The Definitive Verdict · Tis the Podcast
Is The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) a Christmas Movie?
🎄 Debated — The Elves Don't All Agree
It depends — and that's exactly what makes it interesting.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is genuinely two movies in one: a Halloween movie and a Christmas movie, depending on when you watch it. Jack Skellington's obsession with hijacking Christmas makes it Christmas-adjacent at minimum. Tis the Podcast debated exactly where it belongs — the answer might surprise you.
Why The Nightmare Before Christmas IS a Christmas Movie
- ✓Christmas is central to the entire plot — Jack Skellington becomes obsessed with Christmas and tries to take it over
- ✓The third act is entirely Christmas-set, with Santa Claus as a major character
- ✓Many families watch it specifically as a Christmas film
- ✓It is included in most 'Christmas movie' streaming collections
Why The Nightmare Before Christmas is NOT a Christmas Movie
- ✗The film opens and is rooted in Halloween Town — it is fundamentally a Halloween movie
- ✗The Christmas elements are portrayed as foreign and alien to the main characters
- ✗Jack ultimately fails to 'do' Christmas — the film ends with Halloween Town restored
- ✗Tim Burton has described it primarily as a Halloween film
What Tis the Podcast Thinks
The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the great battlegrounds of the 'is it a Christmas movie?' debate, and Tis the Podcast gave it a full hearing. Anthony, Julia, and Thom each came with strong positions. Listen to the full episode for the verdict and ranking.
🎧 Listen to Episode 12 — The Nightmare Before ChristmasSee the full ranking
Where does The Nightmare Before Christmas rank on the Tis the Podcast Watch List? →Frequently Asked Questions
- Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie?
- It is genuinely both — and that ambiguity is what makes it a perennial debate. The Nightmare Before Christmas features Christmas as a central plot element and Santa Claus as a character, but it originates in and returns to Halloween Town. Tis the Podcast has the full verdict.
- Is The Nightmare Before Christmas on the Tis the Podcast Watch List?
- Yes — The Nightmare Before Christmas is reviewed and ranked on the Tis the Podcast canonical Christmas movie Watch List. Visit tisthepodcast.com/the-watch-list for the full ranking.