Highlights
- Tim Burton doesn't want a live-action Nightmare Before Christmas sequel, and many fans agree with him.
- Original creators believe the movie is perfect as is, and a prequel may be a more compelling idea.
- Fans resoundingly reject the idea of a live-action remake, praising the stop-motion animation's unique charm.
Ever since it was released in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas has been a fan favorite thanks to its unique setting, eerie yet charming characters, and fun take on the winter holidays. When the movie celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023, the long-standing debate about whether there will be a live action Nightmare Before Christmas became news once again. Considering the popularity of the original, it's no wonder that this has been such a frequent topic of discussion. The story is so beloved there's even a Nightmare Before Christmas graphic novel.
Tim Burton has made many haunting, whimsical, and compelling movies, from Coraline to Corpse Bride, and fans are always interested in seeing what he will do next. The director explained why he isn't interested in a live action Nightmare Before Christmas movie, and many fans agree with his thoughts on returning to Halloween Town.
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Tim Burton Never Wanted A Nightmare Before Christmas Sequel
A live action Nightmare Before Christmas isn't happening, and Tim Burton said he wasn't interested in making a Nightmare Before Christmas sequel in an October 2023 interview with Empire Magazine. Burton said:
“To me the movie is very important. I’ve done sequels, I’ve done other things, I’ve done reboots, I’ve done all that sh*t, right? I don’t want that to happen to this. It’s nice that people are maybe interested [in another one], but I’m not. I feel like that old guy who owns a little piece of property and won’t sell to the big power-plant that wants to take my land.”
Burton added:
"Get off of my land! You pesky little… You ain’t getting this property! I don’t care what you want to build on it. You come on my property… Where’s my shotgun?”
Since Tim Burton doesn't want a live action Nightmare Before Christmas or any new movie at all, fans can be confident that anything they read to the contrary isn't true. The film is one of the best Tim Burton movies, and since he came up with the story and characters, it makes sense that he wouldn't want to tell another story in the same setting.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Director | Henry Selick |
|---|---|
Writer | Screenplay by Caroline Thompson Story and Characters by Tim Burton |
Cast Members | Catherine O'Hara, Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, William Hickey, Ken Page, Paul Reubens, Glenn Shadix |
Release Date | October 29th, 1993 |
Runtime | 76 minutes |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 95% |
Some others involved in the movie agree with the director's opinion. In 2020, Caroline Thompson, the screenwriter who wrote The Nightmare Before Christmas, told Business Insider that she doesn't think that a live action Nightmare Before Christmas is a good idea. She said it was "greedy and stupid" and explained:
"Do you really think they would do that? That would be so awful."
The Nightmare Before Christmas tells a unique story because it's a family-friendly Halloween movie while also being an unexpectedly dark Christmas movie. As is often the case with sequels, some think that it's a great idea and others want the original film to remain the only one. Henry Sellick, who directed the movie, commented on a Nightmare Before Christmas prequel in a 2023 interview with People. While he didn't mention a live action Nightmare Before Christmas, he said that a prequel about Jack Skellington's journey to the Mayor of Halloweentown could make for a compelling story.
Sellick agrees with Burton, though, and said that the original is "a perfect movie [that] came out of the perfect time, only to grow into something far bigger over the years." Sellick said:
"I think Tim in particular feels like, why mess with that? He certainly doesn't need to make more money from a sequel. He has had so many other successes, and so far nobody's come up with a great idea for a sequel. And I still think that Tim gets to decide. I don't think there's any idea that would convince him."
Do Fans Want A Live Action Nightmare Before Christmas?
Between the fun holiday doors in The Nightmare Before Christmas and the overall beautifully eerie setting, it's no wonder that fans have wondered about a live action Nightmare Before Christmas for so long. But how do people really feel about this idea?
When a fan asked about a live action Nightmare Before Christmas movie in a Reddit thread several years ago, the overwhelming response was that this should never happen. Redditor @sec713 wrote, "That film is perfect, just the way it is." Redditor @_Zeppo_ wrote, "Why? The stop-motion animation is one of the coolest parts of the movie." In another Reddit thread, fans debated the concept, with many agreeing that the visual appearance of the characters is what makes it so special.
While there are many underappreciated Tim Burton movies, this one has thankfully gotten the praise and credit that it deserves, which is why there is so much discussion around a live action Nightmare Before Christmas. It looks like fans can enjoy the well-crafted characters and the flawless setting of Halloween Town in the original 1993 movie and not worry about a sequel or live action remake being a disappointment.
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