Tom Hanks’ Hit Adventure Movie Crosses Major Milestone At The Perfect Time

Published Nov 11, 2026, 11:31 AM EST

Nick Bythrow is a Lead Writer for ScreenRant. He has been writing for the site since September 2022. He graduated from Hampshire College in 2022, where he triple majored in Journalism, Communications, and Media Studies. When he's not writing about TV and movies for ScreenRant and his blog, Frayed Branches, Nick is penning speculative fiction and poetry on Amazon. He lives outside Boston, Massachusetts.

Tom Hanks' hit adventure movie that's become a modern classic since it came out has crossed a major milestone at the perfect time of the year. The best movies from Hanks include a number of films that fall into the adventure category, some of which have become classics over the years. From the harrowing narrative of Cast Away to the space-faring realities of Apollo 13, Hanks has a number of movies that, unconventionally, fall into the adventure category. But there's one film that more directly follows adventure tropes now taking the world by storm.

That movie is The Polar Express, a 2004 animated Christmas movie that sees Hanks take on multiple roles at once. The story follows an unnamed boy who, on Christmas Eve, is taken aboard the Polar Express, a train heading for the North Pole to give children the opportunity to see Santa Claus fly off before Christmas begins. The boy isn't a believer, but, over the course of his adventure, slowly begins to learn how to believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas.

Hanks' Polar Express Is Officially One Of HBO Max's Biggest Hits

Now, The Polar Express has quickly become one of HBO Max's biggest hits following a massive new milestone. According to data from November 11, 2026, The Polar Express has crossed 100 days in HBO Max's Top 10 in the United States. As of writing, the movie sits at Number 3 on the platform, just behind Will Ferrell's Christmas comedy Elf and Seth Rogen's latest movie, The Invite. The movie continues to do well as the holiday season approaches.

Given how well Hanks' movie is performing right now, this 100-day crossing is going to be just the start for the movie and its performance on the platform. The Polar Express reviews may be mixed on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, but the film has plenty of holiday history that's kept it as a modern classic. Hanks' performance as multiple figures in the movie, from the conductor to Santa himself, has made it a unique entry in his career, especially thanks to its motion capture animation approach.

Hanks May One Day Return To The Adventure Franchise

It's possible Hanks may come back to the world of The Polar Express, depending on how its future as a franchise develops. As of 2024, a Polar Express sequel movie is in development, though there's no word on who is set to be involved in it. This could give Hanks the perfect opportunity to return to the Christmas story's world, reprising his role as some of its classic characters. It would still work since the movie is an animated production.

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The original book was also written by Chris Van Allsburg, whose classic Jumanji also turned into a franchise in the modern era following a classic film adaptation. The same could happen to The Polar Express, especially if there are more stories left to be told in its universe. But, no matter what happens with plans for a sequel, Hanks' role in the movie will forever be remembered as a core part of Christmas film history.

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  Hero Boy / Father / Conductor / Hobo / Scrooge / Santa Claus

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  Leslie Zemeckis

  Sister Sarah / Mother