A hauntingly beautiful stop-motion symphony where the macabre waltzes with the merry, exploring one's purpose in a visually stunning, gothic fairytale.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

"What's this? What's this?"

09 October 1993 United States of America 76 min ⭐ 7.8 (9,995)

Director: Henry Selick

Cast: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix

Animation Family Fantasy

Identity and Self-Discovery Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation The Search for Meaning and Fulfillment Love and Understanding

Budget: $18,000,000

Box Office: $75,634,409

The Nightmare Before Christmas - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Hidden Mickey and Donald

In a nod to its Disney origins, Mickey Mouse's face can be seen on the pajamas of one of the children who receives a scary present from Jack. Another child appears to be wearing Donald Duck pajamas.

Beetlejuice Cameo

A character that strongly resembles the shrunken-head hunter from the end of Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988) can be seen inside an upright bass played by one of the Halloween Town musicians.

Danny Elfman's Cameo

The singing voice for Jack Skellington, composer Danny Elfman, has a small visual cameo. A tiny head inside the upright bass of one of the street musicians is said to be a caricature of him.

Ed Wood Reference

The bat-like bowtie Jack wears is a reference to the famous poster for Ed Wood's cult classic film "Plan 9 from Outer Space." Tim Burton would go on to direct the biopic "Ed Wood" a year after "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was released.

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