I suppose I missed watching it at the proper time so I will explain it as not surviving well after all these years. The idea is daring, the stop motion is OKish and Danny Elfman's OST is quite good but even being only 70 min they were still too many for me. Specially, the songs were to close one to the next.…
7.9/10Fantasy · Animation · Family
The Nightmare Before Christmas
“A holiday film for the whole family... except yours.”
- 1993
- 1h 16m
- PG
- EN
- Released
The story
What The Nightmare Before Christmas is about
Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack's rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a fantasy, animation and family film from 1993, directed by Henry Selick. It runs 1h 16m and is rated PG in the US. It was produced by Touchstone Pictures and Skellington Productions, with production in United States of America.
The main cast is led by Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey. The screenplay was written by Caroline Thompson, Tim Burton. Reported worldwide gross stands at $75.6M.
Why it matters: The Nightmare Before Christmas currently holds 7.9/10 from 10887 TMDB user ratings and has taken $75.6M worldwide against a $18.0M budget. Figures move as more ratings and box-office updates arrive.
Editor’s note
Should you watch The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is best suited to viewers who like invented worlds. At 1h 16m, it fits a single evening without a break. The draw is Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon, directed by Henry Selick.
With 10,887 TMDB ratings averaging 7.9/10, this is one of the most widely seen titles in our library, so the score is a reliable signal.
TMDB tags the film with themes including skeleton, fire, magic and holiday.
The US certification is PG: suitable for most viewers, with some parental guidance for younger children.
If you like this, try Spirited Away, Coraline or Swapped.
Auto-generated from TMDB data (runtime, cast, ratings, keywords, certification). Last updated November 4, 2026.
Availability
Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas
35 official sources across 5 regions. Rows with a direct link open this exact title on the provider’s own site; the others open that provider’s own search for the title, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
Best option now
Watch on Disney+ ↗
Disney Plus
Included with a Disney Plus subscription, no extra charge · United States
United States10 options
Rent
4 sources
Prime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗
Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Google TV & PlayOpen on Google TVOpen ↗
YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗Buy
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Google TV & PlayOpen on Google TVOpen ↗YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗United Kingdom9 options
Stream
1 sourceDisney PlusWatch on Disney+Open ↗Rent
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Rakuten TVWatch on Rakuten TVOpen ↗Sky StoreRent on Sky StoreOpen ↗Buy
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗Rakuten TVWatch on Rakuten TVOpen ↗Sky StoreRent on Sky StoreOpen ↗Canada9 options
Stream
1 sourceDisney PlusWatch on Disney+Open ↗Rent
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗CosmoGoCheck optionsOpen ↗Buy
4 sourcesPrime VideoWatch on Prime VideoOpen ↗Apple TVOpen on Apple TVOpen ↗YouTubeOpen on YouTubeOpen ↗CosmoGoCheck optionsOpen ↗Australia5 options
India2 options
Checked 4 November 2026. Listings from TMDB / JustWatch data and they change daily; the provider page always shows the final price. Compare every option on JustWatch. MovieState links only to licensed services.
Who is in it
The Nightmare Before Christmas cast
Danny ElfmanJack Skellington (singing) / Barrel / Clown with the Tear away Face (voice)
Chris SarandonJack Skellington (voice)
Catherine O'HaraSally / Shock (voice)
William HickeyDr. Finkelstein (voice)
Glenn ShadixMayor (voice)
Paul ReubensLock (voice)
Ken PageOogie Boogie (voice)
Debi DurstCorpse Kid / Corpse Mom / Small Witch (voice)
Greg ProopsHarlequin Demon / Devil / Sax Player (voice)
Kerry KatzMan Under Stairs / Vampire / Corpse Dad (voice)Character names follow the film's credits. Open a name to see that person's other work on MovieState.
Behind the camera
Direction and crew
DirectorHenry Selick
WritersCaroline Thompson, Tim Burton
ProducersDon Hahn, Tim Burton
MusicDanny Elfman
CinematographyPete Kozachik
EditingStan Webb
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
7.9/1010887 ratings
The Nightmare Before Christmas sits at 7.9 out of 10 from 10887 user ratings. For context, the film's worldwide gross is $75.6M.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
This is a cracking animation fantasy centring around "Jack Skellington" - the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. When he feels all just a bit deflated after one celebration, he happens upon Christmas Town and encounters Santa Claus preparing to bring jolity and happiness. "Jack" sends a few of his rather stupid henchmen t…
The facts
The Nightmare Before Christmas key details
| Original title | The Nightmare Before Christmas |
|---|---|
| Status | Released |
| Release date | October 13, 1993 |
| Runtime | 1h 16m |
| Certification | PG in United States, PG in United Kingdom |
| Original language | EN |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Country | United States of America |
| Budget | $18.0M |
| Worldwide gross | $75.6M |
| Studios | Touchstone Pictures, Skellington Productions |
| Also known as | Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, 팀 버튼의 크리스마스 악몽, Noční můra předvánoční |
Release information
Release dates by country
| Country | Date | Cert |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Oct 13, 1993 | PG |
| United Kingdom | Nov 25, 1994 | PG |
| Canada | Oct 29, 1993 | PG |
| Australia | Nov 10, 1994 | G |
| Brazil | Oct 9, 1993 | L |
| Czechia | Dec 30, 1994 | U |
| Denmark | Dec 2, 1994 | 7 |
| Finland | Dec 9, 1994 | K-7 |
| France | Dec 7, 1994 | TP |
| Germany | Dec 6, 1994 | 6 |
Official trailer for The Nightmare Before Christmas, via Animation Compendia. Open on YouTube
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The Nightmare Before Christmas was directed by Henry Selick.
Who is in the cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The main cast includes Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix.
How long is The Nightmare Before Christmas?
The Nightmare Before Christmas runs 1h 16m.
When was The Nightmare Before Christmas released?
It was released in the United States on October 13, 1993. Release dates vary by country — see the table above.
What is The Nightmare Before Christmas rated?
Certification depends on the country: PG in United States, PG in United Kingdom. Always check your local rating before watching with family.
Where can I watch The Nightmare Before Christmas online?
Availability changes by region and by week. The table above lists the streaming, rental and purchase services reported for major markets. Check the provider page for today's price and quality.
Can I watch The Nightmare Before Christmas in HD or 4K?
Most digital stores offer The Nightmare Before Christmas in HD, and newer releases are often available in 4K. Check the quality label on the provider's page before you pay.
How much did The Nightmare Before Christmas earn?
Reported worldwide gross is $75.6M against a budget of $18.0M. Box office figures update over time.
Director filmography
More from Henry Selick
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Data sources: TMDB (titles, cast, crew, release dates, provider listings and user ratings). Availability and box office figures change over time; this page was last rebuilt on November 4, 2026. We publish information only; we do not host or stream video files.
Exact record pages: IMDb record · TMDB record · Official site
At a glance: The Nightmare Before Christmas runs 1h 16m, opened in US cinemas on October 13, 1993, has 35 licensed options across 5 regions tracked here.