Highlights
- Fans have debated how Tim Burton's characters in The Nightmare Before Christmas died, with interesting and eerie theories on their demise.
- The iconic characters like Sally, Jack Skellington, and Oogie Boogie passed away in unique and dark ways according to fan theories on Reddit.
- Chris Sarandon's portrayal of Jack Skellington and Danny Elfman's singing in the movie have left a lasting impact on viewers, especially young people.
Tim Burton's 1993 movie The Nightmare Before Christmas introduced fans to the wonderfully weird Halloween Town and many iconic characters like Sally (Catherine O'Hara) and Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman). The movie tells the dark yet light-hearted story of Jack in charge of his town's Christmas celebration, which leads to mayhem among the many residents. Fans have several questions about the Tim Burton movie, from what the holidays doors are to how the characters died in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
While other Tim Burton films such as Coraline have gotten praise over the years, there's something special about The Nightmare Before Christmas. Fans have figured out how the main characters might have died.
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Fans of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas have ideas about how the characters died and they have discussed the subject in a few Reddit threads. The consensus is that their deaths are explained by their unique, creepy, and memorable names. While some backstory is explained in The Nightmare Before Christmas graphic novel, fans have made some guesses based on what is shared in the 1993 movie.
How Did Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Characters Die? (According to Reddit)
- Jack Skellington: burned alive
- Dr. Finkelstein: poisoned
- Sally: dismembered because a witch
- Lock, Shock And Barrel: electrocuted
- Oogie Boogie: shot because a mobster
Redditor @jrouisbestgirl_ shared a thought about Sally's death:
"But, Dr Finklestein does say that he made her, so perhaps he attempted to bring her back to life?? Or maybe she WAS made in Halloweentown."
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% |
In another Reddit thread, fans debated how Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas characters died and mentioned a few minor characters. Corpse Kid must have died from having their eyes removed, Corpe Dad could have passed away after being sick, the Undersea Gal likely drowned, and the Man Under the Stairs could have died from a violent fall down the stairs.
Sally and Jack Skellington are not only a charming couple, but also some of the best Tim Burton characters. While ti seems that they died in gruesome and disturbing ways, they are still fairly happy, which is what makes The Nightmare Before Christmas so endearing.
The Best Quotes From Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas has some unforgettable quotes that mix humor with intelligence, like every Tim Burton movie that features creepy characters. In one memorable scene, Jack Skellington sings to Sally about their love story. They sing:
"My dearest friend, if you don't mind... I'd like to join you by your side. Where we can gaze into the stars... And sit together, now and forever. For it is plain, as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be."
Other characters in the popular Tim Burton movie have funny quotes, such as when The Mayor says, "Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here, I can't make decisions by myself!" However, Jack Skellington's songs make up some of the best lines in The Nightmare Before Christmas. The lyrics are poetic, eerie, and silly. When Jack sings, he shares details about his personality, like when he says:
"I'm a master of fright/and a demon of light/and I'll scare you right out of your pants/To a guy in Kentucky/I'm Mister Unlucky/And I'm know thoughout England and France/And since I am dead/I can take off my head."
Jack continues singing:
"to recite Shakespearean quotations/No animal or man/Can SCREAM like I can/With the fury of my ree-cii-ta-tions."
Chris Sarandon appeared in many horror movies, including Child's Play which features the scary doll Chucky and the original Fright Night, and he was the perfect actor to voice Jack Skellington. The combination of Sarandon's acting talent and Danny Elfman's singing made Jack such a unique character. Jack's songs are still meaningful and funny today, which has been mentioned in many of Sarandon's interviews.
In 2016, the actor spoke to Yahoo! Entertainment about the legacy of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. He said:
"Mostly people, particularly young people in their 20s, come up and say how influential the movie was in their lives. A lot of people who’ve gone through difficult times when they were in their teens — and who hasn’t, by the way? — say that somehow, this movie gave them something to hold on to. Particularly kids who are outsiders. A lot of them feel like this movie was kind of the imprimatur of their existence."
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