With fall now in full swing, a number of popular fall traditions have returned: pumpkin carving, hay rides, and haunted house tours to name a few. Perhaps the most infamous of these fall traditions is the annual debate over whether Tim Burton’s classic 1993 film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Christmas movie, a Halloween movie, or both. This debate, though ultimately inconsequential, has persisted for years without a general consensus being reached. Many people assert that the film is a Christmas movie, pointing to the plot’s focus on Christmas as well as the abundant holiday imagery.
“I think it’s a Christmas movie because its center theme is Christmas but with Halloween characters,” sophomore Jobanjit Dayal said. “You can have a Christmas movie around [Halloween], but it’s still a Christmas movie.”
However, just as many others disagree, believing it to be a Halloween movie citing the film’s grim aesthetic.
“I believe that ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is a Halloween movie because the setting is Halloween Town for the majority of the movie,” sophomore Melanie Juarez said, “and the environment was more dark and eerie.”
In order to determine what type of film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is, it is important to understand what makes a film a Christmas or Halloween movie. Most films considered to be Christmas classics focus on humor, romance, and other generally positive emotions. They can be set anywhere, but almost always take place during winter. Common imagery in these films is in line with that associated with the holiday itself (snow, candy canes, lights, etc.) Beyond surface level aesthetics, there are also common themes and messages associated with Christmas movies. Overarching themes of Christmas movies include the importance of recognizing the value of community and family, being kind and compassionate, and taking joy in life.
“I think love. Love can be a feeling associated with Christmas movies,” sophomore Jimmie Smith said. “It’s sort of the season of giving.”
With these elements in mind, it’s clear to see that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” does constitute a Christmas movie. The traditional Christmas imagery is prevalent throughout the film, granted with a spooky twist. The film also possesses the aforementioned themes, specifically in Jack Skellington’s story arc. Jack secludes himself from the residents of Halloween Town as he becomes consumed with his mission to usurp Santa Claus and almost pays dearly for it. At the climax of the film, he rights his wrongs, makes amends, and celebrates his newly rediscovered passion for Halloween. This arc hits many of the themes common to Christmas movies, making it clear that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” fits right in with other Christmas movies.
“It shows the value of Christmas and what Christmas is like.” Jimmie said.
In regard to Halloween movies, common aesthetic elements such as ghosts, demons, and other supernatural elements are almost universal in these films. Ancient curses or hauntings are often the focal points of these narratives, though the way these are used varies from story to story. They usually take place during fall, though the plot may demand otherwise.
Complications arise when trying to establish a common theme for Halloween movies. Many classic Halloween movies have a variety of themes that are only tangentially related. “The Corpse Bride” is about revering and remembering the dead as well as the resilience of love. “Hocus Pocus” is about the value of family and the importance of respecting tradition. “Paranorman” is about letting go of the past and accepting people for their differences. These varying themes make defining and categorizing Halloween movies nearly impossible.
“It’s just how scary the movie is most of the time. That’s really it for me.” Jobanjit said.
While “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is categorically a Christmas movie, it can’t be definitively labeled as a Halloween movie due to the ambiguous nature of the holiday. This ambiguity likely comes from the fact that Halloween, having transformed into a secular holiday unlike Christmas, is largely without well-defined rules and traditions beyond the Trick-or-Treating that occurs on the 31st. Each person celebrates the holiday in their own unique way, and as a result, each person has their own personal meaning of Halloween. At the end of the day, whether or not “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie is entirely subjective, but this won’t keep people from arguing the point for many Halloweens and Christmases to come.
