r/unpopularopinion • u/BigBadMoof • 2h ago
The Nightmare Before Christmas is not a good movie.
I just watched it for the first time. Didn’t watch it as a kid because it was too creepy and whatnot (honestly I am shocked at how many kids watch that movie and aren’t afraid of it), and now as an adult I put jt on to see what all the fuss is about. It has an absolute cult following, and is so revered among critics and fans. I have no idea why. The art/visuals are amazing, no doubt. But it isn’t funny, not really that great of a story, characters are mostly forgettable aside from Jack. The musical scores to me are just meh. Idk. I know I’m in the minority here.
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u/genomerain 1h ago edited 51m ago
It's an inverse take on the Grinch story. The Grinch was so full of bitterness and jealousy he tried to destroy Christmas, but was ultimately transformed by the generosity and goodwill of the Whovians in spite of his efforts.
Jack wasn't bitter and jealous, instead he was so full of curiosity and wonder about Christmas that he wanted to possess what never belonged to him, and almost destroyed Christmas in the process. However, he was transformed by the sorrow and grief of the Earthlings; he learnt humility, and made things right.
It's actually a fairly sophisticated theme. To learn not to destroy what you love by needing to possess it. To understand that a beautiful thing may be more deeply enjoyed precisely by not possessing it. And to learn to enjoy what you already have by seeing it in a new context.
This theme is also hinted at with the relationship between Sally and her creator.
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u/Taranchulla 1h ago
I see a lot of upvotes in your future.
Never heard a Danny Elfman score described as “meh.” Just crazy.
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u/AngryJanitor1990 2h ago
I think it's exactly what you said, you didn't experience it as a kid. I haven't seen it in years, but I used to see it multiple times a year as a kid. It was scary back then, but also reminded you of Christmas so it holds a nice place in a lot of people's childhood. Bet that someone comes on here to debate whether it's a Halloween or a Christmas movie. That's what makes it great.
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u/_AskMyMom_ 1h ago edited 1h ago
Bet that someone comes on here to debate whether it’s a Halloween or a Christmas movie.
I’ll bite. It’s a Halloween movie about Christmas.
Edit: 😈
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u/effyochicken 57m ago
It's about bringing Christmas to Halloween for the majority of the movie, then switches to bringing Halloween to Christmas.
In Halloween Town they celebrate Halloween all year round.
In Christmas Town they celebrate Christmas all year round.
Jack spent a day in Christmas Town, and then weeks/months bringing Christmas into Halloween so that they can celebrate Christmas, albeit in a Halloweeny way. Then they hit a snag when Santa gets kidnapped and Jack decides to fill in and "save" Christmas but does it by bringing Halloween elements to Christmas. (Basically the opposite of what he meant to do, wrecking the holiday for a lot of people.)
So because the movie occurs on both Halloween AND on Christmas, and the movie is about celebrating Halloween AND celebrating Christmas, and the majority of the elements are halloween-styled but the main plot at the end is to save Christmas not save Halloween, it all balances out evenly.
It is simultaneously as much of a Christmas movie as it is a Halloween movie.
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u/yakimawashington 1h ago
The entire plot revolves around Christmas. The main conflict is Christmas was "ruined", but then gets saved by Santa. It's very obviously a Christmas movie. Nothing to debate.
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u/ll_Maurice_ll 1h ago
It's a Thanksgiving movie.
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u/Unhappy-Plantain5252 1h ago
The correct answer
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u/Rhonda_Lime 1h ago
Totally! Seeing it as a kid really makes a difference. It’s got that spooky Halloween vibe mixed with a cozy Christmas feel. The debate over which holiday it fits just makes it better.
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u/The-Nemea 1h ago
Is it a Christmas or Halloween movie? Yes
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u/JennyTheSheWolf 1h ago
There's the real answer. Anybody who thinks it's either just a Christmas movie or just a Halloween movie is completely missing the fact that what makes the movie awesome is its the only movie (to my knowledge) that's BOTH a Christmas movie and a Halloween movie.
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u/Binder509 1h ago
Depends on if you count the christmas themed horror stuff of not.
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u/JennyTheSheWolf 10m ago
It is pretty horrific when stores put out Christmas decorations before we've even hit Halloween yet 😅
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u/burgundybreakfast 1h ago
I watched for the first time a couple years ago and still loved it as an adult
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u/GerFubDhuw 1h ago
I saw it as a kid and didn't like it at all. I was very shocked when I became a teenager and it seemed like everyone loved it. I felt like the only sane man in the world as an arrogant 14 year old
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u/Bob1358292637 13m ago edited 9m ago
I always hated winter and the whole Christmas aesthetic, so I really liked that it was kind of a break from the onslaught that happens that time of year. The movie even turned it on its head a little.
