Jack Skellington [Singing]
What's this? / What's this? / There's color everywhere / What's this? / There's white things in the air / What's this? / I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming / Wake up, Jack! This isn't fair! / What's this?
Voiced by Chris Sarandon 
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) · 56 quotes
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) · 56 quotes
Most-quoted character in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): in 21 of its 56 quotes
Most scenes with: Mayor (3), Lock (3), Shock (3)
And since I am dead, I can take off my head, to recite Shakespearean quotations / No animal or man can SCREAM like I can, with the fury of my recitations!
More lines from Jack Skellington
7 quotes Jack Skellington Jack Skellington [Singing]
There's children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they're busy building toys / and absolutely no one's dead!
Jack Skellington And they call him "Sandy Claws".
Jack Skellington [Singing]
Of course I've been too close to see, the answer's right in front of me!
Jack Skellington [Singing]
Just because I cannot see it doesn't mean I can't believe it!
Jack Skellington [Singing]
You know, I think this Christmas thing / Is not as tricky as it seems, / And why should they have all the fun? / It should belong to anyone! / Not anyone, in fact, but me! / Why, I could make a Christmas tree, / And there's no reason I can find / I couldn't handle Christmas time! / I bet I could improve it, too, / And that's exactly what I'll do!
Jack Skellington Eureka! This year Christmas will be ours!
Scenes with Jack Skellington
13 scenes Jack Forgive me, Mr. Claws. I'm afraid I've made a terrible mess of your holiday.
Bumpy sleigh ride, Jack?! The next time you get the urge to take over someone else's holiday, I'd listen to HER. [points to Sally] She's the only one who makes any SENSE around this insane asylum! [mutters to himself] Skeletons, boogie-men...
Jack I hope there's still time.
To save Christmas? Of course there is! I'm Santa Claus!
Jack [Singing]
We take an oversized sock, and hang it like this on a wall.
Mr. Hyde [eagerly] [Singing]
Oh, yes! Does it still have a foot?
Smaller Mr. Hyde [Singing]
Let me see, let me look!
Smallest Mr. Hyde [Singing]
Is it rotted and covered with gook?!
Jack No, how JOLLY!
Ohhh... [depressed] How jolly our Christmas will be...
Jack And one more thing... leave that no-account Oogie Boogie out of this!
Whatever you say, Jack.
Of course, Jack.
Wouldn't dream of it, Jack.
[They cross their fingers behind their backs.]
I had the most terrible vision.
Jack That's splendid!
No - it was about your Christmas. There was smoke, and fire...
Jack That's not MY Christmas! MY Christmas is filled with laughter, and joy... and this: my Sandy Claws outfit. I want you to make it.
Jack, please listen to me. It's going to be a disaster!
Jack How could it be? Just follow the pattern! This part's red, the trim is white...
It's a mistake, Jack!
Jack Now, don't be modest. Who else is clever enough to make my Sandy Claws outfit?
Kid Santa?
Jack Merry Christmas! And what is your name?
Kid I... um...
Jack That's all right. I have a present for you anyway. There you go, sonny!
Mother
[Jack slips out up the chimney, cackling as he goes]
And what did Santa bring you, Honey?
[The kid shows his parents his present—a shrunken head.] Mother, Father Aaaaaahhhhhh!
Jack How did you get down here, Sally?
Uh, well, I was trying to...well, I wanted to...
Jack To help me?
I couldn't let you just...
Jack Sally, I can't believe I never realized that you...
[he is interrupted by a spotlight suddenly shining on them, held by the Mayor]
Jack [singing]
My dearest friend, if you don't mind, / I'd like to join you by your side, / Where we can gaze into the stars...
[singing in unison]
And sit together / Now and forever. / For it is plain / As anyone can see / We're simply meant to be.
