The Polar Express

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2:22

The Polar Express

G

2004

1h 40m

Kids & Family

Holiday

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

210 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a doubting young boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

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Critics Consensus

Though the movie is visually stunning overall, the animation for the human characters isn't lifelike enough, and the story is padded.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Dec 4, 2014

3/5

The schmaltz content gets higher and higher, as if administered through a drip feed, until by the end we are drowning in sucrose.

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David Germain

Associated Press

Dec 9, 2013

People in Hollywood should never work with children or animals, W.C. Fields once said. Maybe that should be expanded to hyper-realistic computer-generated children and reindeer, too.

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

Dec 9, 2013

As a spectacle, The Polar Express looks remarkable. As a film, however, it's the equivalent of an elaborately wrapped Christmas present containing a nice new pair of socks.

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Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

Dec 15, 2024

3/10

It’s not hard to see why this movie [The Polar Express] was optioned, but it is frustrating to see the concept wasted on a thin, meandering plot meant as a morality play.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 15, 2023

2/4

A “Harry Potter meets Scrooge” hodgepodge enacted on a plateau of plasticity.

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Carson Timar

ButteredPopcorn

Aug 28, 2022

A-

While on paper everything about The Polar Express seems to point towards the feature being a disaster, the final product stays on the rails to become anything but.

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ingrid Fernandez

Apr 3, 2026

This is my absolute favorite Christmas movie ever! I wish I could see it in 4Dx, 3D format at Regal. Now that would be AWESOME!

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jesse v

Dec 28, 2025

They spent too much money on Tom Hanks, the CG animation, the facial motion capture, and the music, but not a tighter script. Why hasn't this MOVIE GOTTEN A PSVR GAME???

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Janet O

Dec 17, 2025

Such a great classic with 4d experience. Me and my sisters had a great time. Trigger warning if any have seizures, epilepsy or any light flashing sensitivity.

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Kimberly R

Dec 14, 2025

Always a great Holiday classic to watch. My adult daughter & I make it a tradition to go see this @ the theater.

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Ashley L

Dec 8, 2025

It is such a cute movie & full of Christmas Magic!!

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Robert

Dec 7, 2025

it's a Christmas classic from the first decade of the millennium.

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Robert Zemeckis

Director

Tom Hanks

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Michael Jeter

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The Polar Express: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When a doubting young boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Gary Goetzman
Screenwriter: William Broyles Jr.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Castle Rock
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment, Universal CGI, Playtone Productions, ImageMovers, Golden Mean, Warner Brothers
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Holiday, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $125.9M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby SRD, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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