Danny Elfman Reveals that the Tim Burton Animated Film is Not a Christmas Movie

While the reviews whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween or a Christmas movie are split, the only person that matters weighs in. Danny Elfman, who scores our favorite Tim Burton films, including Batman, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, confirms The Nightmare Before Christmas is not a Christmas movie, and in fact, a Halloween movie.

“It’s obviously about Christmas, but for me, it’s a Halloween movie,” Elfman told USA Today. “Growing up, Halloween was my favorite night of the year and Christmas was a troublesome time. Into my adult years, it was a time where a bit of a dark cloud would follow me around – probably carrying over from my childhood until I had my own kids – and then I developed a new, brighter view of Christmas.”

The Oscar-nominated composer added: “I also felt very close to Jack Skellington’s plight because I knew what it was like to be the king of my own little world, and to want out of that world and want something else. So I felt very close to the holiday of Halloween, but also very close to Jack and what he was going through.”