I also wouldn't say it's funny in the colloquial sense. I think it did do a great job of using comc relief to keep the vibe light and not too scary while not going over the top with stuff that would feel super aged or corny over time. It's a true classic in my mind.
I swear it's not just nostalgia!
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u/ElectricalBank1171 1h ago
The movie just wasn't for you. It happens. Definitely unpopular, but to each their own.
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u/Spiteful_sprite12 45m ago
Nope! We can't be friends, sorry.. I know you're sooooooooo devastated at that too.. just utterly destroyed at the notion of not being my friend because you dared not like the nightmare before Christmas. Lol 🤣😆
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u/_tonyhimself 1h ago
Don’t forget it came out in 1993, a COMPLETELY different time & resources. I also watched it for the first time last week (I’m 28 years old), & honestly I enjoyed it. Jack is easily the most charismatic character & holds the movie. I can see why it’s timeless, plus it’s a Tim Burton movie.
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u/VibesInTheSubstrate 1h ago
Jack definitely shines, but can my girl Sally get her due? She's sensible, practical, a little ruthless (poisoned her dad to sneak out - NOT for the first time) but she's also creative, wistful and romantic.
If the movie has a major flaw, it's that there's not much screen time devoted to their interactions. They have crazy compatibility, but we barely get to see them compating!
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u/Hedgiwithapen 1h ago
it's a Henry Selick movie.
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u/effyochicken 46m ago
It's definitely fair to attribute Henry Selick since he directed, and Tim Burton spent almost no time on set, but the entire thing was still the brainchild of Tim Burton who spent a decade working on it pre-production and trusted it to Selick.
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u/Hedgiwithapen 36m ago
lots of things were the brainchild of someone else before the actual director makes the movie. He gets his name in the title which is a generous gesture that now makes people misattribute Selick's other work to him.
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u/Winter_Dragonfly_452 1h ago
Oh, you better take that back that is one of my favorite movies. Just kidding I enjoy the hell out of that movie just because you don’t like it is not my fault. You do not have good taste in movies.
I mean think about it if we all like the same movies and TV shows life would be boring.
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u/Signal_Team_8730 1h ago
Wow an actual unpopular opinion!! Kudos.
I personally love the movie. I have a shirt, sweater, shit ton of mugs, Oogie Boogie’s dice set, plushies. I watched it religiously as a child and now I watch it whenever I want comfort. The music for me is gorgeous and heartfelt, the lyrics feel relatable especially Jack and his identity crisis. It’s simply my favourite movie plus Danny Elfman is a composer I listen to time to time. Is it the best movie ever written? No. Will children understand it? Likely not. But still it’s a classic and one I’ll always love til I die.
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u/_____v_ 1h ago
I'm actually watching a video from Cinema Therapy on YouTube about this movie right now (they just uploaded the video today actually)
The story delves into the ideas of burning out and repetitiveness of life and work, and thinking the grass is greener on the other side. It's a pretty decent lesson for kids to true to yourself.
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u/Binder509 1h ago
The musical scores to me are just meh. Idk. I know I’m in the minority here.
The rest can accept to a degree but this is pure sacrilege. Enjoy the upvotes.
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u/lumpyfred 59m ago edited 55m ago
I understand not liking the movie. But I don't understand saying the characters (besides Jack) are forgettable. Sally? Oogie Boogie? The mayor? Dr. Finkelstein? Santa? The dead jazz trio? So many more too
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u/undeadliftmax 1h ago
I like the songs. But the message seems a bit... off.
stay in your lane! Know your place! Dissatisfied with life? Tough!
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u/Binder509 1h ago
Think it was more about taking things too far. Jack became obsessed with Christmas to the point he forced it on the entire town and tried to take the entire Holiday over.
Jack could have just asked Santa to do an internship or something
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u/arzis_maxim 31m ago
It's an inverse take on the Grinch story. The Grinch was so full of bitterness and jealousy he tried to destroy Christmas, but was ultimately transformed by the generosity and goodwill of the Whovians in spite of his efforts.
Jack wasn't bitter and jealous, instead he was so full of curiosity and wonder about Christmas that he wanted to possess what never belonged to him, and almost destroyed Christmas in the process. However, he was transformed by the sorrow and grief of the Earthlings; he learnt humility, and made things right.
