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About this movie

Genres:
Animation, Family
Language:
English
Running time:
1:16:10
Partner rating:
PG
Released:
Quality:
480 (DVD equivalent)

Cast & Crew

Cast

  1. Chris Sarandon Jack Skellington
  2. Catherine O'Hara Shock
  3. William Hickey Dr. Finklestein
  4. Glenn Shadix Mayor
  5. Paul Reubens Lock
  6. Danny Elfman Barrel
  7. Ken Page Oogie Boogie
  8. Ed Ivory
  9. L. Peter Callender
  10. Randy Crenshaw Mr. Hyde/Behemoth/Vampire
  11. Judi M. Durand

Directors

  1. Henry Selick

Producers

  1. Tim Burton
  2. Denise Di Novi
  3. Bill Gavin
  4. Tim Robinson

Writers

  1. Caroline Thompson

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Trailer for The Nightmare Before Christmas

This stop-motion animated fable was a big hit when it was released -- not only at the box office, but critically. It was praised for its stunning originality and for the excellence of its execution. In addition, it was praised for being a completely absorbing fable that both grownups and children can enjoy, so long as the children are able to its handle scary bits (beginning perhaps at age seven or eight). In the story, Jack Skellington (voice... This stop-motion animated fable was a big hit when it was released -- not only at the box office, but critically. It was praised for its stunning originality and for the excellence of its execution. In addition, it was praised for being a completely absorbing fable that both grownups and children can enjoy, so long as the children are able to its handle scary bits (beginning perhaps at age seven or eight). In the story, Jack Skellington (voice of Chris Sarandon) is the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, a realm of reality where the inhabitants make it their life's work to scare humans on Halloween. He's good at his work, and is very popular around town, but it all bores him. In a funk one day, he wanders into a wood where every tree is the doorway to realms serving one or another human holiday, and falls through the doorway into Christmas. There, he sees scenes of such glee and good will that he is overwhelmed. He returns to Halloweentown with the inspiration to persuade his fellow citizens to kidnap Santa and do Christmas in their own Halloweentown way -- complete with snakes and shrunken heads. Despite strong arguments against this project by Jack's otherwise loyal girlfriend, Sally (voice of Catherine O'Hara), Santa (voice of Edward Ivory) is duly captured, and the townspeople prepare a very special Christmas for everyone. Jack is excited about the new plan, and at first doesn't notice that Sally isn't around much anymore. Meanwhile, Oogie Boogie (voice of Ken Page), a sinister opponent of Jack's, has re-kidnapped Santa and has captured Sally as well. Since Sally is the true love of Jack's life and (he eventually realizes) the only one who can be relied upon to tell him the truth in every circumstance, a confrontation with Oogie Boogie becomes inevitable. In addition to being a monumental work of animation (it took over 120 animators and many more technicians more than two years to film it), this show features ten very appropriate musical numbers by composer Danny Elfman, who also supplies Jack's singing voice. In October 2006, fans of the innovative animated classic got to experience The Nightmare Before Christmas in a whole new dimension when the film was re-released into theaters in Disney Digital 3-D -- a process developed to add remarkable new depth to films that were originally released in standard 2-D.

Reviews by Rotten Tomatoes

Scored 'fresh' by Rotten Tomatoes

96%Tomatometer score: 96% positive reviews from professional critics.

percent positive reviews

  1. Positive review
    David Ansen, Newsweek This cautionary fable (Be True to Your Ghoulish Self) may be a little too twisted for little kids but anyone 8 or older will spot the friendly glint behind jack's empty eye sockets. Full review External link
  2. Negative review
    Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly I'm not sure I've ever seen a fantasy film that's at once so visually amazing and so emotionally dead. Full review External link
  3. Positive review
    Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel A work of grand visual wit, clever songs, funny gags and genuine pathos, it is perhaps the greatest stop-motion animated film ever, a painstaking style of model animation that computers have all... Full review External link
  4. Positive review
    Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine A fun house of funereal glamour. Full review External link
  5. Positive review
    Saxon Bullock, Film4 This hugely entertaining horror fable for all the family might suffer from pacing problems, but it's also a true original that still stands out from today's CGI-heavy crowd. Full review External link
  6. Positive review
    Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader The set designs are ingenious and the songs (music and lyrics by Danny Elfman) are fairly good. Full review External link

Read more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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YouTube Movie Extras

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    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: The Process Bonus

    Order here: http://di.sn/7o Now available for the first time ever on Disney Blu-ray 3D Become a fan on Facebook: http://facebook.com/TheNightmareBefore...

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    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: Faces & Heads Bonus

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    by DisneyMovies
  3. ThumbnailPlay video in overlay1:08

    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: The Characters Bonus

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    by DisneyMovies
  4. ThumbnailPlay video in overlay1:52

    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: The Songs Bonus

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    by DisneyMovies
  5. ThumbnailPlay video in overlay1:47

    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: Voices Bonus

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    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: Pumpkin King Clip

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    The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D: Planning Christmas Clip

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