As the spooky season nears an end, it is the perfect time to spend a cozy night diving into the best Halloween films. The nostalgia and fun of Hocus Pocus call from one side of the watchlist as traditional horror like The Shining dares from the other. Among the overwhelming number of choices is a children’s movie that has surprisingly kept a grip on audiences since 1993. 

Directed by Henry Selick and based on a poem by Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas may be made for children, but it has more to offer than many films made for mature audiences. Many people will know Burton from his successful directorial career, featuring classics like Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. Throughout his filmography, Burton has always had a penchant for the dark and quirky, and though he was not available to direct the film, its basis in his writing and his involvement throughout the production is apparent in its unique gothic style. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas follows Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, who lives a successful life as the leader of celebrations in Halloween Town. In spite of his success, year after year of the same holiday leads Jack to long for something new. Jack stumbles upon Christmas town and immediately becomes obsessed with the bright colors and wholesome feelings, so much so that he wishes to orchestrate Christmas himself as he has always done with Halloween. What begins as admiration spirals out of control easily under his misguided leadership and the pressures of a town in love with fear. 

One of the most iconic aspects of this film is the music. As the singing voice of Jack Skellington, Danny Elfman is also the composer and lyricist. The songs vary tonally from soliloquies of dissatisfaction to catchy and comical expressions of holiday glee. What they have in common is a timelessness that keeps audiences watching decades later. The soundtrack has been released, rereleased, and covered by notable names like Pentatonix and Fiona Apple.

Perhaps the most admirable thing about The Nightmare Before Christmas is the animation. Stop motion animation is no small feat, as testified by three years of work leading up to the completion of a children’s movie with a runtime of just over an hour. When I watch a stop motion film, I always find myself in awe, not only with the end result of a truly unique style, but the genuine care channeled into the art. 

In a world where so many movies filled with little detail are pumped out with the sole intention of making money, the most enjoyable movies to watch are not those that pander, but those that feel genuine. Even after 31 years, we could all benefit from the refreshing creativity of The Nightmare Before Christmas this Halloween.