The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Director:

Henry Selick

Writers:

Tim Burton (story)
Michael McDowell (adaptation)

Release Date:

29 October 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Tim Burton's classic returns in 3-D so real, it's scary.

Plot:

Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.

Plot Keywords:

Mummy | Split Personality | Elf | Pumpkin Head | Witch

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

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)

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)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some scary images.

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/6 | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Spain:7 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10/7 | Germany:6 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Skellington Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Behemoth is based on B-movie actor/Swedish wrestler Tor Johnson.

Goofs:

During Jack's Lament on top of the hill, the light being used as the moon can be seen.

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.

Movie Connections:

References Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Soundtrack:

HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS

Visual feast

Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is one of the nice animated movies not from Disney. It is about Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, who lives in Halloweentown. One day he goes through a door in a tree and arrives in Christmastown and sees how happy and beautiful it is over there. When he is back in Halloweentown he shows his friends what Christmas is like, and he suggests to do Christmas this year instead of Halloween. Things do not go as planned.

Everything is beautifully animated and although the story is not that great it is entertaining the whole way through. I liked all the songs in the movie and there are some good laughs as well. Definitely worth watching.