25 "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos That Are a "Mess of Gorgeous Chaos"

By Danielle Jackson

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

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Tim Burton Dogs

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."

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington

This Jack Skellington tattoo takes a more dainty approach by having his portrait framed with fine-line flowers and vines.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington

A way to make Jack Skellington look less ominous is to add dots and sparkles around the character.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack and Sally Tarot Card

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.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington

This tattoo of the king of Halloweentown features Jack Skellington's tall figure and sinister smile.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington and Snow

Jack Skellington's wonder and excitement for Christmas is perfectly captured in this tattoo.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Spider Jack Skellington

This tattoo takes a traditional, creepier route featuring Jack Skellington as a spider.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Lock, Shock, and Barrel

Lock, Shock, and Barrel are the mischievous trio of trick-or-treaters in Halloweentown and are featured here in this minimalist, fine-line tattoo.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Zero and Jack Skellington

This tattoo features Jack Skellington cuddling with his loyal companion. The red details add a pop of color.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Oogie Boogie and His Dice

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" Tattoos: Gumball Machine

The "Nightmare Before Christmas" gang are featured in this tattoo with a creative twist: they're inside a gumball machine.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington and Christmas Lights

In this tattoo, Jack Skellington stands in front of colorful Christmas lights, making this the perfect piece for both Halloween and Christmas fans.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Lock, Shock, and Barrel

Lock, Shock, and Barrel appear to be up to no good in this colorful tattoo.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Colorful Sally

In this tattoo, Sally is seen stitching herself up among purple flowers.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Zero With Flowers

For a bold yet adorable take on Zero, the tattoo features the ghost dog floating with skull flowers and the moon.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington and Zero

This piece featuring a tree of Halloween pumpkins behind Jack Skellington and Zero is perfect for the Halloween obsessed.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington With a Spiderweb

This tattoo features Jack Skellington with a spooky spiderweb backdrop.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack and Sally Tattoo

This modern portrait of Jack and Sally is framed with vines in the shape of a heart.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack and Sally Landscape

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.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Lock, Shock, and Barrel

This tattoo of Lock, Shock, and Barrel adorned with floral designs proves Halloween-inspired tattoos don't have to be creepy.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Mermaid Sally

In this tattoo, Sally is featured as a mermaid with her tail pattern matching her dress from the movie.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack, Sally, and Zero

This beautiful black-ink portrait features Jack Skellington; his canine ghost, Zero; and Sally.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Halloweentown Landscape

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 Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Colorful Jack and Sally

The lovers from Halloweentown are featured here in a colorful, detailed heart-shaped frame.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Tattoos: Jack Skellington's Head

The simple outline of Jack Skellington's head is a perfect tattoo for the minimalist.