Despite still sparking debate, Tom Hanks’ Christmas movie from years ago is proving popular with HBO Max viewers. The streaming service has been adding lots of holiday titles, including films like A Christmas Carol, Elf, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Among the new November releases was a Christmas favorite that brought Hanks back together with director Robert Zemeckis, who also directed his well-known films Forrest Gump and Cast Away.
Zemeckis’ film The Polar Express, based on the beloved 1985 children’s book and featuring Hank as the train conductor, began streaming on HBO Max on November 1st and has quickly become popular. It’s currently the fifth most-watched movie on the platform, even surpassing the classic holiday film A Christmas Story. Only National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Elf, and Flight Risk are currently performing better.
The Polar Express Is a Disturbingly Heartwarming Movie
While The Polar Express seems like a perfect Christmas movie with its beautiful snowy scenes and focus on believing in the magic of the season, it’s surprisingly unsettling. Despite being made for children, the movie ignores typical safety warnings – kids willingly board a train with a mysterious conductor at night. The journey is full of exciting but dangerous moments, constantly putting the children at risk.
What really divides viewers about The Polar Express is its unusual animation. It was the first film made entirely using motion capture, a new technology at the time that’s now common. However, this resulted in characters that many find unsettling. The film is a prime example of the ‘uncanny valley’ – the characters look almost human, but not quite, and this can be deeply disturbing. Some viewers find the characters’ blank expressions and lifeless eyes more frightening than festive, turning what’s meant to be a heartwarming Christmas movie into something unsettling.
Whether you love it or not, The Polar Express tends to be a very divisive film. However, it’s undeniably become a Christmas classic and remains a popular choice for holiday movie nights.
Other Christmas Movies Now on HBO Max
HBO Max has added a bunch of holiday favorites just in time for the season! Along with The Polar Express, subscribers can now stream classics like the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, Elf, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. And on December 1st, Christmas with the Kranks will become available on HBO Max after moving from Netflix.
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2025-11-30 22:45