Danny Elfman on whether ‘Nightmare’ is a Christmas or Halloween film

On By Littum

Danny Elfman has an opinion on whether Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas or Halloween movie.

Released on October 29, 1993, the stop-motion animated classic takes place in two holiday-themed villages: Halloween Town and Christmas Town. Nightmare is based on an original story by Tim Burton – who also produced the film – while Henry Selick directed it.

Elfman, of course, composed the score and original songs for the film and provides the singing voice for its protagonist Jack Skellington, while Chris Sarandon provides the speaking voice of the beanpole skeleton. Catherine O’Hara voices Sally, while the late Ken Page brought his booming voice to the villainous Oogie Boogie.

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Since Christmas Town and Santa Claus (Edward Ivory) are a big part of the action in the film, a debate has developed over the decades about what kind of holiday movie Nightmare actually is.

Since Elfman is as close to the film as any of the key creatives, I asked him in a recent Zoom conversation about the digital release of his Beetlejuice Beetlejuice original scores for his opinion of whether he thought Nightmare was a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie.

“When you look at the number of Jack Skellington characters that are in my neighborhood right now that are being put up for Halloween decorations, I think there will be a point in another generation where kids think that Jack Skellington is a Halloween character like Santa is to Christmas,” Elfman noted. “They’ll probably think that and say, ‘Oh, they made the movie about that Jack Skellington,’ you know? Not the other way around.”

Elfman believes ‘Nightmare’ works for both holidays, but …

Until Jack Skellington transcends into the mythical Halloween character that Danny Elfman believes he will become in a future generation, the composer said he has already decided what kind of movie he thinks. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is.

“I think of it as a Halloween movie, but it works as a Christmas movie. It’s one of those rare things. It does both. You got Santa and you got Jack Skellington,” Elfman said. “Obviously, my favorite holiday of the year has always been Halloween, and Jack Skellington is a character I feel very close to. So Halloween and Jack Skellington always have a special place in my heart.”

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Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is back in theaters for a special engagement.

Beyond digital release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Score from the original film soundtrack)Elfman is set for his final two American concerts this year.

The concerts, dubbed Danny Elfman: From Boingo to Batman to Big Mess and Beyond!is set for November 2nd at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and November 3rd at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.

The vinyl and CD releases of Elfman’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice score is set for an early 2025 release

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