While viewers don't often discuss the movie, the 19-year-old Tom Hanks movie, The Polar Express, has become a bonafide Christmas classic.

Summary

• "The Polar Express may not be the most popular Christmas movie, but it has gained popularity in recent years for its nostalgic visuals and bittersweet tone."
• "Despite its initial mixed reception, The Polar Express still ranks as one of the top Christmas movies in terms of box office earnings and continues to stand the test of time."
• "The movie's unique animation style and representation of neurodivergent characters have garnered praise from modern audiences, making it a holiday classic worth watching."

Even though the movie isn't discussed often, the 19-year-old Tom Hanks movie The Polar Express has become a Christmas classic worth watching every holiday season. Adapted from the Calcott Medal award-winning children's book, The Polar Express follows Hero Boy, a jaded child who embarks on a journey to find his faith in the spirit of Christmas. The movie relays the message that Hero Boy – and, by extension, the audience – is never too old to believe in magic.

Audiences rarely place The Polar Express among the best Christmas movies of all time, favoring more famous movies like Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966). The holiday movie, which stars Hanks as the voice of several key roles, including the conductor and Santa Claus, was initially released in November 2004. While it may not have been deemed a hit when it first debuted in theaters, The Polar Express has found itself trending in the weeks leading up to Christmas in recent years, and 2023 has been no different.

The Polar Express is available to stream on Max.

Popularity For The Polar Express Grew Since Its Release In 2004

When The Polar Express first released, audiences seemed divided on the movie's merits. Frequent complaints included the movie's animation style, brusque characters, and foreboding tone. This contrasted with previous animated holiday movies like the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. Despite this, The Polar Express has gained traction in the years since its release for some of the very things that once caused uncertainty among viewers.

Though current animation styles lean towards realism, The Polar Express goes outside the box by bringing an illustrated picture book to life. Even though the visuals are simplified, every shot perfectly captures the nostalgic images of winter and Christmas seen in the source material. Modern perceptions have also shifted towards one of the least likable main characters in The Polar Express – the Know-It-All Boy. Once viewed as annoying, the character's dialogue and mannerisms are now seen as a positive representation of neurodivergent audience members with hyper-fixations.

Even the less-overtly-cheerful tone of The Polar Express is now praised. This is likely because the movie takes a similar approach to many non-animated Christmas classics like It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol. All these films center on a character who lost their way but will find hope and joy again with just a little magic. By mixing this bittersweet parable with upbeat music and vivid animation, The Polar Express appeals to audience members of all ages.

Related

20 Best Quotes From The Polar Express

The best Polar Express quotes are enough to make any doubter believe in Santa Claus and are overflowing with a heartwarming festive spirit.

Was The Polar Express A Box Office Success When It First Released?

When the Christmas classic first released, The Polar Express didn't bomb at the box office, but it certainly wasn't a success either. Based on the numbers on Box Office Mojo, during the original and simultaneous IMAX releases, the movie grossed approximately 298 million dollars against a 165 million dollar budget. Even though The Polar Express has released in theaters a total of 17 times, the film still fails to reach the double budget threshold necessary to be considered a success.

Despite its mediocre box office outcome, The Polar Express still ranks sixth for the lifetime gross and tenth for opening gross on the list of Christmas-themed movies, placing above the Santa Clause franchise. It was also the highest-grossing Christmas movie of 2004, even outperforming Christmas with the Kranks (via Box Office Mojo). Considering this, The Polar Express should get more credit as a holiday movie that stands the test of time. While it may not have performed well individually, it certainly holds up against other Christmas classics.

Sources: Box Office Mojo, Box Office Mojo