The Nightmare Before Christmas (or Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) is a 1993 film about the inhabitants of Halloween Town, who kidnap Santa Claus and take over Christmas one year, and the chaos that follows.

Directed by Henry Selick. Written by Tim Burton, Michael McDowell and Caroline Thompson..
A ghoulish tale with wicked humour & stunning animation.

Jack Skellington

  • (part of "What's This?") There's children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads.
    They're busy building toys, and absolutely no one's dead!
  • (part of "Jack's Obsession") Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!
  • (to the Easter Bunny) I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, sir.
  • I am the Pumpkin King! HA! HA! HA! HA!
  • Well, at least they're excited, but they don't understand
    that special kind of feeling in Christmas Land. Oh, well.
  • Interesting reaction, but what does it mean?!
  • They're trying to hit us! ZERO!!
  • EUREKA! This year, Christmas will be OURS!
  • (to Oogie Boogie) How dare you treat my friends so SHAMEFULLY!

Dr. Finkelstein

  • You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl!
  • Careful, my precious jewel.
  • You can come out now, if you promise to behave. Sally? Sally?! [growls in frustration] GONE AGAIN!
  • Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath!
  • The Deadly Nightshade you slipped me wore off, Sally.
  • Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
  • You will be a decided improvement over that treacherous Sally.

Oogie Boogie

  • WHAT?!? YOU TRYIN' TO MAKE A DUPE OUT OF ME?!?
  • WHAT?! SNAKE EYES?! [grunt, pounds the table to cheat] 11! Looks like I've won the jackpot! Bye bye, Doll face, and Sandman!
  • Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be... DOUBLE DEAD!
  • Well, come on, Bone Man!
  • [after his sack body is ripped open] Now, look what you’ve done! My bugs, my bugs, my bugs...!

Other

  • Narrator: 'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams.
    For the story that you are about to be told took place in the holiday worlds of old.
    Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from.
    If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun.

