“The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” is an iconic vacation film, to make certain, however one factor concerning the stop-motion fantasy has by no means been fairly clear: which vacation is it actually about?

Sure, a whole lot of the film takes place in Halloween City and essential character Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King. Some would even argue the title, in itself, settles the controversy (it is ostensibly known as “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas,” not “The Christmas on Halloween,” for a purpose). However there are additionally loads of Christmas parts as soon as Jack travels to Christmas City. Is it a Christmas film that occurs to happen round Halloween, or is it a Halloween film with sturdy Christmas themes?

The talk about which is which has raged on amongst followers ever for the reason that movie’s launch in 1993 (in late October, it ought to be famous), a lot in order that director Henry Selick lastly needed to step into the fray.

Selick, who went on to direct “James and the Large Peach” and “Coraline,” participated in a Q&A on the Telluride Horror Present in Colorado in 2015 the place he was requested by somewhat lady within the viewers to settle the enduring conundrum, as soon as and for all. Are you prepared for his reply?

“Oh boy,” Selick mentioned to the group. “It is a Halloween film.” Ding, ding, ding! #TeamHalloween, let the vindication wash over you.

The director went on to elucidate that though the story of “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” includes fairly a bit about Christmas and that he is persistently informed that folks “love [the movie’s] Santa,” the core of the movie is dedicated to a love of Halloween and all the spooky inhabitants of Halloween City. To not point out, the film by no means does that factor Christmas motion pictures are inclined to do the place the primary character finally learns the “purpose for the season” or the “which means” of Christmas.

Regardless of Selick’s response, the controversy continues to be alive and properly on Twitter, the place loads of folks proceed to hash it out yearly through the vacation season.

Nightmare Earlier than Christmas the most effective Halloween film. Do not debate me on this.

— myles (@mmthegrizzly) October 23, 2017

I am drawing a line within the sand. The nightmare earlier than Christmas is a CHRISTMAS MOVIE and there’s no debate.

— Maxwell Rogers (@BigPackofWolves) October 24, 2017

Sizzling take: it is a thanksgiving film (It was the one vaguely kid-appropriate film at my grandparents’ condominium, so it turned a practice)

— Hindi Ok (@Hindividual) October 20, 2017

Additionally majority of the film takes place in Halloween city. Nearly all of the forged are Halloween characters.

— Justin Huber (@ExGaming) October 22, 2017

However, as one Twitter person identified, there is no rule that claims “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” cannot be a Halloween film and a Christmas film, is there?

The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas is clearly each a Halloween and Christmas film but lots of people insist that it could actually solely be one or the opposite.

— 🐸Daisy🐸 PNGtuber (@FrogDaizy) December 7, 2022