The Nightmare Before Christmas is a film that was released in 1993. This Halloween/Christmas movie is about a skeleton named Jack Skellington that lives in Halloween Town. Jack is tired of ‘the same old thing’ and ends up discovering a place called Christmas Town. He wants this holiday as his own, but he realizes that Santa Clause’s job isn’t cut out for just anybody. Doesn’t sound too inspiring, right? Think again – there are actually a lot of life lessons in this Tim Burton masterpiece that can benefit viewers.

· It’s alright to branch out, even if things don’t go exactly the way they were planned to go. One learns from their mistakes and the mistakes of others, so messing up once in a while is actually beneficial in the long-run.

· Be an outstanding leader and listen to the ideas of the pack. Help them improve and better themselves rather than taking over. Helping the crew solve their issues will make one a better and more effective leader.

· Cultural appropriation is an important part of society. Accept and encourage change, learn about different cultures, and make new life experiences.

· It gets tedious and tiresome to constantly follow the same routine. Try new things and don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

· One never knows what they might find while exploring somewhere new. Take a chance, explore nature, and see what’s out there.

Films now have a prominent part in people’s lives, so the message they give off is very important. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a timeless film, and so are the lessons it provides.

Side Note: There has been a lot of discussion about whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie. Henry Selick, the director, put this argument to an end in 2015, stating in a Q&A session that “it’s a Halloween movie.” However, no matter what it is classified as, this movie is suitable for both holidays.