Chris Sarandonas Jack SkellingtonThe story
About The Nightmare Before Christmas
The bored ruler of a town that lives for Halloween wanders through a doorway into a snowy land of Christmas and falls for it completely. He talks his ghoulish neighbours into staging the holiday themselves, with him standing in for Father Christmas, and the presents they make are more fright than delight. A stitched-together rag doll who cares for him sees the trouble coming long before he does.
The CineClaus verdict
Half a Halloween film wearing a Santa suit, and better for the tension.
Henry Selick's stop-motion looks handmade down to the fingerprints, and Danny Elfman's songs carry the story so firmly that it barely needs dialogue. Its heart sits with belonging more than with the season, so the Christmas warmth arrives late and a touch spiky.
That will suit a household with a goth streak or kids who prefer their festive viewing a little strange. One for the family that argues about when the tree goes up.
The family desk
Can the kids watch?
Our take: fine for most children from about seven, since the ghoulish creatures and a few mildly scary scenes are softened by the songs and a happy ending, though very young or easily spooked viewers may want a grown-up close by.
BBFC advice: Mild scary scenes.
Content advice & accessibility
- Where the advice comes from
- The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
- Our age guidance
- Editorial, separate from the official PG certificate, and never looser than it.
- Subtitles
- Check your chosen service and edition for supported tracks.
