Honestly, if you’ve ever walked into a Walgreens in October and seen nothing but empty shelves and a single, lonely candy corn wrapper, you already know the struggle. Collecting Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows isn’t just a hobby at this point. It’s basically a full-time job. Kellytoy—the company behind these marshmallowy plushies—tapped into a very specific kind of magic when they mashed up Tim Burton's 1993 stop-motion classic with their signature round aesthetic. It's weird because the movie is intentionally jagged, spindly, and creepy. Squishmallows are the exact opposite. They’re round. They’re soft. Yet, somehow, a circular Jack Skellington just works.
People lose their minds over these things.
The hype isn’t just about the "spooky season." While most Halloween drops disappear by November 1st, the NBC squad has this weird staying power because the movie itself is a bridge between two holidays. You’ve got people buying them for their Halloween displays and then keeping them out straight through December. This creates a massive supply chain headache for casual fans.
The Reality of the Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows Hunt
If you’re looking for the "standard" Jack, Sally, and Oogie Boogie, you might think they’d be easy to find. They aren't. Not really. Most years, the release cycle starts as early as August. Retailers like Kroger, Learning Express, and Hallmark get the first wave. Then the "Big Three"—Walgreens, Target, and Walmart—get their versions.
But here’s the kicker: the versions aren't all the same.
A 12-inch Jack from Walgreens might have a different facial expression or a slightly different fabric texture than a 5-inch Jack from a mystery capsule at Five Below. This drives collectors absolutely bonkers. You aren't just looking for "Jack." You’re looking for the 2021 10-inch version with the specific stitch pattern. It sounds exhausting because it is.
The secondary market is where things get truly dark. Sites like Mercari and eBay are flooded with resellers the second a new shipment hits a store. It’s not uncommon to see a $15 plushie listed for $60 before the store clerk has even finished stocking the shelf. This "shelf clearing" behavior is the biggest complaint in the community. You’ll see photos on Reddit of people’s "hauls" that are actually just six of the same Oogie Boogie. Why? Trade bait. Or profit.
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Why Oogie Boogie is the Undisputed King
While Jack Skellington is the face of the franchise, the Oogie Boogie Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows are the ones that actually hold the most value and interest. Specifically the green version. He’s a burlap sack filled with bugs, which shouldn't be "cute," but in Squishmallow form, he’s a giant, lime-green blob with a gambling addiction.
There are different variants:
The classic tan/burlap color.
The neon green "glow" version.
Versions where he’s holding his signature dice.
The green Oogie is consistently the hardest to find. There’s something about that neon hue that pops on a shelf. Plus, the texture on some of the earlier runs had a slightly more "toothy" feel to mimic burlap, which collectors obsessed over. If you find one in the wild, don't think. Just grab it.
The Rare Characters Most People Miss
Everyone knows Jack and Sally. But the real depth of the NBC collection lies in the supporting cast. Have you ever seen the Mayor? He’s one of the most interesting designs because, in the movie, his head spins to show two different faces. Kellytoy handled this by giving him a very distinct, tapered shape compared to the standard egg-shaped Squishmallow.
Then you have the trio: Lock, Shock, and Barrel. These are usually sold in smaller sizes, often as 5-inch plushies or even 3.5-inch clips. They are rarely sold individually in large sizes, making the set harder to complete.
And we have to talk about Zero.
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Zero is the ghost dog, and his Squishmallow version is unique because he has ears that actually flop and a little pumpkin nose. He’s often the first to sell out because he appeals to dog lovers who don't even care about the movie. He’s just a cute ghost dog. His resale price has historically stayed higher than Jack’s because the production runs seem slightly lower.
Sizing Confusions and Retailer Exclusives
Size matters. In the Squishmallow world, it’s everything. You have:
- Micros: Tiny 2-inch versions often found in play sets.
- Clips: 3.5-inch versions that hang on backpacks.
