‎The Polar Express (2004) directed by Robert Zemeckis • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

The Polar Express

2004 Directed by Robert Zemeckis

This holiday season... believe.

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.

Tom Hanks Michael Jeter Nona Gaye Peter Scolari Eddie Deezen Leslie Zemeckis Steven Tyler Julene Renee Chris Coppola Charles Fleischer

100 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Lucy ★★★½ 3

snowpiercer: the animated children's christmas special
Review by SilentDawn ★★★★ 2

Bringing a visual style that expertly showcases serene beauty within a snowy night as well as a unique vision of the North Pole; The Polar Express works wonders in spite of its more silly and darker "zemeckis" flourishes. The music is gorgeous, the opening is wonderful, and while the pacing is lackluster, many memorable moments hide that aspect. The rollercoaster scene is kinda silly, as is the mandatory sequence where Zemeckis does his best to scare the shit out of all the younger viewers, but the emotional impact by the end is undeniably subtle and majestic.

Recommended beverage: Hot Cocoa.
Review by Harry Ridgway ★★★★★ 6

Everybody has that film they watch on Christmas Eve religiously (no pun intended). For some it's Home Alone. For others it's Die Hard. But whilst these films are beyond excellent, I always watch The Polar Express. I think I'm in the minority here when I say that The Polar Express is my favourite Christmas film. I find that it encapsulates the feeling and the spirit that exists at this time of year like no other movie. I really connected with the young boy, facing the dilemma weather Santa is a man or a myth. We all had that moment, and just like this boy, I used to lay awake anxiously at night just to hope in hearing a noise or…
Review by robyn ½ 2

this is the most hideous thing I have ever seen
Review by Harry Ridgway ★★★★★ 2

I admit that my experience with Christmas films is a little rudimentary. I've yet to see such classics as It's a Wonderful Life and The Muppet Christmas Carol and I imagine this downgrades my credibility quite a bit. But no matter I suppose, since my favourite Christmas film would have possibly credited me as an untrustworthy source anyway. Yes, it's The Polar Express; a massively resplendent, spellbinding and heart-melting experience that encapsulates the bonafide spirit of Christmas more powerfully than I have ever seen. If I ever lose my Christmas spirit, I know that its quintessence will always be bottled inside this beautiful gem and waiting for me to discover it once more.

Part of Smiling is my favourite: A Christmas Marathon in Honour of our jolly friend: Buddy the Elf!
Review by Filmusicinemike ★★★★ 2

4th TIME VIEWING

It's officially Christmas time for me, and although The Polar Express isn't my favorite, it always helps bring memories back.

Miss this stuff, would kill to be a kid again.

Recent reviews

Review by jake ★★★★★

THAT holiday movie
Review by Sam ★★

this movie creeps me the fuck out
Review by John_Doe11 ★

One of the best horror movies I've ever seen.

Wait...........this was supposed to be a cute, uplifting children's story?

But the character all have dead eyes!!!! The fuck?!!

Uh......well that's a bummer. Better change my rating from a 5 to a 1
Review by mia

the animation was ahead of its time
Review by Chiquitagirl

This is a movie that will always get me in the Christmas spirit. I was in my elementary chorus for this movie and I will always sing out the music to bring back the good ol' days
Review by Dawson Joyce ★★★★½

September 2017
Scavenger Hunt #30
TASK #2: A film you have a history with!

Back when I was a very little kid, the only experience I had watching films was watching them on VHS in my bedroom (also during this time, I only went to the theater with my family once every few months). I don't know if it was around my birthday or on Christmas in 2005, but during that time, I got a DVD player as a gift and I got two films on DVD to go along with it, one being Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The other is this film, The Polar Express, which I first experienced via a trailer shown during a screening…
Review by Jeff Phillips ★★ 2

Felt like Alan Silvestri was ripping off key moments from John Williams' Home Alone score. Also the nerdy kid voice actor was distracting.
Review by Tiago Oliveira ★★★

Este filme foi lindo de assistir a primeira vez no cinema, mas hoje eu tento assistir e não consigo
Excelente tecnicamente, novamente o Tom Hanks está excelente interpretando 5 personagens.
Esse filme entrou no Guinness como o primeiro e totalmente filme digitalizado com captura e foi uma empreitada não muito bem sucedida do diretor Zemeckis em trabalhar com esse estilo de animação. Depois desse ele dirigiu Beowulf e A Christmas Carol, além de ter produzido A Casa Monstro, até perceber que o público ainda não estava aceitando esse tipo de tecnologia.
Review by Audrey ★

I enjoyed this movie as a child, but recently I've come to realize how much of an abomination it is. Why did they have to destroy a perfectly good children's book with horrific animation, terrifying characters, and mindless songs about hot chocolate? Everything about this movie gives me anxiety. I'm getting heart palpitations just writing this. All of the characters fall into the uncanny valley and thus are terrifying. They're not even the reason most of the scenes are utterly traumatic, although they certainly don't help. I haven't watched this movie in God knows how long and I can still vividly picture that scene with the god forsaken Scrooge puppet. How terrifying is that? Why would they include a scene…