The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a much-loved holiday movie for years – but the question of just which holiday, Halloween or Christmas, it is actually intended to celebrate has plagued fans ever since its release.
Even after its director, Henry Selick, recently attempted to settle the debate once and for all by offering his thoughts on its origins, the argument has raged on – and if anything, has only intensified since the 64-year-old offered his answer to the long-debated question about the movie – which sees a Halloween-themed character attempt to take over Christmas.
Speaking at a Q&A at the Telluride Horror Show in Colrado this month, Selick insisted that, despite certain festive themes in the 1993 cult hit, it is most certainly ‘a Halloween movie’.
Halloween or Christmas movie? Twitter erupted in debate after it was revealed that The Nightmare Before Christmas was a Halloween movie
Fuel to the fire: One Twitter user used the movie’s release date as reasoning behind why it’s a Halloween movie
No debate: Another didn’t see a reason for the uproar and said it was ‘the best Halloween movie’
It’s a Christmas movie: But not everyone agreed and used the title as a basis for it being a Christmas movie
During the Q&A a little girl asked the director whether the animated film was a Christmas or Halloween movie, according to Hypable, to which he said ‘Oh boy. It’s a Halloween movie.’
Henry then went on to explain that while Christmas plays a factor in the story, at the end of the day, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a story about Halloween, the citizens of Halloween Town and their reactions to the Christmas holiday.
One would think that fans who have been torn over whether the movie could be classified as a Christmas or Halloween film would be screaming from the rooftop but since the truth came out, there has still been a lot of debate on the matter.
One fan implied that it was a Halloween movie simply by pointing out its release date which was in October 1993 while another agreed and said it was ‘the best Halloween movie. Don’t debate me on this’.
Another also didn’t see the need for a debate but this time, in support of the film being a Christmas movie. The tweet said: ‘I’m drawing a line in the sand. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas movie and there is no debate.’
But some people weren’t convinced by the movie’s release or title and took it upon themselves to declare it as neither a Christmas or Halloween movie.
It’s neither: One tweet said that it wasn’t a Christmas or Halloween movie because the movie took place in November
It’s a Thanksgiving movie: One tweet used family experiences as a reason for why it’s a Thanksgiving film
Watch it during both seasons: A Twitter user shared his support for watching the movie for Halloween and Christmas
Two-season movie: And another tweet said it didn’t need to be classified as either a Halloween or Christmas film
One tweet said the film neither belonged to the Halloween or Christmas genre by insisting that the movie takes place November which is after October and before December.
She said: ‘November is after October and before December therefore the nightmare before Christmas is neither a Christmas nor a Halloween film.’
Some agreed and went on to say that the film could then be categorized as a Thanksgiving film although this reasoning was more from personal experience rather than hard evidence.
The tweet said: ‘Hot take: It’s a Thanksgiving movie (it was the one vaguely kid-appropriate movie at my grandparents’ apartment, so it became tradition.’
Both elements: The film has both Halloween and Christmas components to it
Watch it whenever: Despite the debate, the classic film doesn’t need a specific season to be watched
While the Thanksgiving movie idea is relatively new, fans can at least agree that the movie will always be revered as a classic and watched throughout the holiday season.
One tweet said: Nightmare Before Christmas…Halloween movie or Christmas [sic] movie? Whatever, I’ll watch it during both seasons.’
And another Twitter user took the the platform so share her stance on the controversial debate in a post that said: Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas or Halloween movie? It’s both. Things don’t have to be one thing it’s 2017 we’re all gay now.’
Regardless of opinions, movie lovers can agree that The Nightmare Before Christmas doesn’t have to only be watched during a certain time of year and if fans were smart, they’d use the fact that it has both Christmas and Halloween elements as an excuse to watch it wherever, whenever.