Is ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ a Halloween movie? The director chooses a side

It’s 1 of nan biggest debates successful movie history.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is seemingly, arsenic its title suggests, a Christmas movie.

But there’s galore elements of Halloween folded into nan animated philharmonic film, arsenic well.

And frankincense that sparks said debate: is “The Nightmare Before Christmas” a Christmas aliases a Halloween movie?

The 1993 movie follows Jack Skellington, nan lonely Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who wants much cheer successful his life. So, aft he accidentally discovers Christmas Town, Jack schemes to return complete nan December 25 vacation by kidnapping Santa — but things don’t spell according to plan.

Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page, Paul Reubens, Glenn Shadix and Ed Ivory sound nan characters conceived by Tim Burton, who besides co-produced nan movie.

Some fans judge nan presences of Jack and nan different spooky characters, nan Halloween-centric town, and nan Halloween songs make “The Nightmare Before Christmas” a Halloween movie first.

Not to mention, nan movie came retired connected October 29.

However, those connected “Team Christmas” reason that nan tone of nan reddish and greenish vacation is felt passim nan film. Plus, nan climax of nan action occurs connected Christmas Eve, which is different constituent for that broadside of nan debate.

Director Henry Selick exclusively said to The Post and chose a broadside betwixt Team Halloween and Team Christmas.

“Tim’s thought to harvester Halloween pinch Christmas — where, dissimilar nan miserable Grinch, a well-intentioned Jack Skellington takes complete nan Christmas vacation — is axenic genius. 30 years aft I directed nan film, beneath its candy maize coating, skeletons and vampires, corpse kid and witches, I cognize ‘Nightmare’ astatine its bosom is simply a Christmas movie,” he said.

“The facts: Halloween is complete erstwhile nan movie begins, Jack sick and tired of his holiday,” nan 71-year-old head continued. “He soon discovers Christmas Town and nan film’s attraction shifts to nan Pumpkin King’s full obsession pinch this caller holiday. What does it mean? How does it work? He decides to return complete nan holiday, kidnapping Sandy Claws, enlisting Halloweeners to make Christmas presents, Dr. Finklestein to make flying Skeleton Reindeer, and Sally to make his Sandy Claws outfit.”

“It’s Christmas, Christmas, Christmas passim his misadventures terrifying nan world’s children pinch scary presents and being changeable down, becoming other Christmas-ey erstwhile he rescues Santa successful clip to make things right, replacing scary gifts pinch puppies and candy canes, yet bringing snowfall and Christmas to Halloween Town,” Selick added.

“And finally, for self-centered Jack, appreciation for Sally, an unintended consequence (and last impervious that Nightmare is simply a Christmas movie),” Selick went on. “It utilized to beryllium group would kick erstwhile Christmas decorations, carols, and advertizing began earlier Thanksgiving. ‘Nightmare’s’ taste effect is now truthful big, they commencement trading Christmas BEFORE Halloween.”

The head has spoken — “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is, successful his opinion, a Christmas movie.

Interestingly, Selick chose nan different broadside 9 years ago.

“It’s a Halloween movie,” he said successful 2015 during a Q&A astatine Colorado’s Telluride Horror Show movie festival, per EW.

Composer Danny Elfman besides declared he was Team Halloween successful a 2019 question and reply with USA Today. “It’s evidently astir Christmas, but for me, it’s a Halloween movie,” he said.

So, it seems that this statement whitethorn ne'er beryllium squashed.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is streaming connected Disney+.