Love this film. It's a bit on the scary side for very small kids, so I'd say it's for elementary age and up.
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The Nightmare Before Christmas
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tim Burton magic with just a touch of scariness.
Themes in this movie include: friendship, honesty, materialism
updated 09.21.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 7 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Nightmare Before Christmas
Parents need to know that this offbeat, stop motion-animated movie is one of the great family films for all ages. That said, it does have scary Halloween creatures in it -- characters take off their own heads and limbs, and there are skeletons, nasty toys, and a creepy villain named Oogie Boogie. A Christmas tree even burns up. Some little kids who aren't old enough to distinguish this fantasy from the goings on at Halloween (or those prone to nightmares) might steer clear, although you can always pause the TV and talk about what's scaring them. The special 3D version is identical in content and storyline to the original, but the enhanced visuals may add marginal spookiness and could further blur the line between fantasy and reality for some younger kids.
Read our full review by Liz Perle
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about why we celebrate the holidays we do. What does your favorite holiday mean to you? Has anyone ever tried to ruin one of your holiday experiences, and how did you overcome that? When you get tired of something, what are some creative ways to bring excitement back into it?
- Why did Jack's experiment fail? Is it fair to expect people who have done something the same way for a long time to change quickly? Could Jack have tried his ideas a different way?
Our Members Say
See all 53 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Fun and fascinating, but too spooky for preschoolers.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title and give it
Great Movie
This movie is great i love all of the details and bright and weird colors to look at. Just to let those nightmare before christmas lovers know this movie will be in theaters for 3-D
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
ewwwwww but good :) a bit scary for say 4 year olds
- I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
Great Tim Burton film. Some good soundtrack sings in it with some amazing animation. Kids may be freaked by some parts but it's good to show them no all cartoons are light and funny.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This is a fave in my house. my youngest son who is 3 almost 4 loves this movie. Its dark but if you let your kids watch it, it actually helps them see that scary cartoons are just that cartoons.. Its not cartoons we should worry about making them scared of its the REAL monsters in the world. I am talking about sick people.. Sometimes we focus on the wrong things. Anyways we love it!!! I love all Tim Burton films.
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Great for nearly all ages
There is really nothing wrong with this movie. It's cute, it depicts a fun holiday, the songs are adorable, there's no profanity, no nudity, nothing adult in the slightest. The only thing that might bother LITTLE kids is the characters taking off their own body parts, and the torture-ish scenes in Oogie's dungeon. I mean LITTLE kids people, like, under six. Maybe even under five.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
This is one of the best movies of its kind in a long time. The songs,the characters,and the overall movie itself is incredibly fun.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Creepy but incredible
It's incredible what a little bit of imagination can turn in to. This is visually one of the best movies I've ever seen, and the story plot is creatively drawn out, also it is shortened to a time where it keeps your eye at all times. If the lyrics to the songs had more depth and creatvity, instead of rhyming "night" and "fright" all the time, I'd give it 5 stars. Nonetheless, it is a great movie
- I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
One of my favorite movies!
It's an excellent film, but not so much for those apt to nightmares... obviously.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not for anyone empathetic or sensitive!
VERY VERY SCARY AND DISTURBING!!!!!!! It freaked me out sooo bad! Not for anyone empathtic or sensitive!~
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Great movie, magical from start to finish. Share this masterpiece with your youngsters 6+!
I must let out a laugh at the who think this movie is too violent. This movie has no blood, drinking, sex, etc. It is a turly magical movie, and me, almost 17, I get a total kick of it -still-. The only thing scary about this movie is the costumes, but nothing worse than you'd see taking your youngster out trick or treating on Halloween. I've known every word of every song since I was 8 years old. Danny Elfman and Tim Burton makes a wonderful team, great music, animation, and it just never gets old. Jack and Sally are a lovely couple together, their love just make you "aww." Don't hesitate to show it to your kids!
- I rate this title off for age 5 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A little scary
Pretty scary movie.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great movie, a bit too much for preschoolers
The story in genius, the characters amazing. Must be watched by anyone over the age of five.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Excessive consumerism
i have a 10 month old and she loves it her name is alison
i have a ten month old and she loves it her name is alison
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This is Halloween!
I never enjoyed this movie as much as I did when watching it alongside my 4-yr old twins. I was iffy on what they'd think about it. I knew there was some questionable subject matter within, the kids were pretty mean, Jack had a few situations where he got pretty nasty towards others and the obvious of Jack getting shot out of the sky and Oogie Boogie shooting at Jack with his contraptions. However, I was willing to risk it, sit with my girls and explain the situation. In the end, it was worth it. I think they appreciated that the kids there were being nasty. That Oogie Boogie was bad, and that Jack was just confused about what he really wanted. I know there are some things they don't FULLY get, but as long as you're willing to sit, explain and stress that there are things inappropriate about the BAD things, there are SO many good things about the movie. The music, the end morals of wanting to be different, better and of course, the love story. Give it a try by yourself. You know your kids the best, and will know if this is right for them. But heck, if you haven't seen it... DO. It's great for adults, too!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Good movie for kids!
Good Movie! Good for kids, but not for kids that get scared easily! Good for EMOS also!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Good Movie! Good for kids, but not for kids that get scared easily! Good for EMOS also!
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
My fav movie
This is the best movie in the whole entire world!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 43% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 29% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 29% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
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