15 reasons why The Nightmare Before Christmas is still a timeless classic 25 years later

The romance

While this movie is all about Halloween and Christmas (and these creatures and people who live in Halloween Town or Christmas Town), at the heart of this story is the romance between Jack and Sally. And what makes it special is how unconditional it is, especially in terms of the typical animated romance of the time.

Here was a leading man (as it were) who is clearly flawed and makes lots of mistakes. He is no prince charming. And then there is Sally who is clearly in love with Jack despite all of his flaws, and willing to do whatever she could to be with him. These two are quirky and strange, but together they are perfect for each other.

And while there are those who point to the romance as being problematic, we find this to be more of a connection between two flawed people who find comfort and love in each other. This is a darker story to begin with, so of course the romance is dark and twisted. But it is also a lot more realistic than many other Disney love stories.

And we love the fact that this romance is so much more than just a love story. It is two people who make mistakes and have problems, but find in each other what they desperately seem to need. Isn’t that what we all want really?