Is this Tim Burton Movie Suitable for Children?

On the surface, this film seems creepy, but it has catchy music, and children seem to either love the look of it or hate it. However, in this The Nightmare Before Christmas Christian Movie Review, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

As Christians, we are called to be set apart from the world and a light for others. I personally believe that horror movies have no place in a Christian home, as they invite darkness into your life. But is The Nightmare Before Christmas a horror movie, or is it a light-hearted film that has “fun” elements? I explore these questions and more below. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas Christian Movie Review

Studio Synopsis:

Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Pumpkin King of Halloweentown Jack Skellington longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa Claus in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere. 

My Synopsis:

Jack Skellington is the pumpkin king in Halloween Town, but he grows weary of the same thing year after year. He has one day, October 31, when he shines, but he longs for more.

While wandering in the forest, he stumbles upon the doors for all the “holidays” and falls into ChristmasTown. While there, he falls in love with their traditions and wants to bring them back to share with his friends. However, when he returns to Halloweentown and explains what he saw, including “Sandy Claws,” they don’t fall in love as Jack did.

So Jack studies Christmas and works to get the residents to embrace Christmas. In their zeal, they kidnap Santa Claus and prepare for Jack to be Santa and take over Christmas. Only Sally (a Frankenstein monster created by Dr. Finkelstein), who happens to be in love with Jack, worries about the worst happening.

Christian Review of The Nightmare Before Christmas – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

While there is no foul language, there is plenty of “creepy” language.

For example, in the opening song, “This is Halloween,” they sing, “I am the one hiding under your bed, teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red.”

In a later song, some of Jack Skellington’s little “henchmen” call each other dumb and sing about chopping up Santa Claus and other ways of getting rid of Santa.

Jack also sings a song that includes heck and “by god.”

Violence:

The opening number is in a “spooky” graveyard with ghosts flying around.

There are witches on brooms, Draculas, skeletons hanging from a tree, a shadow on the moon, a guillotine, a haunted mansion, creepy figures, a monster under the bed with glowing red eyes, and a flaming skeleton scarecrow in the opening scene.

When the Mayor gives out awards, the vampires get the award for “The Most Blood Drawn” in a single evening.

Jack also sings that since he is dead, he can take off his head, and he does take off his skeleton head.

Frequently, Sally, who is a rag doll, undoes her stitches. In fact, several limbs fall off, and they have to be sewn back on.

When the citizens of Halloween Town make Christmas toys, they are scary and odd, such as smashed cars, a guillotine that cuts off dolls’ heads, a shrunken head, and a duck with creepy teeth. When some of these toys are delivered, children scream and cry.

They kidnap the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Santa is tied up in a dungeon. 

Jack’s sleigh is a coffin, and his reindeer are skeletons. 

Jack is shot at, and his sleigh is shot out of the sky and crashes into a cemetery.

Oogie Boogie (The Boogie Man) is scary, and at one point, his clothes fall off, and he is full of bugs and creepy crawlers.

Dr. Finkelstein (the mad doctor) opens his head, revealing his brain. In fact, he separates his brain in two to make a “clone.”

Spiritual Content:

Jack is the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, and he says, “Everyone bows to the pumpkin king,” and “I’m a master of fright and a demon of light.”

There are plenty of ghosts, including a ghost dog that emerges from the ground in the cemetery. 

Sally has a “vision” of Christmas going terribly wrong. She tells Jack, and he ignores her feelings. She says she hopes her premonition is wrong.

Additionally, the movie is filled with all of Halloween’s ghoulish and demonic symbols, including witches, ghosts, and ghouls.

Other Content:

Sally puts deadly nightshade into Dr. Finkelstein’s (mad scientist) tea to escape from his laboratory. He acts creepy toward her. Later, he makes another female to replace Sally.

Sally uses her detached leg to lure Oogie Boogie, and he caresses it in a disturbing manner.

Jack and Sally kiss at the end of the film.

In Christmas Town, what they are celebrating has nothing to do with the Christmas that Christians celebrate.

Positive Content:

Sally tries to be helpful in almost every situation. She is kind and good-hearted. 

Jack is drawn to Christmastown partly because it is a good thing they are celebrating. It is filled with hope and joy.

Finally, when Jack returns to Halloween Town, he learns that what he was searching for is right in his own town. 

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Horror Film?

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween Film. In fact, it was released in theaters in October 1993, and this year (2023) it is being re-released in October 2023 for a limited run.

What is a horror movie? A horror movie is defined as having disturbing and dark subject matter, seeking to elicit responses of fear, terror, disgust, shock, and horror from viewers. While this film is dark, I don’t believe it tries to elicit a fear response. So, no, The Nightmare Before Christmas is not a true horror film.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is more aligned with a dark fantasy film. However, it does border on the macabre which is defined as ghastly, grisly, gruesome, and usually involves ghouls, ghosts, and death.

Christian Review of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas – My Viewing Recommendations

I have watched this stop motion animated film a handful of times. Before I ever watched it, I made a judgment call based on trailers. The first time I watched it, I didn’t hate it. In fact, I thought it explained some things about human behavior. However, as I watched, my spirit was very unsettled this time. 

I do believe as the world becomes darker, the discernment of what we watch as entertainment needs to become more enhanced. We need to guard our children’s hearts and minds so they can recognize Jesus Christ.

