35 Nightmare Before Christmas Tattoos For Spooky Inspiration (2024)

What’s this? There’s color everywhere! And cool blackwork, too, in these stunning Nightmare Before Christmas tattoos.

The empty place in our bones is calling out to be filled with incredible tattoo art of Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero, and other beloved Tim Burton characters. We’ve been obsessed with this movie our whole life, so a tattoo is the next logical step.

Or we could sit down for our annual rewatch after giving our nephew a Sharpie. What’s the worst that could happen? What do you mean we have Oogie Boogie on our forehead?

1. Jack Skellington Tattoo

We hope this jaunty Jack is saying, “Hello, M’lady,” but it’s hard to tell. He’d better have a polite greeting if he’s going to bust through our skin like that.

2. Minimalist Jack Tattoo

We love the simplicity of this Jack Skellington with his adorable bat bowtie and signature lips…or lack thereof. Plus you can test your circle-drawing skills whenever you want.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4kq0bdAOxA/

3. Glittery Heart Nightmare Before Christmas Tattoo

This Oogie Boogie looks like he’s giving his blessing to Jack and Sally’s union. He’d better. We can’t deal with another celebrity breakup this year.

4. Matching Quote Tattoos

We get weak in the knees about couple tattoos, they’re so romantic. Especially when they’re of a bug-filled sack and a dead dog. Sniff sniff.

5. Lock, Shock, Barrel & Beetle

We just know this terrible trio could wreak havoc in the Beetlejuice universe. Lock, Shock, and Barrel will be riding those Sandworms across Arrakis in no time.

6. Happy Family Tattoo

This lovely blackwork tattoo pops with orange detail. It may be true that nothing rhymes with orange, but we’re pretty sure nothing rhymes with “Skellington” either.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CG8GmDdlxjn/

7. Tiny Zero Tattoo

This flighty little Zero would be perfect for a fan of tiny tattoos or someone getting their first piece of art. Low commitment, high impact. Which happens to be what we wrote on our last job application.

8. Jack & Sally Anniversary Tattoo

This set of anniversary tattoos works so well, if only everyone could find a partner cool enough to do these with. He wouldn’t even have to be a skeleton.

9. Oogie Boogie Tattoo

The more we study the shading and outline of this Oogie Boogie portrait, the more impressed we are. It fills our dreams to the brim with fright. So maybe that’s a…nightmare?

10. Lamplighter Jack

This Jack Skellington sure looks pleased with himself. Wouldn’t you be? He brought Christmas to Halloween Town AND got the girl.

11. Bobble Head Jack

This diminutive Jack and Zero are such cuties. We’d follow that puppy anywhere. Except maybe into Labor Day town.

12. Toy Snake Tattoo

We always appreciate the IYKYK tattoos. The toy snake from The Nightmare Before Christmas is so cool that it doesn’t matter if anyone understands it. More ammo for therapy.

13. Negative Space Love Tattoo

This abstract homage done in negative space captures the vibe of Nightmare Before Christmas exactly with hardly any detail. We wish we could be this put together before we put our face on.

14. The Fool Tarot Tattoo

We hope this artist puts out a whole deck of Nightmare Before Christmas tarot cards. Although we’d probably still pull The Fool every morning. Spilled our coffee on ourselves, again?!?

15. Coffin Jack Tattoo

Looks like Jack’s in the doghouse again. That tends to happen when you kidnap Santa Claus.

16. Shimmering Pup Zero

The shiny, glittering effect in this tattoo is incredible, but why stop at such small details? We’re about to hire them to color in our whole body.

17. Embroidered Jack Tattoo

This Jack Skellington in embroidery style is so realistic we’re studying the pic for stitches. Yeah, we have work to do. What of it?

18. Halloween Town Blackwork

We wonder what property tax is like in Halloween Town. Anyone have a hookup on a place?

19. Lock, Shock, Barrel & Death Tattoo

We always hear, “Don’t worry, the Death card isn’t always bad.” This terrible trio are here to tell you that yes, yes it is.

20. Color Popping Jack and Sally Tattoo

This artist has captured Jack and Sally posing for an Insta portrait in golden hour. These two know their angles.

21. Sally and Tiny Tree Ink

Fans of the movie and Tim Burton tend to be Halloween-y types. But let us not forget that the focus of the film is the joy of Christmas—and, well, everything creepy. We have range.

22. Simpsons x Nightmare Before Christmas Tattoos

C’mon, we can’t get over how inspired this mashup is. Who do we need to get in touch with to make this a movie? Donuts are the new Halloween candy.

23. Embroidered Jack and Zero

Ironing stuff on your skin is generally frowned upon, so this tattoo is a good solution. All those Girl Scouts badges coming in handy.

24. Frog’s Breath Tattoo

This is another cool, under-the-radar tattoo only super fans will get. Just be careful with that soup.

25. 3-D Jack and Zero Tat

This fearsome Jack Skellington is popping right off the skin. We’re not usually scared of him, but this is the stuff of nightmares. Too on the skeletal nose?

26. Pumpkin King Tattoo

The Pumpkin King can be big and notorious, too, can’t he?

27. Whimsical Jack Tattoo

This contrasty Jack seems about to break into song. We love that for him, but hate it when anyone else does it.

28. Bejeweled Jack Tat

The Pumpkin King is getting glam. With fingers that long, you gotta do a chic mani.

29. Intense Purple Jack Skellington Tattoo

Please meet the Artist Formerly Known As Jack Skellington.

30. Jack Loves Oogie Tattoo

All Oogie Boogie really wanted was a hug. This must be how that whole bedbug issue in Paris got started.

31. Whole Leg Nightmare Before Christmas Tattoos

We have no words. We’re not sure we can go on. You can’t even call yourself a fan when this person exists. Save some ink for the rest of us, k?

32. Traditional Jack Skellington

If your ink is all old-school, this Jack will fit right in. Just call him Sailor Jack. Jerry won’t mind.

33. King of Pumpkins Tattoo

No card tricks here, just a super cool King of Pumpkins for a winning hand. Insert some other card game reference here—we don’t play poker. Would this work in Go Fish?

34. Moon Tarot Tat

Jack and Zero are relatively small elements of this tattoo, yet it’s still somehow all about them. Icons will be icons.

35. Watercolor Jack

It looks like Jack is busting out of some spilled watercolors—or maybe spilled Mardi Gras co*cktails. It’s hard to say.