In the more than three decades since The Nightmare Before Christmas premiered, fans have been torn on whether it qualifies as a Christmas movie or Halloween movie. The director of the film has finally weighed in, and his response might come as a surprise to fans.
Supporters of the pro-Christmas camp point to the plot of the movie, which involves the protagonist Jack Skellington, the king of "Halloween Town," scheming to take over the festive holiday by kidnapping Santa Claus. However, the film did premiere just days before Halloween on Oct. 29, 1993.
Speaking with the , however, director Henry Selick says that the film is unequivocally a Christmas movie.
“Tim’s idea to combine Halloween with Christmas—where, unlike the miserable Grinch, a well-intentioned Jack Skellington takes over the Christmas holiday—is pure genius," Selick said. "Thirty years after I directed the film, beneath its candy corn coating, skeletons and vampires, corpse child and witches, I know Nightmare at its heart is a Christmas movie."
Selick pointed to the underlying fact that at the beginning of the movie, Jack is "sick and tired" of Halloween, which is why he becomes obsessed with "Christmas Town" when he stumbles upon it. As such, he sets his plan in motion to abduct Santa and enlists the residents of Halloween Town to recreate the holiday.
“It’s Christmas, Christmas, Christmas throughout his misadventures terrifying the world’s children with scary presents and being shot down, becoming extra Christmas-ey when he rescues Santa in time to make things right, replacing scary gifts with puppies and candy canes, finally bringing snow and Christmas to Halloween Town," the 71-year-old continued.
However, Selick noted that if there's one concrete piece of evidence that Nightmare is a Christmas movie is that the cultural impact has become so great that stores are now even pushing decorations before Halloween. "It used to be people would complain when Christmas decorations, carols, and advertising began before Thanksgiving," he added.
So, there we have it, evidently. That said, for anyone who plans to stream the holiday classic for Halloween this week, we have a feeling no one will judge you.
