The Nightmare Before Christmas screenplay first page

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — Screenplay

Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa to replace Christmas with his own scary vision, but his rag-doll girlfriend Sally must stop his misguided scheme.

Written by
Caroline Thompson
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Family, Musical, Holiday
Studio
Disney
Length
83 pages

Study how this holiday mashup balances macabre whimsy with musical storytelling, creating a world that feels both eerie and heartfelt. Thompson's script is a masterclass in tonal control, shifting from spooky to tender without losing momentum. Sally's arc and Jack's awakening offer a compelling character study in purpose and identity.

Read the full The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Caroline Thompson’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.

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