Dialogue

Saxophone Player: Nice work, bone daddy.
Jack: Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year, the year after that, and the year before that.
Dr. Finkelstein: Ah, what's that? Wormswort! Mmmmm... and frog's breath?
Sally: What's wrong? I thought you liked frog's breath.
Dr. Finkelstein: Nothing's more suspicious than frog's breath! Until you taste it, I won't swallow a spoonful.
Sally: I'm not hungry. [accidentally knocks the spoon out of Finkelstein's hand] Oops.
Mayor: [pulling up to the gate to Jack's house in his car in front of the instrument players who jerk awake] Morning, gents. [the Mayor goes through the gate and up the stairs to Jack's front door, humming "This is Halloween" as he goes. He walks right up to Jack's door and rings his screaming spider doorbell, still humming. There is no response. The mayor still hums placidly, then rings the screaming spider doorbell again before stopping his humming.] Jack, you home? [There is still no response. The mayor's happy face switches to his worried face and he knocks on Jack's door. His worried face switches to his happy face again] Jack, I've got the plans for next Halloween! I need to go over them with you so we can get started. [His face switches from happy to worried again] Jack, please! I'm only an elected official here. I can't make decisions by myself. [He puts a bull horn to his mouth and yells up at Jack's tower] Jack, answer me! [over balances, trips, and rolls down the stairs, landing at the gate.]
Accordion Player: He's not home.
Mayor: Where is he?
Saxophone Player: He hasn't been home all night. [the Mayor groans and faints]
Dr. Finkelstein: The door is open!
Jack: Hello?
Dr. Finkelstein: Jack Skellington! Up here, my boy!
Jack: Doctor! I need to borrow some equipment.
Dr. Finkelstein: Is that so? What ever for?
Jack: I'm conducting a series of experiments.
Dr. Finkelstein: How perfectly marvelous! Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
Jack: I know.
Dr. Finkelstein: Come on into the lab, and we'll get you all fixed up.
Kid: Santa?
Jack: Merry Christmas, and what is your name?!
Kid: I... um...
Jack: That's alright. I have a present for you anyway. There you go, sonny! [slips out up the chimney, cackling as he goes.]
Mother: And what did Santa bring you, Honey? [The kid shows his parents his present: a shrunken head. The parents scream in terror.]
Jack: [flying away] Merry Christmas!
Jack: The job I have for you is top secret, it requires craft, cunning, mischief...
Shock: And we thought you didn't like us, Jack. [she, Lock and Barrel giggle at this]
Jack: Absolutely no one is to know about it, not a soul! Now... [whispers for a time] ...And one more thing... leave that no-account Oogie Boogie OUT OF THIS!
Barrel: Whatever you say, Jack.
Shock: Of course, Jack.
Lock: Wouldn't dream of it, Jack. [The 3 giggle again, and reveal that they have all crossed their fingers]
(After Jack asks to make Santa comfortable)
Barrel: Where're we taking him?
Shock: Where?
Lock: To Oogie Boogie, of course! There isn't anywhere in the whole world more comfortable than that. And Jack said to make him comfortable, didn't he?
Barrel and Shock: Yes, he did.
Santa: [from inside the bag] Haven't you heard of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men?
Lock, Shock and Barrel: NO! [burst out laughing maniacally]
(As Lock, Shock and Barrel try to shove Santa Clause into Oogie Boogie's lair)
Santa:: Don't do this! Naughty children never get any presents!
Shock: I think he might be too big!
Lock: No, he's not. If he can go down a chimney, he can fit... down... here!
Dr. Finkelstein: That's twice this month you've slipped Deadly Nightshade into my tea and run off.
Sally: 3 times.
Dr. Finkelstein: You're mine, you know! I made you with my own hands.
Sally: You can make other creations! I'm restless. I can't help it.
Dr. Finkelstein: It's a phase, my dear, it'll pass. We need to be patient, that's all.
Sally: But I don't want to be patient!
Mayor: We've got to find Jack! There's only 365 days left 'til next Halloween!
Werewolf: 364!
Mayor: Is there anywhere we've forgotten to check?
Clown: I looked in every mausoleum!
Witches: We opened the sarcophagi!
Mr. Hyde: I tromped through the pumpkin patch.
Vampire: I peeked behind the cyclops' eye. I did, but he wasn't there.
Mayor: It's time to sound the alarm!
Sally: [To Oogie Boogie while lashed to the roulette wheel with Santa] You wait 'til Jack hears about this! By the time he's through with you, you'll be lucky if you–
Mayor: [On the speakers while driving his car] The King of Halloween has been blown to smithereens! Skeleton Jack is now a pile of dust! [Sally gasps]
Jack: [Bursting out of a tombstone in the Halloween Town Cemetery] Come on, Zero. Christmas isn't over yet! [Runs through Halloween Town countryside]
Oogie Boogie: [to Sally while leering at her] What's that you were saying about luck, ragdoll?
[Jack arrives at Oogie's lair and sees Sally and Santa tied up]
Santa: [from a distance] You monster! You fiend!
[Jack hears her cries for help and sneaks into Oogie Boogie's lair]
Oogie Boogie: [from a distance] 7! Well, guess what? Looks like it's Oogie's turn to boogie now!
[Sally screams]
Oogie Boogie: [With short jerks of the table lever] 1, 2, 3, 4... [With fast jerks of the lever] 5, 6, 7! [Laughs maniacally]
Santa: This can't be happening!
