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Trailer

The Polar Express

2004Movie1 h 40 minG

Animation
62
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.6Metacritic616.9Rotten Tomatoes55%64%

An awe-inspiring, heartwarming adventure movie about fantasy and growing up, with standout cinematography and score.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for brutality or romance.

Movies with

Story

A journey like you’ve never imagined.

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.

Feels like

  • Christmas Classic
  • Magical Realism
  • Coming-of-Age Fantasy
  • Visually Stunning CGI
  • Emotional Resonance
  • Nostalgic Atmosphere
  • Family Friendly
  • Spiritual Journey
  • Musical Score Highlight
  • Wonder and Belief

Cast

24 of 41

Crew

Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
Written by
Robert Zemeckis, William Broyles Jr.
Produced by
Robert Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman, Steve Starkey
Music by
Alan Silvestri

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 10, 2004 · 1 h 40 min · G

Released
November 10, 2004
Runtime
1 h 40 min
Age rating
G
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$165 million
Box office
$318 million
Available in
114 countries

Tropes

Belly-Scraping Flight, Creator Provincialism, Broken Record +9

  • Belly-Scraping Flight
  • Creator Provincialism
  • Broken Record
  • Shout-Out
  • Secret Test of Character
  • Artistic License – Music
  • No Name Given
  • Those Two Guys
  • Curse Cut Short
  • Holiday Pardon
  • "Do Not Fear the Unknown" Speech
  • Freeze-Frame Bonus

12 of 110 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Polar Express?"

Questions about The Polar Express

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Polar Express?

HBO Max

In the United States, The Polar Express streams on HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 73 other countries.

Is The Polar Express worth watching?

62
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 62 (IMDb 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes 55%, and Metacritic 61).

Is there a sequel to The Polar Express?

  1. The Polar Express (2004)
  2. The Polar Express 2

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by The Polar Express 2.

Is The Polar Express okay for kids?

G

Yes: it's rated G in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I feel good after watching The Polar Express?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for hopefulness and 9 for wholesome.

What tropes does The Polar Express use?

Belly-Scraping FlightCreator ProvincialismBroken RecordShout-OutSecret Test of CharacterArtistic License – MusicNo Name GivenThose Two GuysCurse Cut ShortHoliday Pardon"Do Not Fear the Unknown" SpeechFreeze-Frame Bonusand 98 more

TV Tropes lists 110 tropes for it, including Belly-Scraping Flight, Creator Provincialism, and Broken Record.