I know Christian children who have watched this film and hate it, and I know Christian children who love it. Will your child love it or hate it? Personally, I would err on the side of caution and not show it to children. 

I have gone back and forth about the content of this movie. When watching the movie as an adult, I see the cinematic content, and the storyline is more than meets the eye. However, I cannot get past the lines such as, “I am a master of fright and a demon of light.” 

From a Christian perspective, there are plenty of reasons to reject everything to do with Halloween, and there are very few reasons to participate in Halloween. Until recently, I have not fully rejected Halloween, but have “redeemed” it with fun costumes and the lighter aspects of Halloween, such as carving pumpkins.

In reality, as the world gets darker and darker, distancing ourselves from a holiday with pagan roots makes sense. But whatever your family decides about the “celebration of Halloween,” make sure you are seeking God’s will for your lives. 

Have you seen the film? What do you think about it? Please leave me a comment below.

About the Movie The Nightmare Before Christmas:

Rating: PG for some scary images

Release Date: October 29, 1993

Home release date: September 20, 1994

Released in theaters for a limited run: October 20, 2023

Runtime: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Genre: Musical/Fantasy

Studio: Touchstone Pictures, Skellington Productions

Director: Henry Selick

Screenplay by: Caroline Thompson

Producer: Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi

Editor: Stan Webb

Music by: Danny Elfman

Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The Cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington (speaking) voiced by Chris Sarandon

Jack Skellington (singing) voiced by Danny Elfman

Sally voiced by Catherine O’Hara

Dr. Finkelstein (Evil Scientist) voiced by William Hickey

Mayor of Halloweentown voiced by Glenn Shadix

Lock voiced by Paul Reubens

Shock voiced by Catherine O’Hara

Barrel voiced by Danny Elfman

Ooogie Boogie voiced by Ken Page

Santa voiced by Edward Ivory

Big Witch voiced by Susan McBride

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I watch The Nightmare Before Christmas?

This film can be streamed on Disney+. Additionally, it can be found on VOD (video-on-demand) platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and others to rent or purchase.

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas streaming on Disney+?

Yes, The Nightmare Before Christmas is streaming on Disney+.

How much did it cost to produce The Nightmare Before Christmas?

The production cost for The Nightmare Before Christmas was $24 million.

What other films has Tim Burton directed or produced?

Director Tim Burton is also responsible for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), Mars Attacks (1996), Sleepy Hollow (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001), Big Fish (2003), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), The Corpse Bride (September 2005), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Frankenweenie (2012), Dumbo (2019).  Additionally, he also directed and produced various short films, including Frankenweenie (1984).

What are Tim Burton’s religious views?

Tim Burton is quoted as saying, “I remember being forced to go to Sunday school for a number of years, even though my parents were not religious. No one was really religious; it was just the framework. There was no passion for it. No passion for anything. Just a quiet, kind of floaty, kind of semi-oppressive, blank palette that you’re living in.” (Rolling Stone Interview)

Obviously, Tim Burton is not a Christian, and it certainly can be observed in the movies he produces. There is a dark humor and sinister element in most of his films.

Why did Disney not originally promote this film under the Disney brand?

In 1993, Disney felt that The Nightmare Before Christmas did not align with the Disney brand. Obviously, they have changed their stance on this because it is now marketed as “Disney.”

What is the meaning of The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Jack Skellington represents the search for meaning. While the King of Halloween, he grows tired of doing the same thing repeatedly. He looks for something more and finds that what he is searching for is in his town. 

Was The Nightmare Before Christmas made by Disney?

It was produced by Touchstone Films. It was originally slated to be a Disney production, but Disney felt that it did not align with the Disney brand, so it was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures.

Will there be a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas?

While there have been talks on and off through the years, there is not currently a sequel planned. However, currently (2023), there is talks of a prequel to this film that would be about the origin of Jack Skellington.

Where was The Nightmare Before Christmas filmed?

Production began in July 1991 in San Francisco, California.

What breed of dog is Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas?

Zero is a ghost dog with a Jack O’Lantern nose. His nose has always been a pumpkin. However, in some art, his nose appears red instead of orange.

However, as far as knowing what type of dog Zero is, that is up in the air. Zero is a dog, according to Disney Wiki. Many people believe he is a dachshund. 

There is a popular theory on Reddit that Zero, Sparky from The Corpse Bride, and Scraps from Frankenweenie are all the same dog.

What Holiday Worlds are represented in the film?

The following holiday towns are represented: There is a heart for Valentine’s Day. Additionally, there is a clover for St. Patrick’s Day, an egg for Easter, a firework for Independence Day, a Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween, a turkey for Thanksgiving, and a Christmas tree door for Christmas.

What is the Rotten Tomatoes score for The Nightmare Before Christmas?

This film has a great Rotten Tomatoes score. The critic score is 95% and the 

What are better Halloween films to watch for Christians?

Some of my favorite Halloween movies include Spookly, The Square Pumpkin, and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

I cannot recommend many films that some Christians will watch such as Disney Haunted Mansion which features a Ouja board and several seances.

Which Christmas Films can I watch that are family-friendly?

While I have some posts with great family friendly films, I can also recommend How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

What are some fall activities that my family can participate in?

Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard. Additionally, you can make pies (apple, pumpkin, and other fall flavors such as sweet potato), applesauce, spiced apple cider. Roast hot dogs and marshmallows on a outdoor fire. Make apple and pumpkin crafts.