The Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic

IMDb6.6/10· 270K votes

Rotten Tomatoes55%

Metacritic61%

TMDb6.7/10· 7K votes

With 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 6.6/10 on IMDb and 61/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been mixed.

About The Polar Express

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.

Cast of The Polar Express

• 

  Tom Hanks

  as Hero Boy (Adult)/ Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus

• 

  Leslie Zemeckis

  as Sister Sarah / Mother

• 

  Eddie Deezen

  as Know-It-All

• 

  Nona Gaye

  as Hero Girl (voice)

• 

  Peter Scolari

  as Billy / Lonely Boy

• 

  Michael Jeter

  as Smokey / Steamer

• 

  Josh Hutcherson

  as Hero Boy (motion capture)

• 

  Daryl Sabara

  as Hero Boy (voice)

• 

  Jimmy Bennett

  as Lonely Boy (voice)

• 

  Tinashe

  as Hero Girl (motion capture)

• B

  Brendan King

  as Pastry Chef

• A

  Andy Pellick

  as Pastry Chef

The Polar Express facts

Budget

$165M

Box office

$318.4M

Collection

The Polar Express Collection

Our take on The Polar Express

Robert Zemeckis's 2004 animated fantasy uses pioneering motion-capture to send a doubting young boy on a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. What unfolds is less a plot than a journey of self-discovery, as the boy learns that wonder endures for those willing to believe. Zemeckis leans into swooping camera moves and a dreamlike, storybook look that gives the film its distinctive, slightly uncanny texture. Aimed squarely at families during the holidays, it's built around awe, warmth and the spirit of the season rather than incident. Best for younger viewers and anyone who enjoys a gentle, atmospheric Christmas tale with plenty of visual spectacle.