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The Polar Express

  • 20042004
  • GG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,388
1,832
Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
A boy's fantastical train journey to the North Pole
Play trailer2:04
5 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Animation
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,388
1,832
  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • Chris Van Allsburg(book)
    • Robert Zemeckis(screenplay)
    • William Broyles Jr.(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Chris Coppola(voice)
    • Michael Jeter(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • Chris Van Allsburg(book)
    • Robert Zemeckis(screenplay)
    • William Broyles Jr.(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Chris Coppola(voice)
    • Michael Jeter(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 622User reviews
    • 166Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 26 nominations total

    Videos5

    The Polar Express
    Trailer 2:04
    The Polar Express
    The Polar Express
    Trailer 1:10
    The Polar Express
    The Polar Express
    Trailer 0:32
    The Polar Express
    The Polar Express
    Trailer 0:32
    The Polar Express
    The Polar Express
    Trailer 2:16
    The Polar Express

    Photos125

    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    The Polar Express (2004)
    The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, and Josh Hutcherson in The Polar Express (2004)
    Tom Hanks in The Polar Express (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Hero Boyas Hero Boy…
    Chris Coppola
    Chris Coppola
    • Toothless Boyas Toothless Boy
    • (voice)
    • …
    Michael Jeter
    Michael Jeter
    • Smokeyas Smokey
    • (voice)
    • …
    Leslie Zemeckis
    Leslie Zemeckis
    • Sister Sarahas Sister Sarah
    • (voice)
    • …
    Eddie Deezen
    Eddie Deezen
    • Know-It-Allas Know-It-All
    • (voice)
    Nona Gaye
    Nona Gaye
    • Hero Girlas Hero Girl
    • (voice)
    Peter Scolari
    Peter Scolari
    • Billy - Lonely Boyas Billy - Lonely Boy
    Brendan King
    • Pastry Chefas Pastry Chef
    • (voice)
    Andy Pellick
    • Pastry Chefas Pastry Chef
    • (voice)
    Josh Eli
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Mark Mendonca
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Rolondas Hendricks
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    • (as Rolandas Hendricks)
    Mark Goodman
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Jon Scott
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Gregory Gast
    Gregory Gast
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Sean Scott
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Gordon Hart
    Gordon Hart
    • Waiteras Waiter
    • (voice)
    Julene Renee
    Julene Renee
    • Red Head Girlas Red Head Girl
    • (voice)
    • …
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Chris Van Allsburg(book)
      • Robert Zemeckis(screenplay)
      • William Broyles Jr.(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is listed in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records as the "first all-digital capture" film, where all acted parts were done in digital capture.
    • Goofs
      When the elves are helping the children out of Santa's sack the elves move as if they are getting the "know it all" out of the sack, but there is no boy between them.
    • Quotes

      The Conductor: Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.

    • Crazy credits
      The production company credits are covered with snow and ice.
    • Alternate versions
      The film's IMAX release presented the film cropped to the Univisium 2.00:1 aspect ratio.
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: The Polar Express (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      The Polar Express
      Written and Produced by Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri

    User reviews622

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    wonderful holiday film
    So it was with much trepidation and even utter fear in my heart that I went to see this movie. After all, the last time I went to see a full-length adaptation of a favorite Christmas story, what I got was Ron Howard's absolutely God-awful "The Grinch". Having grown up with the book "The Polar Express" (according to my mom, I cited it as my favorite Christmas present when I was seven), I did not want to see this story bastardized in any way. Honestly, I was prepared for "Polar Express" to be a complete wreck. But instead…

    It soared. Completely. What makes the film such a success is not so much even the story itself, but an execution which somehow manages to inject every frame of the film with a feeling of childlike wonder and exuberance. In addition, there are so many clever touches and details added throughout that a feeling of mystery and excitement just fills the viewer. Among these are the waiters dancing and singing while serving hot chocolate to the kids on the train (a very funny scene, as well), the factory where the presents are prepared, and a ghost-like hobo who is never really explained, but is incredibly crucial to the feel of the film. At one point, three of the children wander lost through the empty streets of Santa's North Pole town. As they wander, various old Christmas recordings are heard playing on phonographs throughout the town. The music provides a pleasant and nostalgic ambiance to the scene. It's touches like this that absolutely make the film.

    I'll never understand why films seem to be required to be at least 90 minutes long. I would pay money to see a 40-minute film, as long as it were good. And even if it sucked, I would have at least wasted less time. What I'm getting at is I have no idea why a 32-page picture book needed to be a 99-minute movie. What this means is that the original story is VASTLY expanded upon. However, what is added in actually fits quite well with the essence and spirit of the book. Some of it is just sheer entertainment; the train track is like a roller coaster, characters ski on top of the cars, danger lurks around every step of the journey to the North Pole (but admittedly fun danger). Other aspects further illuminate and expand upon the book's basic theme of the virtue of belief in the implausible. So I have no idea why this was made into a full-length, but in the end, I'm glad it was. It didn't even feel too long (and I think everything is too long).

    Much criticism has fallen on the look of the characters in the movie. I can agree to a point. While there is incredible visual detail in the faces, they usually seem void of expression. In general, a lot of the motion seems rather wooden, as well. The scenery, on the other hand, is gorgeous. Overall, the minor problems in animation (which really boil down to a matter of taste anyway) are certainly not enough to diminish what is an overwhelmingly successful movie. Score: 8/10
    helpful•214
    55
    • madpenguin41
    • Dec 18, 2004

    FAQ7

    • What is "The Polar Express" about?
    • Is "The Polar Express" based on a book?
    • Why are there two actors for each of the major children's parts?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 10, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • The Polar Express Wikia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience
    • Filming locations
      • Arctic Ocean
    • Production companies
      • Castle Rock Entertainment
      • Shangri-La Entertainment
      • Playtone
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $165,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $188,969,804
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,323,463
      • Nov 14, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $315,249,768
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • IMAX 6-Track
      • 12-Track Digital Sound
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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