When Halloween approaches, there’s one director who comes to  mind every year when I start watching Halloween movies. Tim Burton has directed and helped produce films,  one of them being “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” may not have been directed by him, but he did help produce the movie alongside Denise Di Novi and Don Hahn. He wrote the poem it was based off when he was working for Disney in 1982.

The film was released in 1993 on Oct. 13, and it has been an iconic movie for both the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Henry Selick was given the director role, and according to The Numbers, the film had an all-time Domestic Box Office of $77,355,160. The movie was fully done in stop motion, which was a rare occurrence and an ambitious route for its time. According to The Wrap, the film was made up of 109,440 frames and had a team of 120 workers. It also inspired other stop motion films such as “James and the Giant Peach”. 

The film follows the main character, Jack Skellington, who is known as the Pumpkin King and is adored by the people of Halloweentown. The beginning of the movie shows Jack as he fights with the boredom that comes with a repeated routine each year. While wandering in the woods, he comes around a ring of special trees with a painted door on each. He discovers Christmas Town and begins to think about replicating the holiday. After a confusing town discussion, the monsters decide to take on the challenge. Jack orders three kids to kidnap Santa Claus, who they mistake for the Easter rabbit, as he turns his town of spooky people into terrifying-toy-creating elves. Sally, one of the other main characters who is a humanoid ragdoll, tries to warn Jack of the risks that come with mixing the two holidays, but is dragged back to her home by Dr. Frankenstein, her creator. Jack ignores her word of concern and sets out to be the new Santa Claus. Of course his plan doesn’t meet his expectations when acted out in the real world, and he has to figure out how to save Christmas with the Boogie Man holding Santa hostage.

The film has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb and 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. These ratings are greatly deserved as the movie has some amazing aspects to it that make it memorable. Jack and Sally have their own goals and beliefs that have the audience sympathize and root for them throughout the movie. The viewer understands why Jack is so persistent on change for his own boredom, but they also get frustrated with him as he ignores Sally’s warning. The two characters have afflicting beliefs that help build their individual plots and their joint relationship throughout the movie. 

The visual aspect is another part of the movie that always encapsulates my attention. The stop motion helps develop the overall off-putting feeling while still being compelling. The dark color palette of Halloweentown contrasts the bright and happy colors that make up Christmas Town. The characters are visually gravitating with the different aspects of each type of monster. The mayor has his turning two-faced head, Sally has her removable limbs and Jack has his long, thin, skeletal build that makes some interesting scenes throughout the movie, such as the Shakespeare beheading during “Jack’s Lament’.

In regards to the songs, they are amazing to listen to while watching the plot move forward. The audience is introduced to the movie and the main character with “This Is Halloween”. The song has a catchy rhythm and lyrics that are easy to sing along to. Not only does it introduce the different monsters in the town, but it lets the audience know where the setting is and what the town does. Then “Jack’s Lament” follows shortly after where Jack sings about his power but more importantly how bored he is of Halloween and the repetition that he’s grown so tired of. He wants something new and Danny Elfman’s voice just helps portray how displeased Jack is. “Oogie Boogie’s Song” is another song that is adorable in the movie. The underlying jazz sound to the song correlates to Oogie Boogie’s bright and casino-like liar, making a great overall setting for the scenes with Oogie Boogie. There are more songs such as “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” and “Sally’s Song” that are all so enjoyable to listen to and should be added to anyone’s Halloween playlist.

The humor within the film is another enjoyable aspect. There’s a scene where the town is having a meeting. Nobody understands what Jack is trying to say about Christmas, and it still makes me laugh when I watch it now. There are a few select jokes that parents might enjoy while watching with their children as well. For example, when Sally is attempting to distract the Oogie Boogie man with her leg as she tries to save Santa Claus.  

The movie is just right in order to be enjoyable for kids, teenagers and adults. It is important to note that it is rated PG, so it might not fit everyone’s standard for children’s movies. Of course it is a ‘scary’ movie in a more mild sense. Characters are based on monsters and the Oogie Boogie scenes have made a few younger relatives scared, but it doesn’t have a whole lot of scary content in general. 

The story in itself does portray useful and uplifting morals as well. It shows the audience that they should speak out when they see an issue. This can be observed through Sally as she warns Jack about her concern. Santa then praises her for this action, which exhibits why speaking out is a good thing. Jack’s backlash after stealing Christmas can also show why it’s better to just be yourself rather than turning yourself into someone you aren’t.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a movie worth watching during the Halloween season. It’s a must-have for any Halloween movie marathon, especially because of its appealing visuals, songs and the morals that go along with it.