Why The Nightmare Before Christmas really is a Christmas movie

The Nightmare Before Christmas was released just ahead of Halloween in 1993. Technically, I guess it is a Halloween movie, but Christmas is in the title. When it comes to looking for Christmas movies to watch with the kids, this is one that should make it to the list.

There are plenty of debates over whether the movie is a Halloween or a Christmas one. In my family, the kids have decided that it’s both. For me, it’s a Christmas one.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is set after Halloween

It is a Christmas movie at heart. You just have to look at the time of year that the movie is set.

Halloween is over for another year in the movie. Jack is looking for something else to do. He’s fed up of the same old things in October. He wants to take over another year, and it’s all about taking down Santa to take over the December one. He and his friends have two months to manage it all.

Jack even dresses up as his own version of Santa. He dons the red coat and hat, and he hands out gifts to the kids. Sure, they’re scary gifts and not the type that people are expecting, but he’s going through the stages of Christmas.

Sally finds a way to save Christmas. Her journey is about getting Santa back to Christmastown so that he can get to work on bringing the joy back to the season.

It’s all about the meaning behind the movie

We also just have to look at the meaning behind The Nightmare Before Christmas. While on the surface it looks like it’s a movie about saving or destroying Christmas, there is a much more meaningful story behind it. There is something bigger to take away that you tend to see more in Christmas movies than in Halloween ones.

It’s a story about finding fulfillment. Jack wants something more in life, and that’s when he stumbles upon Christmastown. He is fed up of the same old thing each year, and he wants to mean something to Halloweentown.

In the end, it’s not about taking over another holiday. He realizes that there is meaning in his own holiday. There’s a look at how he does bring meaning to others in his town, as well as how Sally brings meaning to him.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a must-watch this Christmas season. Get it on Disney+.