Holiday movies are necessary to achieve the perfect holiday vibe. However, to the detriment of most of these films, there isn’t a lot of room for differentiation between them. 

One beloved classic may have set the blueprint for how filmmakers should go about the creation of festive films. Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, has its spooky and mischievous plot clash perfectly with the Christmas spirit.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) captivated the public with Burton’s unique style of directing, as well as the unforgettable (and a little traumatizing) claymation that many adore. Now, what makes the film one of the all time best holiday movies? Besides the charming animation and witty dialogue, The Nightmare Before Christmas offered a fresh, new look at what directors could do with Christmas movies: make them Halloween films.

The public fell in love with the well meaning Jack Skellington’s ploy to bring the holiday of Christmas to the frightful “Halloweentown” in which he lives. Of course, his plot goes awry, and playful family friendly mischief ensues, as Skellington must save Santa (whom he funnily enough kidnapped initially) from the evil Oogie Boogie. 

All ends well, as the film ends with Santa bringing snow to Halloweentown, bringing to it a healthy dose of Christmas spirit.

So, what exactly captivated audiences when The Nightmare Before Christmas came out, and what could filmmakers do to replicate the timeless charm of the movie?

Starting with the overall atmosphere of The Nightmare Before Christmas, the film’s timeless animation did wonders for its overall charm and appeal. Of course, this does not mean that all future Christmas movies have to be animated. However, what film makers could do– to contribute to the feel of the movie that is –is to lose the overdone and chronically modern plot points that consistently plague these kinds of movies.

Now, do all coming Christmas films need to follow in the exact footsteps of The Nightmare Before Christmas? No, they do not. However, could the inspiration of playful misconduct, and just a little bit of violence do wonders for upcoming Christmas films? That just might be the case.