Tom Hanks’ Iconic Christmas Film Becomes a Global Streaming Hit

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Over two decades after it first came out, The Polar Express is again a huge hit during the holidays. The popular 2004 film is enjoying a comeback as 2025 ends, with strong streaming numbers from viewers all over the world.

When it first appeared on HBO Max on December 26th, The Polar Express quickly became one of the most-watched Christmas movies on the platform, joining hits like Gremlins and Elf. Since the film will be leaving HBO Max on December 31st, now is a great chance for both longtime fans and new viewers to see what many consider to be Tom Hanks’ most overlooked role.

The Polar Express Hits HBO’s Top 10 Over Two Decades After Its Release

Since being added to HBO Max on November 1st, 2025, The Polar Express has quickly become a holiday favorite. By December 26th, it was a top 10 film on the streaming service in over 30 countries. In the United States, it’s even performing better than beloved classics like Gremlins and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The movie The Polar Express takes place in Michigan during the mid-1900s. It tells the story of a special train, also called the Polar Express, which carries a group of children to the North Pole on Christmas Eve to visit Santa. Along the way, the children discover the true meaning of Christmas – but only if they believe.

Released in 2004, The Polar Express, directed by Rob Zemeckis, was a huge success, earning over $300 million in theaters. The film is based on the 1985 book by Chris Van Allsburg, who also created Jumanji, and it was groundbreaking for its use of motion-capture technology from Sony Pictures. Even today, it’s known for being a visually stunning movie.

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Tom Hanks provides the voices for many characters in The Polar Express, and other well-known names like Steven Tyler, Josh Hutcherson, and Tinashe contribute their voices and performances through motion capture. Because of these talented contributions, along with the hard work of the film’s crew, The Polar Express is expected to be a highlight on HBO Max before it leaves the platform at the end of the year.

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2025-12-27 17:09