The Nightmare Before Christmas

A Halloween classic beloved by children of all ages, The Nightmare Before Christmas finds Burton returning to his roots in stop-motion animation. Though directed by Henry Selick, the film bears the indelible stamp of Burton’s style. Taking inspiration from Rankin-Bass TV specials, from yuletide staples like Rudolph to the proto-Burton romp Mad Monster Party?, Nightmare Before Christmas was developed by Burton over a decade. With his wide, hollow eyes, pin-stripe suit, bat bowtie and stitched-up mouth, Jack Skellington is among Burton’s most iconic creations. When Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween, naively decides he wants to take a stab at playing Santa Claus, mayhem ensues. A tour-de-force for longtime Burton composer Danny Elfman, who provides Skellington’s singing voice, Nightmare Before Christmas is not just a staggering technical achievement but also a soulful fairy tale. “Inventive, witty, brilliantly designed, fantastically labor intensive, and detailed well past the point of obsession. One would have to go back to Disney’s Pinocchio to find a Hollywood animated feature with an imaginary world so fully projected and densely populated.”—J. Hoberman, The Village Voice.
Bing Theater | $10 general admission. $7 museum members, seniors (62+), students with valid ID. | Tickets: 323 857-6010 or purchase online.