New This Week
Critics & Publications
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

Upcoming Release Calendar
Awards & Bests By Year
All-Time High Scores
All-Time Low Scores
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Film In Our Forums

Nightmare Before Christmas, The
Touchstone Pictures

9.3 based on 16 reviews Read critic reviews How did we calculate this? based on 109 votes Read user comments Rate this movie

FILM:

• Batman
• Beetlejuice
• Big Fish
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Ed Wood
• Edward Scissorhands
• Mars Attacks!
• Planet of the Apes
• Sleepy Hollow
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

• Internet Movie Database
• Official Studio Site

MPAA RATING: PG

Starring Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, and Ed Ivory

Halloweentown's celebrated Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, and a colorful cast of assorted ghosts, ghouls, and goblins, are back to scare up plenty of tricks and treats as holidays collide with chaotic and comical consequences in this stop-motion animated musical-fantasy. (Touchstone Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Musical
WRITTEN BY:	Tim Burton (poem) Michael McDowell (adaptation) Caroline Thompson
DIRECTED BY:	Henry Selick
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 3, 2000  Video: October 3, 2000  Theatrical: October 29, 1993
RUNNING TIME:	76 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Variety Todd McCarthy

The dazzling techniques employed here create a striking look that's never been seen in such sustained form, making this a unique curio that will appeal to kids and film enthusiasts alike.

90

The New York Times Janet Maslin

This delectably ghoulish fairy tale, conceived by Mr. Burton as a full-length film made in stop-motion animation (think of the California Raisins on a dark and stormy night), has a clever visual format that keeps it streamlined and sharp.

88

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason Anderson

Still the most ingenious effort to combine two holiday movies into one, this much-loved animated film gets a high-tech spit-and-polish job in time for Halloween.

88

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

A treat at any time of the year.

88

ReelViews James Berardinelli

A visual splendor. Done on the cheap, this could have been a gimmicky, unsatisfying experience, but, as the result of considerable time and effort, it is an unqualified success.

88

New York Post Lou Lumenick

The painstakingly detailed scenes practically cry out for a big screen.

88

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Here, producer-designer-writer Burton has spectacular resources at his disposal, and his crew responds with staggeringly elaborate results.

88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A feast for the eyes and the imagination.

83

Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown

Flattened for years on cable and video, Nightmare has been resurrected in all its tactile glory.

80

LA Weekly F. X. Feeney

Viewing this big-screen re-release of the 1993 feature is by far superior to experiencing the film on video, which can't hold a candle to the way Burton, Selick and Elfman have crowded the big screen with weird little delights.

70

TV Guide Frank Lovece

A one-of-a-kind delight, a labor of love that is enchanting from start to finish.

70

Film.com John Hartl

Boasts some of the wittiest, most vigorous stop-motion animation effects in the history of the process.

63

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Visually arresting.

60

TNT RoughCut Andy Klein

Amusing and even daring animated feature.

60

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

At worst a macabre Muppet movie, at best an inspired jaunt.

50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The visual effects of this quirky 1993 animation are sometimes stunning, but you may head for the exit if the nonstop pop-music score isn't your cup of witch's brew.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 109 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Paul gave it a10:
Absolutely loved this film. As a trailer-maker, had to make a promo for this film in the 90s, and was knocked out by it from the opening moments: that brilliant segue from the silky voiceover into those heavy jabbing chords that take us into the opening introductory song (I had to play that, loud, man!), and those wonderful figures passing us by as we move in. Great music from Danny Elfman (what a genius he is, too!), stunning visuals and characters: you find yourself falling in love with Sally - so touching! - and the lovelorn stuff is just heart-rending. And Zero, the dog - don't ya just love him? A great film, a huge achievement - and I just can't understand anyone who doesn't agree. What kind of weird, insensitive people can they be? You know who you are! Would we want to know you? In summary - a very fine film. Everyone should see it!

Shay M. gave it a1:
The only people who can appreciate this movie are scenesters, mall goths, and emos. Honestly this movie is ridiculously pathetic and only Tim Burton's clout as a cult director makes this movie appear to seem accepted by the demographic of scene kids who need a fucking life. Overall rating = F

Michael D. gave it a10:
The world was an ordinary place:boring, dull and no fun. However, that all changed on October 23,1993 when Henry Selick (Not Tim Burton he was the producer) directed a amazingly awesome movie entitled:The Nightmare Before Christmas! The film composed by the musical genius Danny Elfeman is to cool to be alive! The film follows the adventure of Jack Skellington(Chris Sandaron) who is bored of his repetitive life style and wants something differant. So one day while walking in the woods with his dog zero he stumbled upon a town called Christmas Town! Jack loves it! He wants it to be celebrated in his hometown! However when the three tricketers :Lock,(Paul Reubens)Shock,(Catherine 'o ' Hera) and Barrel(Danny Elefman) kidnap the Santy Clause he is talking to their master's lair: Oogie Boogie(Ken Page)! He plans to torment,torture and kill Santa clause and put him in his favorite brew:Snake and Spider Stew! the film is a classic and well always be one 2 thumbs up!

Fabio C. gave it a10:
simply my all time favourite animation movie... Tim Burton's imaginary world that comes alive, amazing character design, great music and acting, top notch stop-motion animation this is not a cold and lifeless CGI movie, it's truly something different...

Alex S gave it a9:
A fantastic concept, backed by a fantastic score, with fantastic graphical style. I adore this film so very much, the intelligence of design in the characters, and how plain original the story is make this one of the most innovative animated films ever. Luvin it

Brendan L. gave it an8:
It's hard not to love the deliciously weird Tim Burton classic that is A Nightmare Before Christmas. The film is filled to the brim with haunting laments from Danny Elfman and visual beauty that is only enhanced in 3-D. This is a piece that movie goers either hate or love and those who love it usually consider it a favorite. Bless Disney for bringing the hit back to theaters. The film isn't used in 3-D to its fullest potential. There are only several moments where one will clutch the hand rest in fear of being gobbled up by the gruesome creatures singing their hearts out before you. However, this is to be expected for it wasn't originally made for a 3-D experience. Even though this a holiday treat made for children those who are of fretful mind are not to attend. This is more a film for the gothic teens of America to see and get their first smile in months. Jack perfectly portrays what those teens are feeling in s more animated way, of course. But don't worry, those who can stand a few PG rated fears will make it through a wonderful epic. So don't spend your money on a new movie that will go to DVD in a few weeks after a lousy run in theater and see a movie that has been coming back for more after 10 years and allow your eyes, heart, and ears to feel pure delight.

Tim gave it a7:
This used to be such a nice little lovable holiday flick until the stupid emo kids took it over. Fuck Hot Topic and all the trendy kids who weren't even born before this movie came out. It's a good movie but INSANELY overhyped nowadays. I wish I could go back to the days when it was just appreciated for being a good movie. As opposed to now being WHORED to death by the local shopping malls and their wannabe goths. Get a life people. It's a cartoon for fucks sake. Being a fan of a movie doesn't make you dark and mysterious. You're just a flavor of the month that will die into obscurity within the next year or so.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this movie in our forums