Disney’s timeless spooky season gem, The Nightmare Before Christmas, is understandably associated more frequently with Halloween, but really—November might actually be the best time to watch it. Specifically, these early days in November, when those of us who are already ready to embrace Christmas but still aren’t ready to fully let go of all the spooky season shenanigans.
As a certified scaredy-cat, even some animated features can get to me. As much as I loved Wildwood and believe it’s a filmmaking triumph, parts of it could’ve easily been too much if I’d watched it late at night and by myself. I also can’t watch Coraline at night and am still scarred by nighttime viewings of Courage the Cowardly Dog. But like each of these films, while certainly on the spookier end, there’s something weirdly soothing about The Nightmare Before Christmas for me. Maybe it’s because I have a soft spot for when Jack Skellington and co. take over Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion with their spooky and magical overlay. But at the same time, bringing together both holidays results in a special kind of warmth. A special kind of ridiculousness that can simultaneously scratch a very specific itch.
This is especially true if you’re a seasonal purist. For the most part, I can never watch holiday-specific movies outside of their designated time frame. The only exception to this is While You Were Sleeping, which is both a Christmas movie and my personal comfort movie. There’s also room for The Addams Family and Addams Family Values because they’re always a childhood comfort that I can always have on. But with The Nightmare Before Christmas, I find myself most drawn to it in early November. Maybe even best paired with Coco, which is essential Día de Los Muertos viewing.
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But part of what also works with the Disney films is that they’re already niche. They’re almost always asking us to suspend disbelief. And when we’ve got nuisances like Daylight Saving Time, a movie feels like the exact kind of remedy to combat the confusing sleep schedule we’re forced to deal with. In all honesty, I don’t have any definitive reason why this movie hits so differently this time of year. Why it’s better after Halloween and before Christmas—it’s in the title, Gissane, someone can say, but is it really? I’d argue.
It’s the fact that it weirdly feels relatable. Burnout and existential dread start to hit hardest this time of year, and I’m always amazed at how Disney effectively centers the narrative around a tired Jack Skellington searching for something more. That feeling of the ordinary not being enough, so you search for something different that’ll make it all better, and it helps you see the magic in what was once familiar? I’ll always say yes to a narrative like this. Plus, well, it’s a love story, isn’t it? And if there’s one thing I’m always gonna gobble up, it’s a spooky and festive season love story that makes everything a little better. Jack and Sally forever.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is now streaming on Disney+.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Disney