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

I'm blown away by just the construction of the scenes, and by all of the effects that have been incorporated to make everything move fluidly; and there's also this charming imperfection to the animation that just makes it so gorgeous.

Rated: A

Apr 13, 2018

Full Review

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Part avant-garde art film, part amusing but morbid fairy tale, it is a delightfully ghoulish holiday musical that displays more inventiveness in its brief 75 minutes than some studios can manage in an entire year.

Dec 3, 2013

Full Review

Anthony Lane

New Yorker

This full-length animated movie was shot in stop motion, with all the febrile, twittery fascination that the medium exerts; it has a magic-toy shop feeling, with unexpected objects stuttering into life.

Dec 3, 2013

Full Review

Kristy Strouse

Wonderfully Weird and Horrifying

The Nightmare Before Christmas is unique and timeless, a magical adventure that’ll delight the senses and steal your heart.

Nov 14, 2023

Full Review

Lauren Veneziani

DC Film Girl

One of the best films of all-time, the gorgeous stop-motion animation and story of Jack Skellington longing for something more leaves us breathless, happy and fulfilled.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 30, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

In the days of computer-animated films that occasionally appear no different than your average videogame, looking back, we must appreciate that Tim Burton and Henry Selick created something so wonderfully original.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 5, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the "real world." When Jack accidentally stumbles on Christmastown, all bright colors and warm spirits, he gets a new lease on life -- he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over the role. But Jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans of mice and skeleton men can go seriously awry.

Director: Henry Selick
Screenwriter: Michael McDowell , Caroline Thompson
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures , Skellington Productions
Rating: PG (Some Scary Images)
Genre: Kids & Family , Holiday , Fantasy , Comedy , Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 29, 1993, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2020
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $86.1M
Sound Mix: Surround , Dolby SR , Dolby Digital , Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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