Spine-Chilling Halloween Flick Back in Cinemas: Ignites Heated Debate!

Google "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and you'll discover a collection of holiday-inspired emojis surrounding it. However, the question remains: is this film more fitting for Christmas or Halloween? Originally premiering in the US on October 29, 1993, this timeless masterpiece by Tim Burton is now approaching its 30th anniversary.

The film’s synopsis describes Jack Skellington, who grows tired of his monotonous task of scaring people in the real world. However, upon discovering Christmastown, a vibrant and joyful place, he finds a renewed purpose. Jack devises a plan to take control of Christmas by kidnapping Santa Claus and assuming his role. The film is now being re-released for a theatrical run, reigniting discussions among fans about whether The Nightmare Before Christmas should be considered a Halloween movie once more.

Fans think The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t a Halloween movie

It’s a debate that has been going on for years, but fans might now have drawn a collective conclusion – The Nightmare Before Christmas isn’t a Halloween movie.

While the film starts off in Halloweentown, a significant part of the movie is dedicated to Jack Skellington discovering the enchantment of Christmastown, a factor that appears to have influenced fan perception.

One Twitter/X user questioned whether The Nightmare Before Christmas could be classified as a Halloween or Christmas movie, sparking a varied response from fans on social media.

Although a few individuals proposed that it could be considered both a festive and Halloween film, the majority strongly contested and asserted that it is indeed a Christmas movie.

"That's how you know Christmas is approaching," one fan declared, as another concurred: "I always enjoy watching this movie during the holiday season; it really puts me in the festive mood."

"So, are we celebrating Christmas in November now?" another questioned, while one more added: "The Nightmare Before Christmas should not be classified as a Halloween film. It's a movie for Christmas. I'm willing to defend this viewpoint (to the end)."

"It is concerning how invested I am in the perception of Nightmare Before Christmas as a Christmas film. Despite not being particularly fond of it, I believe it is vital for individuals to appreciate movies for their underlying themes rather than just their visual appeal. This film delves into the essence of Christmas, making it an undeniable Christmas movie," another enthusiast concluded.

In 2015, director Henry Selick and composer Danny Elfman expressed contrasting views, asserting that they firmly believed The Nightmare Before Christmas to be a Halloween movie.

Elfman stated that, in his opinion, the movie is more related to Halloween rather than Christmas, as reported by USA Today. Selick expressed the same sentiment in a public Q&A session, according to Entertainment Weekly. However, seven years later, one fan expressed disagreement with Selick's viewpoint in a tweet.

The Nightmare Before Christmas returns to theaters on October 20. For more of our horror and Halloween movie coverage, check out the below: