It’s been 20 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, featuring the voice of Tom Hanks, is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and tells the story of a boy who has lost his faith in Santa Claus.
On Christmas Eve, he finds a mysterious train outside his house. Encouraged by a conductor, the boy gets into the vehicle and begins a journey to the North Pole, where he is supposed to meet Santa.
Robert Zemeckis’ animation is one of the most recognizable Christmas films, and is a perfect family film. Here’s our guide on where to stream, rent or buy this classic tale. You can also read our round-ups of the best Christmas TV and the best festive movies.
How to stream The Polar Express online
The easiest way to watch the movie is to stream it. However, you can find The Polar Express only on these services:
UK
In the UK, you can watch the film on Now.
You’ll need to sign up for a Cinema membership. This costs £9.99 per month and gives you access to a vast library of the latest blockbusters and classics.
You can also currently bundle the Cinema package with the Entertainment membership for £13.99 per month for the first six months. That’s a 30% saving, after which it’ll return to its usual £19.98 per month price.
If you have a Sky TV package that includes Sky Cinema, you’ll already have access to the film. The Polar Express is available to watch via the Sky Go app, available across all major mobile devices.
Likewise, if your Virgin TV subscription includes movies, you can watch the film on Virgin TV Go.
Warner Bros.
US
If you’re based in the US, you can stream The Polar Express on the Max website. Plans start at $9.99 per month for an ad-supported subscription. 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 is priced at $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 via Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft and Apple TV.
In the UK, you can also get The Polar Express from Sky Store (rent for £3.49 / buy from £4.99).
In the US, the movie 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 want to have a physical copy of the animation, it’s still possible.
The Polar Express is available from Amazon UK at the price of £1.83 or £5.59 on Blu-ray.
Via Amazon US, The Polar Express is available 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 via DVD rental subscription service Cinema Paradiso – sign up here for a free trial.
