Polar Express Arrives
Get ready for a magical adventure to the North Pole as The Polar Express screens at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre. Director Robert Zemeckis brings this classic children's book to life with stunning animation and a star-studded cast.
Dir: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Michael Jeter, Josh Hutcherson, Daryl Sabara
100 mins · 2004 · United States of America · Cert U · English
IMDb 6.6/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 55% · Metacritic 61/100 · TMDB 6.7/10 · Trakt 71%
Awards: Nominated for 3 Oscars. 5 wins & 26 nominations total
Family Film: The Polar Express
12 Dec 2026
Gulbenkian Arts Centre (Canterbury)
Robert Zemeckis, known for his work on Forrest Gump and Cast Away, directs this enchanting animated film. The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, where he learns about the true spirit of Christmas. The film features an all-star cast, including Tom Hanks, Nona Gaye, and Eddie Deezen.
The Polar Express is a 100-minute animated adventure film, rated U, and is a perfect treat for the whole family. With its stunning animation and captivating storyline, it's no wonder the film has received mixed but generally favourable reviews from critics, with scores of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61/100 on Metacritic, and 6.6/10 on IMDb. The film was also nominated for three Oscars and has won five awards.
The film will be screening at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre in Canterbury on Saturday, 12 December 2026. Tickets are on sale: say tickets are with the button beside the article. This is a truly magical and seasonal animation that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. With its unique blend of adventure, fantasy, and family-friendly fun, The Polar Express is a must-watch during the festive season.
Stills
What viewers say
AndrewBloom · 5/10
[4.8/10] *The Polar Express* is based on a thirty-page children’s book. I loved that book when I was a kid, but part of what I appreciated about is that it was a straightforward dose of imagination. It’s less a story than a chance to put yourself in the shoes of the protagonist, and picture yourself on a trip to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus himself. There’s very little conflict, very little in terms of identifiable characters, with most of…
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El Turco · 10/10
One of my favourite childhood cartoon. What a beautiful, calm and peaceful experience this was. 10/10.
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ItsWilder · 10/10
Although I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count, this year was special. Watching it through SharePlay & FaceTime with my 77 yr old parents who live 600 miles away made it “extra” special.
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Chinalover33 · 8/10
While the animation has not aged well, I always enjoy watching this movie during Christmas time. The story behind this movie is so fun to imagine and makes me want to be a kid again during Christmas.
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laurenshikari · 7/10
this whole movie feels like an extremely long video game cutscene . like it feels like you should be able to control it but you can’t... you just have to watch the Chaos
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shaneleexcx1234 · 10/10
"At one time, all of my friends could hear the bell. But as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me. As it does for all who truly believe." I truly adore Polar express its between this and Gremlins for my favourite Christmas movie I prefer gremlins as I actually film but for the Christmas feeling the polar express…
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The_Argentinian
I never cared about watching this but decided to check out how it looks in 4k. I'm surprised at how invested in the story I was. I see now how it's a modern Christmas classic. Regarding the animation, it's easier to accept it when it doesn't go for realism (that's why nobody complains about how old Pixar movies look). But this looks like videogame cutscenes. It's the only dated thing about it.
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Mr. Sackamano · 7/10
Kids like it so I guess we're watching again ugh thankfully Lethal Weapon is an xmas movie too
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