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It’s been twenty years since the story of the magically festive train first hit the screens. While The Polar Express may not be the best animation ever made, it certainly has some charm. The film, voiced by Tom Hanks, is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg and tells the story of a boy who has lost his trust in Santa Claus.
On Christmas Eve he finds a mysterious train in front of his house. Encouraged by a conductor, the boy boards the vehicle and begins a journey to the North Pole, where he would meet Santa Claus.
Robert Zemeckis’ animation is one of the most recognizable Christmas films and a perfect family film. Here’s our guide to where you can stream, rent or buy this classic story. You can also read our reviews of the best Christmas TV and the best festive films.
How to stream The Polar Express online
The easiest way to watch the movie is to stream it. However, you can only find The Polar Express on these services:
Great Britain
You can watch the film now in the UK.
You must sign up for a cinema membership. This costs £9.99 per month and gives you access to an extensive library of the latest blockbusters and classics.
Currently, you can also bundle the Cinema package with the Entertainment membership for $13.99 per month for the first six months. That’s a saving of 30%, after which it returns to the usual price of £19.98 per month.
If you have a Sky TV package with Sky Cinema, you already have access to the film. The Polar Express is available to watch via the Sky Go appavailable on all major mobile devices.
Likewise, if your Virgin TV subscription includes movies, you can watch the movie Virgin TV Go.
Warner Bros.
US
If you live in the US, you can stream The Polar Express on the Max website. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month for an ad-supported plan. For an ad-free tier, you have to pay $16.99 monthly.
You can also stream The Polar Express on Hulu. A basic ad-supported subscription costs $9.99 per month and the first month is free for new subscribers.
How to rent or buy the Polar Express on VOD
You can get a digital copy of the film through Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft, and Apple TV.
In the UK you can also get The Polar Express from Sky Store (rent from £3.49 / buy from £4.99).
In the US, the film is also available via Vudu (rent for $3.99 / buy for $9.99).
How to buy The Polar Express on DVD/Blu-ray
If you would like to have a physical copy of the animation, that is still possible.
The Polar Express is available from Amazon UK for the price of £1.83 or £5.59 on Blu-ray.
The Polar Express is available from Amazon US from $9.99 on DVD or from $9.99 on Blu-ray.
How to rent The Polar Express on DVD
The Polar Express is also available through DVD rental subscription service Cinema Paradiso – sign up for a free trial here.