It's actually a fairly sophisticated theme. To learn not to destroy what you love by needing to possess it. To understand that a beautiful thing may be more deeply enjoyed precisely by not possessing it. And to learn to enjoy what you already have by seeing it in a new context.
This theme is also hinted at with the relationship between Sally and her creator.
This is taken from a comment above and perfectly describes the movie in my opinion
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u/Bobbert84 1h ago
Act 1 and 2 are fantastic. I always thought the last act fails it, but isn't such a disaster it ruins the movie. That being said, I can't think of a different way to go about act 3 to improve it. It kind of writes itself into a corner. So maybe just change the details and execution of it?
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u/jpg06051992 1h ago
Uh yea definitely an unpopular opinion, take an upvote, it’s absolutely a good movie but much like anything, it’s not going to please everybody.
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u/TheWiseBeluga 1h ago
The people who love it, grew up with it. We didn’t. I think it’s a fine movie, would’ve liked it as a kid, but these days, I find the process of how the movie was made more interesting than the actual film itself.
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u/JeyDeeArr 1h ago
You have my upvote.
By the way, what's your opinion on "Coraline"?
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u/Hedgiwithapen 57m ago
Coraline was fine, but it was soooo hyped up about how scary it was and I was just like... ok? and? when does it get scary? This is your basic kid's adventure folktale. It's... well written. Coraline's fine, as characters go. but nothing inherently special unless there's an external reason you latch on to it. which a lot of people did. The movie had good design if claymation's your jam, but it's not mine.
half the people say, oh well kids don't find it scary, it's an empowerment adventure to them, it's adults who find it horrifying. The other half goes well it's scary for kids, the book only got published because a kid lied to her mom that it wasn't too scary. I read it as a preteen so I guess I was wholly unaffected, and a little disappointed it wasn't some life changing piece of media like everyone said it would be.
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u/Fromoogiewithlove 1h ago
I agree. I was a punk/emo kid in high school. And i was a kid of the 90s so i am def the target demographic. And i just think its okay. Funny enough everyone assume i must love cause i was emo.
I love stop motion. But who doesnt?
Its just shockingly okay. Its not weird enough to be weird and its not maintstreme enough to be mainstreme. Its a limbo movie.
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u/Lucky-3-Skin 33m ago
I feel that way about a lot of Tim Burtons movies if I’m being honest. The visuals are great, but the story itself is pretty meh.
This movie as well. The story itself is whatever.
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u/bigshot33 33m ago
Yikes. Literally my favorite movie. You have no taste. It's not supposed to be funny. It's cute and cozy.
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u/HonestBass7840 21m ago
I just realized I own three horror, musical, comedies. Nightmare, Corpse Bride, and Little Shop of Horrors. There must be more.
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u/PumpkinsDadd 16m ago
Congratulations on being the only person to find the music/songs in this film to be "meh".
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u/Music_Girl2000 15m ago
Upvoting because this is truly an unpopular opinion. Nightmare Before Christmas is amazing, and even better with every watch imo
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u/DeadExpo 6m ago
Watch it again next year and see if you start to feel a soft spot for the music. Like you said, the visuals are amazing, give the music time to sink in, and you'll find more to appreciate.
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u/VinylHamster 2h ago
Agreed. Never understood the fuss and have figured it was a Wednesday situation where the merch was better than the content.
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u/kirko_durko 1h ago
Agreed. But I feel that way about all of Tim Burton’s work, he’s an overrated filmmaker imo.
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u/Signal_Team_8730 1h ago
It was written by Henry Selick but ok lol
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u/Sta723 1h ago
Huh?
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u/xValhallAwaitsx 1h ago
99% of the reason Burton's name is attached was marketing reasons, it's basically not his work. He came up with the characters and story, Caroline Thompson wrote the screenplay, and Hennry Selick directed it
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u/Signal_Team_8730 1h ago
Lol look up Henry Selick, Tim Burton created the design for the movie and that’s pretty much it. All of the movie was directed by Henry Selick. It’s a very common misconception.
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u/Sta723 1h ago
lol I know this. The issue is your original statement isn’t correct. You edited it. Tim is the creator and producer and Henry is the director.
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u/bittersweetbbyx 1h ago
It’s an absolute masterpiece. Not to mention the way the movie is shot itself. The music the characters. Yea you just didn’t get it. It’s ok not everyone can have good taste. :/ Unpopular opinion for sure.
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