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The Polar Express
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Robert Zemeckis. With Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen.
6.7/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
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.
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6.7/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTWhen 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 f…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Polar Express.
MoviHero lists November 10, 2004 as the release date for The Polar Express. Robert Zemeckis is the listed director. The listed cast includes 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). A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateNovember 10, 2004
GenresAdventure · Family · Fantasy · Animation
Runtime1h 40m
DirectorRobert Zemeckis
CastTom 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)
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Polar Express right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Polar Express runs 1h 40m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 7/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 3/10. The profile suggests a lower-demand watch, although preferences vary.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Polar Express. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 6.7/10 from 7,140 votes. Updated Nov 14, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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Your movie rating. Your audience score.
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing7/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending3/10
Scary1/10
Violence2/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required3/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Polar Express
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“No matter how many times I watch this, it always brought me to tears!”
Viewer reaction
“Some kids with creepy dead eyes take a dreamlike trip to the North Pole on The Polar Express A boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is…”
Viewer reaction
“A young man is all excited as he heads to bed on Christmas eve.”
More reactions (1)
Viewer reaction
“Watching The Polar Express is not an annual event for me, but I believe I have seen it three times and would not nix the…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Hey! Hey, you. Yeah, you! Do you know what kind of train this is?”
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
Robert ZemeckisDirector
Tom HanksHero Boy (Adult)/ Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus
Leslie ZemeckisSister Sarah / Mother
Eddie DeezenKnow-It-All
Nona GayeHero Girl (voice)
Peter ScolariBilly / Lonely Boy
Michael JeterSmokey / Steamer
Josh HutchersonHero Boy (motion capture)
Daryl SabaraHero Boy (voice)
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherHero Boy (Adult)/ FatherHero Boy (Adult)/ Father in The Polar Express (2004), played by Tom Hanks.Open character guide otherSister SarahSister Sarah in The Polar Express (2004), played by Leslie Zemeckis.Open character guide otherKnow-It-AllKnow-It-All in The Polar Express (2004), played by Eddie Deezen.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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