Even nearly 30 years after its original premiere, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" never gets old. For the uninitiated, the dark fantasy film by Tim Burton centers on Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who one day stumbles across a parallel town dedicated to Christmas. He quickly becomes so enamored with the holiday that he tries to get the residents of his hometown to celebrate it for the first time ever.
The movie itself is filled with odd artwork and set designs and a cast of characters so unusual that it's no wonder people are still obsessed with it — and use it as inspiration for a piece of body art. Yes, many have opted for "The Nightmare Before Christmas"-inspired tattoos, and even though the debate still stands on whether it's more of a Halloween or a Christmas movie, they're wildly popular among superfans. Artwork of the beloved characters, like Jack Skellington and Sally, can have tremendous significance for fans who were impacted by the movie, but they also make for both cute and ominous designs.
Halloween is the perfect time to rewatch the classic and get some spooky Halloween ink done to go with it.
From large-scale portraits and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" tattoo sleeves to minimalist sketches of the film's supporting characters, read ahead to see a unique selection of tattoo ideas from the film.
— Additional reporting by Clara Amelia
This tattoo is a fun idea for canine-lovers and fans of Tim Burton's work. It features dogs from a few of Burton's movies like Frankenweenie from "Frankenweenie," Scraps from "Corpse Bride," and Zero from "The Nightmare Before Christmas."
This Jack Skellington tattoo takes a more dainty approach by having his portrait framed with fine-line flowers and vines.
A way to make Jack Skellington look less ominous is to add dots and sparkles around the character.
Jack Skellington and Sally are one of the most iconic romances of the Halloween season. Here, they're framed inside a pretty Lovers tarot card.
This tattoo of the king of Halloweentown features Jack Skellington's tall figure and sinister smile.
Jack Skellington's wonder and excitement for Christmas is perfectly captured in this tattoo.
This tattoo takes a traditional, creepier route featuring Jack Skellington as a spider.
Lock, Shock, and Barrel are the mischievous trio of trick-or-treaters in Halloweentown and are featured here in this minimalist, fine-line tattoo.
This tattoo features Jack Skellington cuddling with his loyal companion. The red details add a pop of color.
Oogie Boogie is the iconic antagonist of the classic film. He is featured in this tattoo alongside his gambling dice with dotted shading.
The "Nightmare Before Christmas" gang are featured in this tattoo with a creative twist: they're inside a gumball machine.
In this tattoo, Jack Skellington stands in front of colorful Christmas lights, making this the perfect piece for both Halloween and Christmas fans.
Lock, Shock, and Barrel appear to be up to no good in this colorful tattoo.
In this tattoo, Sally is seen stitching herself up among purple flowers.
For a bold yet adorable take on Zero, the tattoo features the ghost dog floating with skull flowers and the moon.
This piece featuring a tree of Halloween pumpkins behind Jack Skellington and Zero is perfect for the Halloween obsessed.
This tattoo features Jack Skellington with a spooky spiderweb backdrop.
This modern portrait of Jack and Sally is framed with vines in the shape of a heart.
This big piece — seen here on a thigh but perfect for a sleeve as well — features Jack, Sally, and Zero in a graveyard. The orange detailing is a nod to Halloween.
This tattoo of Lock, Shock, and Barrel adorned with floral designs proves Halloween-inspired tattoos don't have to be creepy.
In this tattoo, Sally is featured as a mermaid with her tail pattern matching her dress from the movie.
This beautiful black-ink portrait features Jack Skellington; his canine ghost, Zero; and Sally.
This piece would be perfect for a "The Nightmare Before Christmas" tattoo sleeve. It features Jack Skellington and Zero, with Halloweentown under the moonlight in the backdrop.
The lovers from Halloweentown are featured here in a colorful, detailed heart-shaped frame.
The simple outline of Jack Skellington's head is a perfect tattoo for the minimalist.