Here's where to catch 'The Polar Express' on the big screen this Christmas season
Editor's note: This popular post has been updated for the 2019 season.
"The Polar Express" picture book by Chris Van Allsburg has been a long-time favorite Christmas read aloud for my family. And, more recently, the movie version also has become part of our holiday traditions.
Every year, local spots bring back the 2004 movie, starring Tom Hanks, to the big screen. Here are a few places where you can find it.
Marbles Kids Museum's IMAX Theatre
Marbles will screen the 3D version of the classic eight times during the holiday season, starting at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 29. Tickets are available now on its website.
Alamo Drafthouse
The Raleigh theater will screen the movie at 10 a.m., Dec. 7.
Lafayette Village
The shopping area in north Raleigh will host a screening of the movie from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 21.
Cary Theatre
The downtown Cary movie theater will screen the movie at 7 p.m., Dec. 19. Tickets are between $3 and $5. The theater also is screening lots of other Christmas favorites, including Elf, a White Christmas sing-along and more.
Regal Cinemas
The Regal theaters at Brier Creek in Raleigh, Crossroads in Cary and White Oak in Garner will have a classic holiday movie series starting Nov. 30. Movies take place at 1 p.m., Saturdays, starting Nov. 30 with Elf. It continues with Gremlins on Dec. 7, The Polar Express on Dec. 14 and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Dec. 21.
Howell Theatre
The theater in Smithfield will host a free screening of The Polar Express and a visit with Santa on Dec. 14. The movie starts at 10 a.m. A special sensory-friendly screening starts at 10:30 a.m. Santa will be there from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Flashback Cinema, a nationwide series featuring flashback movies, won't include The Polar Express this year as it has in past years, but there will be other classics such as "Home Alone," "White Christmas" and more. Park West 14 Cinemas in Morrisville, Silverspot in Chapel Hill and Wakefield 10 in Raleigh screen the movies. Flashback Cinema's website has the details.
