The movie “The Polar Express” has been a childhood staple for many years now since its release in 2004. Almost everyone in Generation Z has fond memories of watching it in their elementary school classroom, equipped with blankets and, of course, hot chocolate. Twenty years after its release, a Polar Express sequel is in development!

The first Polar Express was based on a 1985 children’s book about a boy who goes on a magical train to the North Pole. It originally did poorly in theaters, with criticisms for its somewhat creepy and “uncanny” animation. Since then, however, the movie has gained popularity as “one of the best children’s Christmas movies.” Natalee Bickham, a senior in high school and a member of Gen Z, says that she loves “The Polar Express”, stating that it is her “favorite childhood Christmas movie”. She expressed that it “definitely scared her a little, but overall was super good, just a bit creepy.” I think that kids’ movies that freak you out a bit are the best kind, so there’s no surprise here.

Online discourse about the possibility of this sequel surged in 2023 after a fake movie poster was posted on social media. However, after the poster was realized as fake, most assumed it wouldn’t happen until it was confirmed to be in development by producer Gary Goetzman in early 2024. Due to how recently it was announced, very little information is available about the sequel, but the movie “is trying to be worked out for sure” according to the producer. As of now, there is no release date.

 Lucas Robbiano, senior, states he “doesn’t think there needs to be a sequel to the Polar Express. It’s already a great movie on its own, a sequel would end up being worse, and ruin the whole concept of the movie.” 

This is an opinion that certainly carries some weight in this discussion. Plenty of times, a good movie gets an underfunded sequel that just can’t live up to the original.  Examples include the “Jurassic Park” saga, and Disney classics like “Cinderella”, or “Aladdin”. Whether this movie becomes a reality or not, the Polar Express is an irreplaceable part of the Christmas tradition and will stay that way for the foreseeable future.