The Polar Express
G

The Polar Express

A journey like you’ve never imagined.

2004 • 100 min • Adventure · Animation · Family · Fantasy

Synopsis

When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary 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.

Our family guide

Best from age 6
72
Movie Knight Score
6962 reviews
  • 75 Reviewers · 4 · 60%
  • 67 Audience · 6958 · 40%

A young boy doubting the magic of Christmas embarks on an extraordinary train journey to the North Pole. Through thrilling adventures and new friends, he discovers that belief is the true key to wonder and keeps the spirit of the season alive for those who embrace it.

Violence & peril
2/10
Language
1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
0/10
Romance & sensuality
0/10
Scary moments
4/10

Heads up

  • Challenging train ride moments
  • Some characters can be a bit spooky
  • Themes of doubt and skepticism

What it models well

  • Belief and wonder
  • Friendship and kindness
  • Finding inner strength

Talk about it after

  • The importance of belief and imagination
  • What makes someone a true leader?
  • How kindness can make a difference

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Polar Express. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Robert Zemeckis • Crew: Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.

Trailers & clips

Train Derails - Movie Clip

The Spirit of Christmas

"ALL ABOARD!" Scene

Hot Chocolate!

When Christmas Comes

4K Full Movie Preview

4K Trailer

Behind The Scenes with Tom Hanks

Reviewer notes

Recommended

A young man is all excited as he heads to bed on Christmas eve. His sleep is disturbed though, when his house starts to shake. He bounds to the window whereupon he sees the arrival of a great train, one he quickly discovers is heading on to the North Pole. Safely aboard he encounters other children and adventure beckons as they learn that one child will get to meet Santa Claus himself before he embarks on his glob...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

Watching The Polar Express is not an annual event for me, but I believe I have seen it three times and would not nix the idea if someone were to suggest watching it again. I feel a connection to it for an odd reason: my wife and I volunteered one Christmas season to be elves serving cocoa and dancing for an actual Polar Express narrow gauge train ride when we lived in Maine. (Though I can assure you our dancing w...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

No matter how many times I watch this, it always brought me to tears! I only wish that I got to see it in 3D at the cinema.

Not recommended

***Some kids with creepy dead eyes take a dreamlike trip to the North Pole on The Polar Express*** A boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is at the age where he no longer believes in Christmas, as far as Santa, his elves and flying reindeer go, but a magical train appears in front of his home on Christmas Eve and whisks him away on an adventurous trip to the North Pole with several other kids. “The Polar Expres...

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Gallery

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Details

TMDB audience
6.7/10 (6,958)
Age rating
G
Status
Released
Budget
$165,000,000
Box office
$318,432,432
Franchise
The Polar Express Collection
Official site
www.warnerbros.com

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