Oogie Boogie: Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust. [Mockingly] Oh. I'm feeling weak... with hunger! One more roll of the dice... ought to do it. [Laughs and throws the dice into a skull; the dice come out and read Snake Eyes] What, Snake Eyes!?! [Bangs his fist on the table and the dice read 11] 11! [Laughing Menacingy] Looks like I won... the Jackpot (by cheating)! [Waves farewell to Sally and Santa] Bye-Bye, Dollface and Sandman! [laughs, then notices Sally and Santa haven't fallen in] What the...? He turns over the trap, revealing Jack instead] Aah!
Jack: Hello, Oogie!
Oogie Boogie: J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be... [He steps on a button that unleashes his King of Spades cards that swing their swords] DOUBLE DEAD!!
Jack: [shows a nutcracker to Behemoth] This device is called... a nutcracker.
Lock, Shock and Barrel: Jack! Jack! We got him! We got him! [they appear with a full sack]
Jack: Perfect! Open it up, quickly! [they open the sack and the Easter Bunny leaps out] That's not Sandy Claws.
Shock: It isn't?
Barrel: Who is it?
[The Easter Bunny hops around the room and sniffs curiously at Behemoth]
Behemoth: BUNNY! [The Easter Bunny is terrified, and leaps back into the bag he was kidnapped in]
Jack: NOT Sandy Claws! Take him back!
Lock: We followed your instructions.
Barrel: We went through the door.
Jack: Which door?! There's more than one! Sandy Claws is behind the door shaped like THIS! [Holds up a Christmas tree shaped cookie; Barrel and Shock look at Lock who looks awkward for a second before Shock strangles him]
Shock: I told you! [The trio fight in anger; an annoyed Jack roars, and makes a monstrous face, which instantly stops Lock, Shock and Barrel's fight, freezing them on the spot.]
Jack: [To the Easter Bunny who still scared and in the bag] I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, sir. [To Lock, Shock and Barrel] Take him home first, and apologize again! Be careful with Sandy Claws when you fetch him. Treat him nicely!
Lock: Got it!
Shock: We'll get it right...
Lock, Shock and Barrel: ...Next time!
Police Officer: Attention. Attention, citizens. Terrible news. There is still no sign of Santa Claus. Although the imposter has been shut down. It looks like Christmas will have to be cancelled this year. I repeat: The imposter has been shot down, but there is still no sign of the real Santa Claus... [fades off in the distance]
Oogie Boogie: [leaps onto the spinning shredder] So long, Jack! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Jack: [pulls a string that opens Oogie Boogie's arm, releasing his bugs] How dare you treat my friends so SHAMEFULLY! [He rips Oogie Boogie's burlap sack clean off]
Oogie Boogie: NO! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! MY BUGS, MY BUGS...! [his repetitive screams of "My Bugs!" get distorted as the bugs spill into the pot and got incinerated, except for the last one which is trying to escape, but Santa squashes it with his foot]
Sally: [examining Jack in his newly-finished Santa suit] You don't look like yourself, Jack. Not at all.
Jack: Isn't that wonderful? It couldn't be more wonderful!
Sally: [holds up the clipboard sketch of him] But you're the Pumpkin King!
Jack: Not anymore! [breaks it over his knee] I feel SO much better now!
Sally: [pulling a loose thread from his cuff] Jack, I know you think something's missing, but -
[accidentally catches his finger]
Jack: [lightly] Ow.
Sally: Sorry.
Jack: You're right. Something *is* missing. But what? I've got the beard... the coat... the boots... the belt...
Shock, Lock, Barrel: [come in] Jack! Jack! This time we found him!
Barrel: This time we really did!
Jack: This time we really did.
Lock: He sure is big, Jack!
Barrel: And heavy!
Santa: [bursting out the bag] Let me out!
[the Halloween citizens gasp in awe]
Jack: Sandy Claws - in person. What a pleasure to meet you. [prepares to shake but then looks down when their HANDS touch] Wh - ! Why, you have *hands*! You don't have claws at all!
Santa: [dazed] Where am I?
Jack: Surprised, aren't you? I knew you would be. You don't need to have another worry about Christmas this year.
Santa: What?
Jack: Consider this a vacation, Santy. A reward. It's your turn to take it easy.
Santa: B-But there must be some mistake!
Jack: See that he's comfortable... Just a second, fellas! Of *course*! *That's* what I'm missing! [takes Santa's hat]
Santa: B-But...
Jack: Thanks.
Santa: Hang on - you just can't - [has the bag thrown over him again] Hold on! Where are we going now? [the henchmen leave with him]
Jack: Ho, ho, *ho*! No... [monotone] Ho, ho, ho. Ho...
Sally: This is worse than I thought. Much worse. I know! [leaves to get fog juice]
Jack: Forgive me, Mr. Claus. I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday.
Santa: Bumpy sleigh ride, Jack?! The next time you can get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd rather listen to her! [indicating Sally] She's the only one who seems to make any sense in this insane asylum! [grumbling to himself] Skeletons, boogeymen...
Jack: I hope there's still time to save Christmas!
Santa: ...To fix Christmas? Of course there is! I'm Santa Claus!
Clown: It's over!
Behemoth: We did it!
[Clown and Behemoth do the stomach bump]
Wolfman: [to Mr. Hyde and Cyclops] Wasn't it terrifying?
Mr. Hyde and Cyclops: [in unison, as Mr. Hyde strangles Cyclops by the neck with a chain link] What a night!

Cast

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