- Small: 5-inch to 7-inch.
- Medium: 8-inch to 12-inch (the most common).
- Large/Jumbo: 16-inch, 20-inch, or even the massive 24-inch versions.
Costco is famous for getting the 20-inch behemoths. Imagine a Jack Skellington the size of a beanbag chair. They’re usually priced incredibly well—sometimes under $20—but they disappear in hours. If you see a pallet of NBC Squish at Costco, you have roughly fifteen minutes before the "moms with minivans" (a formidable force in the collecting world) descend.
Then you have the "Flip-A-Mallows." These are controversial. It’s one plush that you can flip inside out to reveal another character—like Jack on one side and Sally on the other. Hardcore collectors usually hate these. They’re lumpy. They don't sit right on a shelf. They feel like a compromise. But for kids? They’re great. Two toys in one.
The Quality Control Issue
Let's be real for a second. As the brand has exploded, the quality has... fluctuated. Some of the newer Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows feel a bit thinner than the "OG" 2020 releases. The stuffing might be less dense. The fabric might feel more like polyester and less like the "mochi" fabric that made the brand famous.
When you’re buying, check the "butt tags." These are the white ribbons near the bottom. They’ll tell you the production date. Serious collectors look for the older tags because the stuffing was undeniably better. Also, watch out for fakes. Because these are so popular, places like Amazon and Wish are crawling with "knock-offs" that look like Jack Skellington if he’d been through a blender. If the price is too good to be true, it’s probably a "Squisheen" or some other bootleg brand.
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How to Actually Score These Without Paying Resale
Stop checking the big stores at noon. That’s the biggest mistake. You have to go early.
Most Walgreens restock their toy aisles overnight or early in the morning on specific days (usually Tuesday or Thursday, but it varies by region). Talk to the employees. Not in a creepy way, but a "Hey, do you know when the seasonal shipment comes in?" way. Some are happy to help; others are traumatized by "Squish-hunters" and will stare at you in silence.
Join local Facebook groups. Every city has a Squishmallow hunt group. People post "sightings" in real-time. "Jack and Zero at the CVS on 5th Street!" These groups are the only way to beat the professional resellers who have apps tracking inventory.
Actionable Steps for Your Collection
If you're serious about landing these, here is your game plan:
- Verify the Tag: Always ensure the official "Original Squishmallows" gold or blue seal is on the hangtag. No seal, no deal.
- Download SquadApp: This is the gold standard for tracking. It tells you which retailers have reported stock and allows you to track your collection digitally so you don't buy doubles of the same size.
- Check Seasonal Aisles First: Retailers rarely put these in the toy section. They’ll be in the "Halloween" or "Holiday" cardboard shippers near the front of the store.
- Prioritize Zero and Oogie: If you see the whole squad and can only afford two, grab Zero and the green Oogie Boogie. Their value holds steady regardless of market dips.
- Wash With Care: If you actually use them as pillows, they’ll get flat. Put them in a pillowcase, wash on cold/delicate, and tumble dry on the lowest heat possible. The "mochi" fabric can melt if it gets too hot, turning your Jack Skellington into a crunchy disaster.
Collecting these is a marathon, not a sprint. The market is constantly rotating, and Kellytoy loves to re-release characters with slight variations just to keep the fire burning. Stay patient, don't feed the scalpers if you can help it, and keep an eye on those Walgreens endcaps.
Key Maintenance Tip: If your Squishmallow arrives vacuum-sealed from an online order, don't panic if it looks like a pancake. Give it a good "fluffing" or put it in the dryer on an air-fluff (no heat) cycle for ten minutes with a couple of tennis balls. It'll regain its circular Jack Skellington shape in no time.
Where to Look Next: Keep an eye on Select Series releases on the official Squishmallows website. They occasionally drop "Black and White" or "Special Edition" NBC characters that aren't sent to big-box stores, making them the ultimate centerpiece for a shelf.