The Real Meaning Of The Nightmare Before Christmas' Story & Characters

Cover image by Yailin Chacon. | Tim Burton and Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a timeless, genre-bending classic, yet the message behind the movie and the character arcs require some deliberation. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, is in a creative slump when he sets out to steal Christmas and execute the holiday himself rather than Santa Claus. In the end, Jack sees the error of his ways, returns Christmas to Santa, and goes on being the Pumpkin King. Along the way, he realizes his love for downtrodden Halloween Town resident Sally, who has always loved him in return.

The plot is moderately roundabout, but filled with fascinating character and production design, as well as the masterful musical work of Danny Elfman in one of his first movies. The best lyrics and quotes from The Nightmare Before Christmas are deeply impactful, even if viewers don't completely understand why. It is a goofy adventure and thrilling mix of two drastically opposing aesthetics which wasn't appreciated by Disney when Burton first came up with the idea, perhaps in part because the meaning of Jack and Sally's story is subtle, coming together through many minor plot elements.