The Polar Express (2004)
All aboard — the definitive Santa's-workshop train ride.
A doubting boy boards a magical train on Christmas Eve and rides to the North Pole, where the first gift of Christmas awaits: a bell that only rings for those who truly believe. Tom Hanks plays six roles in this performance-capture landmark from Robert Zemeckis. The hot chocolate number alone justifies the trip.
Robert Zemeckis shot the entire film in performance capture — a first for a feature — with Tom Hanks playing the conductor, the hero boy's father, the hobo, and Santa himself. Chris Van Allsburg's Caldecott-winning book is only 32 pages, so the film expands it into a dream about the exact age when believing gets hard. The IMAX 3D version became a perennial holiday event in its own right, and the image of the first gift of Christmas — a bell only believers can hear — has entered the season's permanent vocabulary.
From the Film
The Facts
- Year
- 2004
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Genres
- Animation, Fantasy, Family
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Tom Hanks | Hero Boy / Father / Conductor / Hobo / Santa Claus |
| Michael Jeter | Smokey / Steamer |
| Nona Gaye | Hero Girl |
| Peter Scolari | Lonely Boy |
| Eddie Deezen | Know-It-All Boy |
| Daryl Sabara | Hero Boy (voice) |
Good to know: Nominated for three Academy Awards and made using pioneering performance-capture animation, with Tom Hanks in multiple roles.
Where to watch The Polar Express
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