Vampire
[Under the orange disk of the moon, in a place called Halloweenland, the creatures of the night are busy. Smirking jack-o-lanterns dance in the graveyard. Werewolves howl. Corpses, vampires and witches join their voices in a ghoulish chorus of glee. Tonight is their favorite night of all: Halloween] [And it has been a splendid one. As they gather down in the center of town to celebrate, everyone agrees on that. They also agree that such a night will not have been possible without the help of their leader, the king of Halloween, Jack Skellington] [Everyone cheers wildly as Jack steps into the town square]
You were a scream, Jack.
Werewolf
It was terrifying!
Witch
You're a witch's fondest dream.
[They cheer again as the Mayor claps Jack on his rickety shoulders]
Thanks, Jack! We owe it all to you! Why, without your leadership------
Jack [Jack cuts him off]
Not at all, Mayor. [But the Mayor doesn't notice that anything is wrong. He is too intent on keeping the crowd's attention focused on where it shall be; on himself]
It's now my pleasure to give out the wonderful prizes. Our first award goes to the vampires, for most blood drained in a single evening. Congratulations, Fanged Ones! Second prize is to the Dark Lagoon Leeches, who also have a real taste for blood...
[The crowd cheers again, and Jack takes the opportunity to slip off. It is strange, but all the applause makes him feel horrible. He needs to go someplace that will cheer him up. He heads for the graveyard] [He is so preoccupied that he never notices the frail, melancholy figure of Sally the Rag Doll watching him. Sally is mournful, as well, and with nice reason. She has been created by the town's official Evil Scientist. Try as she may, and she has tried many times, Sally can't seem to escape from him. Although he is confined to a wheelchair, he guards her jealously]
Saxophone Player Nice work, bone daddy.
Jack Yeah, I guess so. Just like last year, the year after that, and the year before that.
Jack The job I have for you is top secret, it requires craft, cunning, mischief...
And we thought you didn't like us, Jack. [she, Lock and Barrel giggle at this]
Jack Absolutely no one is to know about it, not a soul! Now, and one more thing, leave that no-account Oogie Boogie OUT OF THIS! [whispers for a time]
Whatever you say, Jack.
Of course, Jack.
Wouldn't dream of it, Jack.
[The trio giggle again, and reveal that they have all crossed their fingers]
Jack [shows a nutcracker to Behemoth]
This device is called a nutcracker.
Lock, Shock and Barrel
Jack! Jack! We got him! We got him! [they appear with a full sack]
Jack Perfect! Open it up, quickly! [they open the sack and the Easter Bunny leaps out] That's not Sandy Claws.
It isn't?
Who is it?
Behemoth [The Easter Bunny hops around the room and sniffs curiously at Behemoth] [freaking out]
A BUNNY!
Jack [The Easter Bunny is terrified, and leaps back into the bag he was kidnapped in]
NOT Sandy Claws! Take him back!
We followed your instructions.
We went through the door.
Jack Which door?! There's more than one! Sandy Claws is behind the door shaped like THIS! [holds up a Christmas tree shaped cookie]
Jack [The trio fight in anger; an annoyed Jack roars, and makes a monstrous face, which instantly stops Lock, Shock and Barrel's fight, freezing them on the spot] [to the Easter Bunny who still scared and in the bag]
I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, sir. [to Lock, Shock and Barrel] Take him home first, and apologize again! Be careful with Sandy Claws when you fetch him. Treat him nicely!
Got it!
We'll get it right...
Lock, Shock and Barrel
...Next time!
Jack [As the military canon are kept on firing, it hits one of the reindeer skeleton, then the back of the sleigh]
They're trying to hit us. [calls to Zero] ZERO! [Zero looks back at Jack, the military canon made a target and fires. It hits the entire sleigh Jack is driving, now falling] MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!
[Jack crash-lands into the cemetery. Back in Halloween Town, the Mayor and the citizens are shocked and sad for Jack's death. The Wolfman howls in tears] [in tears; walks to his car]
I knew this Christmas thing was bad idea. [gets in] I felt it in my gut. [starts the car and drives away, through megaphone] Terrible news, folks! The most tragedy of our time! Jack has been blown to smithereens! Terrible, terrible news!
