100 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes From Tim Burton

Moumita Dutta
Dec 12, 2023 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Mar 23, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
Charming Jack Skellington from Night Before Christmas surrounded by festive adornments

Why 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes?

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is an American stop-motion animated musical dark fantasy film from 1993, directed by Henry Selick (in his feature directing debut) and produced and developed by Tim Burton. The story revolves around the King of Halloween Town's Pumpkins, Jack Skellington, who is tired of celebrating the holiday the same way, every year.

When he accidentally visits Christmas Town, he becomes so enamored with the holiday that he attempts to convince the citizens of Halloween Town to have a Christmas celebration instead of a Halloween one.

What should parents know?

  • While working as an animator for Walt Disney Productions in 1982, Burton created 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' as a poem.
  • Because of the year's success with Vincent, Burton considered adapting 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' as a short film or a half-hour television special. Burton kept coming back to the idea throughout the years, and in 1990 he signed a development contract with Walt Disney Studios to make it a reality.
  • To avoid having a picture that was too dark and disturbing for youngsters, Disney moved production to San Francisco in July 1991. Touchstone Pictures was the company that first distributed the film.

What to discuss with kids?

  • The original poem, from which the movie was made, had only three characters.
  • Elfman performed Skellington's vocals in the film. He also provided his voice for two other characters.
  • It took over three years to complete 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

The Best' Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes

1. "Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween." - Shadows

2. "Kidnap the Sandy Claws, beat him with a stick. Lock him up for fifty years, see what makes him tick!" - Lock, Shock, and Barrel

3. "You can make other creations! I'm restless. I can't help it." - Sally

4. "There are few who deny at what I do I am the best
For my talents are renowned far and wide
When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night
I excel without ever even trying." - Jack Skellington

5. "Life's no fun without a good scare." - Child Trio

6. "My skull's so full, it's tearing me apart." - Jack Skellington

7. "Jack Skellington: Doctor! I need to borrow some equipment.

Dr. Finkelstein: Is that so? Whatever for?

Jack Skellington: I'm conducting a series of experiments.

Dr. Finkelstein: How perfectly marvelous! Curiosity killed the cat, you know."

8. "Did anyone think to dredge the lake?" - The Mayor

9. "Won't they be impressed, I am a ge-ni-us! See how I transform this old rat inTO a most deLIGHTful hat!" - Harlequin Demon

10. "Mayor: We've got to find Jack! There's only 365 days left 'til next Halloween!- Wolfman: 364!"

11. "That's twice this month you've slipped deadly nightshade into my tea and run off." - Dr. Finkelstein

12. "Well, well, well. What have we here?" - Oogie Boogie

13. "No animal nor man can scream like I can, with the fury of my recitations!" - Jack Skellington

14. "I might just spit a seam now if I don't die laughing first!" - Oogie Boogie

15. "Since I am dead I can take off my head to recite Shakespearean quotations." - Jack Skellington

16. "I am the shadow on the moon at night, filling your dreams to the brim with fright." - Oogie Boogie

17. "I am the 'who' when you call, 'Who's there?'" - Ghoul

18. "You're jokin', you're jokin'!

I can't believe my ears!

Would someone shut this fella up?

I'm drownin' in my tears." - Oogie Boogie

19. "My bugs! My bugs!" - Oogie Boogie

20. "That's right. I am the Pumpkin King!" - Jack Skellington

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Inspirational Quotes

21. "She's the only one who makes any sense around this insane asylum." - Santa Claus

22. "Jack Skellington: I hope there's still time!

Santa Claus: To fix Christmas? Of course, there is! I'm Santa Claus!" - 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

23. "I'm a master of fright, and a demon of light, and I'll scare you right out of your pants." - Jack Skellington

24. "Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here. I can't make decisions by myself!" - The Mayor

25. And sit together, now and forever." - Jack Skellington

26. "If they only understood, he'd give it all up, if he only could." - Jack Skellington

27. "Well, what the heck! I went and did my best!

And, by God, I really tasted something swell!

And for a moment, why, I even touched the sky!

And at least I left some stories they can tell, I did!" - Jack Skellington

28. "There's children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads, they're busy building toys, and absolutely no one's dead." - Jack Skellington

29. "Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!" - Jack Skellington

30. "Naughty children never get any presents." - Santa Claus

31. "This is Halloween, everybody make a scene." - Ghosts

32. "And I, Jack, the Pumpkin King, have grown so tired of the same old thing." - Jack Skellington

33. "Eureka! This year, Christmas will be OURS!" - Jack Skellington

34. "Haven't you heard of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men?" - Santa Claus

35. "No animal or man can scream like I can." - Jack Skellington

36. "I'm gonna do the best I can!" - Oogie Boogie

37. "You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems! But why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but me!" - Jack Skellington

38. "I really tasted something swell, that's right. And, for a moment, why, I even touched the sky and at least I left some stories they can tell." - Jack Skellington

39. "Say it once, say it twice, take a chance and roll the dice. Ride with the moon in the dead of night." - The Witches

40. "Careful now, my precious jewel." - Dr. Finkelstein

Jack and Sally' Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes

41. "For it is plain, as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be."

42. "Jack Skellington: Sally, I need your help more than anyone's.

Sally: You certainly do, Jack. I had the most terrible vision.

Jack Skellington: That's splendid!

Sally: No, it was about your Christmas, there was smoke and fire!"

43. "What have I done? How could I be so blind? All is lost. Where was I? Spoiled all! Spoiled all! Everything's gone all wrong." - Jack

44. "And on a dark cold night, under full moonlight, he flies into the fog like a vulture in the sky!" - Jack

45. "Sally: You don't look like yourself, Jack. Not at all.

