IMDb > The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) More at IMDbPro »

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Clip: Deliveries
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) -- Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Tim Burton (story)
Michael McDowell (adaptation)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Nightmare Before Christmas on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 October 1993 (USA) more
Tagline:
Tim Burton's classic returns in 3-D so real, it's scary. more
Plot:
Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(217 articles)
Puppets and Precursors
 (From FilmExperience. 21 November 2009, 6:30 PM, PST)

Tim Burton Exhibit Opens at MoMa
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 19 November 2009, 10:41 AM, PST)

User Comments:
A true must see for all Halloween fans more (343 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Danny Elfman ... Jack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face (voice)

Chris Sarandon ... Jack Skellington (voice)

Catherine O'Hara ... Sally / Shock (voice)
William Hickey ... Dr. Finkelstein (voice)
Glenn Shadix ... Mayor (voice)

Paul Reubens ... Lock (voice)
Ken Page ... Oogie Boogie (voice)
Edward Ivory ... Santa (voice)
Susan McBride ... Big Witch / W.W.D. (voice)
Debi Durst ... Corpse Kid / Corpse Mom / Small Witch (voice)

Greg Proops ... Harlequin Demon / Devil / Sax Player (voice) (as Gregory Proops)
Kerry Katz ... Man Under the Stairs / Vampire / Corpse Dad (voice)
Randy Crenshaw ... Mr. Hyde / Behemoth / Vampire (voice)
Sherwood Ball ... Mummy / Vampire (voice)

Carmen Twillie ... Undersea Gal / Creature Under the Bed (voice)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (USA) (complete title)
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D (USA) (promotional title)
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MPAA:
Rated PG for some scary images.
Runtime:
76 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
It is stated in "The Making of..." book that the most difficult shot to film in the entire movie is the shot in which Jack is reaching for the doorknob to Christmasland. Viewers can see the perfect surround reflection of the forest around Jack in the background. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Jack's telling the people about Christmas Town, some of them keep switching places. The "Clown with the tear-away face" is in the first line at the start, then later in the second line, then back in the first line, only on the other side; the guy with snake fingers goes to the first line to the second one, then back again; the werewolf switches place with the devil, etc. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Santa: 'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems in a place perhaps you've seen in your dreams. For the story you're about to be told began with the holiday worlds of auld. Now you've probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven't I'd say it's time you begun.
more
Soundtrack:
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
57 out of 67 people found the following comment useful.
A true must see for all Halloween fans, 12 December 2004
10/10
Author: CheshireCatsGrin from 2 hours north of Los Angeles

I am not a big Tim Burton fan, but this movie is in my top 3 of all time. Perhaps the fact that Halloween is my favorite holiday influenced my opinion, but I doubt it. The more I hear and read about this movie, the more I love it.

Based on a parody of the famous "Night before Christmas" poem by Moore that Burton wrote and illustrated while employed at Disney, this idea was stagnant for many years prior to filming. In many ways this was a good thing, technology was able to catch up to Burton's ideas.

In NBC, we see our hero Jack Skellington, aka The Pumpkin King, depressed as another Halloween passes. In the background we hear the residents of Halloween Town celebrate another wonderful holiday. But Jack is sad. The only one who notices is the Rag Doll-style woman Sally.

Other characters, including many town-monsters, are introduced. We meet the wonderful mayor with two faces, the evil scientist and his assistant, three local children and our evil boogie-man.

After an accident, Jack develops a plan to kidnap "Sandy Claws" and give presents out for Christmas in place of Christmas Town. You will have to view this movie to discover the rest.

The claymation is not what I expected, it was of a high quality and the movements are not jerky like the old Christmas Specials. Danny Elfman's music has little resemblance to his work with Ongo Bongo and "What's this?" (which Jack sings when he discovers the colorful world of Christmas Town) is closer to a tune mixed from Cabaret and The Music Man. The voices match the mouth movements nearly perfectly. This was a project from the heart and all the little touches to make it 'just' right show this fact.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Did Jack and Sally know each other? GiantTurtleBoy
Jack Skellington / Jack Pumpkinhead.... lonelystreet
How many people here actually grew up with TNBC? horrormovieman89
yea we get it... scaredfamous
New DVD Commentary sweet_children
Favorite Scenes Weber4278
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