The Polar Express Comes to Town
Get ready to rediscover the wonder of Christmas with a magical train ride to the North Pole. The Polar Express, a beloved animated film, is coming to Folkestone Harbour Arm on Monday, 21 December 2026.
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
The Polar Express has received a mixed bag of reviews, with scores ranging from 55% on Rotten Tomatoes to 71% on Trakt, and an IMDb rating of 6.6/10. • The film boasts an impressive cast, including Tom Hanks, who voices multiple characters, and a talented crew, led by director Robert Zemeckis. • The movie's use of motion-capture animation was a groundbreaking technique at the time of its release, creating a unique and captivating visual experience. • The story follows a young boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole, where he rediscovers the wonder of Christmas and learns valuable lessons about the importance of believing.
The film will be screened at Folkestone Harbour Arm, Folkestone, on Monday, 21 December 2026. Tickets are with the button beside the article. With its enchanting storyline, stunning animation, and memorable characters, The Polar Express is a must-watch for families and fans of animated films alike.
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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