Jack Skellington: Isn't that wonderful? It couldn't be more wonderful!"

46. "Sally: Jack, please listen to me, it's going to be a disaster!

Jack Skellington: How could it be? Just follow the pattern. This part's red, the trim is white.

Sally: It's a mistake, Jack.

Jack Skellington: Now don't be modest. Who else is clever enough to make my Sandy Claws outfit?"

47. "What's this? There's color everywhere! What's this? There's white things in the air! What's this? I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming; wake up, Jack, this isn't fair!" - Jack

48. "Sally: But you're the Pumpkin King!

Jack Skellington: Not anymore."

49. "This is worse than I thought. Much worse. I know!" - Sally

50. "I sense there's something in the wind

That feels like tragedy's at hand." - Sally

51. "Oh, there's an empty place in my bones, that calls out for something unknown." - Jack

52. "Why does nothing ever turn out like it should?" - Jack

53. "The worst is just around the bend, and does he notice my feelings for him? And will he see how much he means to me? I think it's not to be." - Sally

54. "What a joy to think of all we'll have in common. We'll have conversations worth having." - Sally

55. "My dearest friend, if you don't mind. I'd like to join you by your side. Where we can gaze into the stars." - Jack

Mayor Quotes From 'Nightmare Before Christmas'

56. "Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here, I can't make decisions by myself!"

57. "What a splendid idea! This Christmas sounds fun. I fully endorse it, let's try it at once!"

58. "Terrible news, folks! The worst tragedy of our time! Jack has been blown to smithereens!"

59. "We've got to find Jack! There's only 365 days left until next Halloween!"

60. "The King of Halloween has been blown to smithereens! Skeleton Jack is now a pile of dust!"

61. "How horrible our Christmas will be!"

Oogie Boogie Quotes from 'Nightmare Before Christmas'

62. "You're joking, you're joking/I can't believe my eyes/You're joking me, you've gotta be/ This can't be the right guy!"

63. "I am the shadow on the moon at night / Filling your dreams to the brim with fright."

64. "You're jokin', you're jokin'! / I can't believe my ears! / Would someone shut this fella up? / I'm drownin' in my tears!"

65. "Well well well. What have we here? Sandy Claws, huh? Ooo I'm really scared! So you're the one everybody's talking about?"

66. "Now look what you've done! My bugs! My bugs! My bugs!"

67. "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust! Ohh... I'm feeling weak - with hunger! One more roll o'the dice oughta do it!"

68. "Are you a gambling man, Santa?"

69. "Oh, the sound of rolling dice to me is music in the air, / 'cause I'm a gambling Boogie Man, although I don't play fair. / It's much more fun, I must confess, with lives on the line. / Not mine, of course, but yours, old boy, / now, that'll be just fine."

70. "J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be - double dead!"

Sally Quotes From 'Nightmare Before Christmas'

71. "Yet it seems that I still have some tears to shed."

72. "I sense there is something in the wind."

73. "Maybe we are too different."

74. "I wear my scars with pride, they're a reminder of times when life tried to break me but failed."

75. "He wants to change his life...and I want to change mine, too."

76. "I am myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions."

77. "He smiled at me."

'Nightmare Before Christmas' Love Quotes

78. "What does this mean? Does Jack love me, or not? Or is something bad going to happen?" - Sally

79. "I'll run away. I'll find Jack and maybe he'll go with me. We'll be free!" - Sally

80. "I could conquer the world with one hand, as long as you're holding the other." - Jack

81. "There's something out there far from my home. A longing that I've never known." - Jack

82. "Christmas is about love!" - Barrel

83. "Jack will understand one day. I had to do this; I'm doing it for him." - Sally

'Nightmare Before Christmas' Movie Quotes

84. "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."

85. "Do toys scared little boys?"

86. "Tonight was the best Halloween party in many years, and the hard work of one man made it possible."

87. "It seems that if you're passionate about something, it freaks people out...but to me, it just means you know who you are." - Tim Burton

88. "There are children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads, they're busy building toys, And absolutely no one's dead."

89. "The monsters are all missing, and nightmares can't be found, and in their place, there seems to be good feeling all around."

90. "The reindeer can't see their noses! We can't leave now. Oh no! No Christmas!"

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes to Reminisce About Your Childhood

91. "Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams. For the story that you are about to be told took place in the holiday worlds of old. Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven't, I'd say it's time you began." – Santa Claus

92. "That's twice this month you've slipped deadly nightshade into my tea and run off." – Dr. Finkelstein

93. "Since I am dead, I can take off my head to recite Shakespearean quotations." – Jack Skellington

94. "You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems! But why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but me!

Why, I could make a Christmas tree! And there's not a reason I can find; I couldn't have a Christmastime! I bet I could improve it, too! And that's exactly what I'll do!" – Jack Skellington

95. "I sense there's something in the wind that feels like tragedy is at hand. And though I'd like to stand by him, I can't shake this feeling that we have. The worst is just around the bend, and does he notice my feelings for him?

And will he see how much he means to me? I think it's not to be." – Sally

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Quotes for a Spooky Night

96. "This is Halloween, everybody make a scene!" – The Ghosts

97. "It's funny, I'm laughing! / You really are too much. / And now, with your permission, / I'm going to do my stuff." - Oogie Boogie

98. "And I just can't wait until next Halloween 'cause I've got some new ideas that will really make them scream. And by God, I'm really gonna give it all my might!" – Jack Skellington

99. "There's frost on every window. Oh, I can't believe my eyes! And in my ones I feel the warmth that's coming from the inside!" - Jack

100. "I excel without ever even trying! With the slightest little effort of my ghostlike charms."

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Main image credit: Andres Conema / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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