If there are any fans of Halloween movies who don’t like scares and are looking for something to watch, then Henry Selick’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is the perfect family-friendly movie to fulfill that Halloween spirit.

This film came out on Oct. 13, 1993 and recently celebrated its 26th anniversary. Despite its age, it is still one of the most renowned Halloween movies to date.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” follows Jack Skellington, a curious and musically talented skeleton, as he grows tired of his job as “the Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town and falls in love with the idea of having his own Christmas celebration instead.

This movie contains 20 songs that are all very well known, with “This is Halloween” and “What’s This?” being arguably the two most recognizable. In addition to writing every song in the soundtrack, Danny Elfman also provides the singing voice for Jack Skellington.

What’s unique about this movie is it is a multi-level holiday film. This film isn’t just a Halloween or Christmas film, it’s both and can be enjoyed at either time of year.

Another element that adds to this film’s timeless charm is its use of stop motion animation. Used in multiple of Selick’s films such as “James and the Giant Peach” and “Coraline,” stop motion animation is a painstakingly long process. It involves taking pictures of the characters’ movements, moving them slightly in between photos, and stringing the photos together to create a fluid motion effect. 

Unlike others, this kind of animation does not age. This uncommon approach to animation only adds to the movie’s timelessness.

The likability of the cast of characters in this movie is off the charts. Jack, Sally and Oogie Boogie all have their obvious draws but even minor background characters have such distinct personalities that only add to the Halloween atmosphere. 

For a family friendly and musically good time this Halloween, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a movie that is sure to never disappoint.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is available for purchase or rental on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu and iTunes.