Courses
Cloudwards Video Courses New

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process.

How & Where to Watch Polar Express in 2025: Streaming Online

The Polar Express makes a stop at your home every year before heading to the North Pole, you’ll want to make sure you can stream it this holiday season. In this guide, we’ll show you how and where to watch Polar Express online with a VPN.

Sandra PattisonJackie LeavittJasna Mishevska

Written by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)

Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)

Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)

Last Updated:

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Where to Watch Polar Express
Key Takeaways: How to Watch Polar Express

The Polar Express is available on multiple platforms, but the easiest way to watch it is on Netflix Australia or New Zealand. Here’s a summary of what you need to do to access the Netflix library in those countries:

  1. Sign up for NordVPN by going to its website and grabbing a 72% discounted plan.
  2. Install the VPN app and connect to an Australian or New Zealand server.
  3. Log in to your Netflix account and start watching The Polar Express!

Best VPNs for Streaming Polar Express:

  1. NordVPN — Premium protection and a wealth of features. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 72% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
  2. Surfshark — Affordable protection for the whole family. Surfshark’s best deal is available at a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount.
  3. ExpressVPN — Seamless security for the tech-shy. ExpressVPN is available at a 25% discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Facts & Expert Analysis: Where to Watch The Polar Express

  • The Polar Express can be found on many streaming services, such as Max, Netflix, Binge and Amazon Prime Video. Both Binge and Prime Video have free trials available.
  • You can also rent or purchase the film on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV.
  • Some services are only available in certain countries, but you can access them by using a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
Best VPN for Streaming Polar Express

It’s that time of year again, when The Polar Express is due to make a stop at your home. The Polar Express movie was released in 2004 and is an animated film based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1985 New York Times bestseller of the same name. If you’re wondering where you can find the Warner Bros hit this holiday season, read on, as this guide shows you how and where to watch Polar Express

A skeptical young boy (Hero Boy) discovers a magical North Pole-bound train that appears outside of his home on Christmas Eve. Hero Boy encounters a stern, punctuality-obsessed conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks) before joining the other children on the extraordinary train ride.

He has doubts about Christmas, but his belief returns after receiving the first gift of Christmas from Santa Claus himself. 

The Polar Express is a heart-warming look at a boy who’s growing up and losing his Christmas spirit. The subtle lesson here is that even if you don’t believe in Christmas — or any other holiday or celebration — it doesn’t give you the right to downplay other people’s beliefs.

Protect Your Privacy. Get Our Free VPN Guide Now!

  • Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
  • Gain a deep understanding of how VPNs function under the hood
  • Develop the ability to distinguish fact from fiction in VPN promotions
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

If you’ve yet to see the Tom Hanks animation or join in with the iconic songs, we’ll show you where you can find Polar Express streaming online. That said, some streaming services are geoblocked, so you might need to use a VPN to access the platform. This guide will show you how, using the best VPN for streaming: NordVPN.

Not available in your country?

Watch The Polar Express now on Netflix

Status checked 2025/03/13:

  • 10/01/2024

    We realigned the VPN order based on current performance metrics and feature sets.

  • 12/17/2024

    All the streaming options were checked and revised.

Where to Watch The Polar Express

So, where can you watch Polar Express? You can find this popular movie streaming on a few different platforms, but, as we mentioned earlier, some are geoblocked in certain regions. For instance, you can’t access the U.S. Netflix library in the U.K. It all boils down to licensing agreements, but a virtual private network (VPN) can help you bypass them. 

All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in the country where the platform is available, and you’ll be able to gain access. However, not all VPNs are clever enough to get around the blocks, so you need to choose a reliable provider — we’ve listed the top two choices further down.

Where to Stream Polar Express?

Polar Express is available on Netflix Australia and New Zealand. If you already have a Netflix account but you’re not in those countries, you can hop on a VPN server located in one of those countries, log into your Netflix account and watch as usual.

You can also find The Polar Express on Max in the U.S. If you’re outside the U.S., you can access Max with a VPN. If you don’t have an account yet, check out our guide on how to sign up for Max.

hbo-max-the-polar-express
You can find Polar Express streaming on Max in the U.S.

Aside from Netflix and Max, we also found The Polar Express on Binge in Australia, Amazon Prime Video in Canada and Now Cinema in the U.K.

Alternatively, you can rent or buy The Polar Express on the following platforms:

Where to Watch Polar Express for Free

We couldn’t find The Polar Express on free legal streaming services such as PlutoTV or Tubi. If you really want to watch it for free, your best bet is to use one of the free trials with the streaming services mentioned in the previous section.

How to Watch Polar Express With a VPN

By using a VPN, you can access streaming services or content that’s not available where you’re currently located. In this section, we’ll show you how to access The Polar Express on Netflix Australia using NordVPN, but you can use the steps for other VPNs and streaming services too.

  1. Sign Up for NordVPN

    Start by visiting NordVPN’s website and selecting the two-year plan with a 72% discount, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Install the NordVPN App

    Download and install the VPN app onto your device. Then, launch the app and sign in.

    download nordvpn
  3. Find a Server Where Netflix Is Available

    Find and connect to a server, such as one in the Australia. Then, scroll through the list or use the search bar to find a specific server.

    NordVPN connecting to Australia
  4. Sign Up or Log In to Netflix

    If you already have an account, log in to Netflix as usual. If not, sign up for the service.

    Netflix Turkey account
  5. Find and Stream Polar Express

    Search for Polar Express on Netflix and start streaming.

    polar express netflix

The Best VPNs for Watching Polar Express

We’ve already shown you a glimpse of our favorite VPN, NordVPN, but in this section, we’ll go into more detail about the service. We’ll also provide other options that are better suited to smaller budgets and new users.

1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Polar Express

nordvpn france
NordVPN has extremely fast speeds and can easily access streaming services.
Best VPN for Streaming Polar Express

Pros:

  • Affordable prices
  • Fastest VPN speeds
  • Large server network

Cons:

  • Mobile UI is awkward

Unlock a world of content — get NordVPN now and enjoy 72% off your first two years.

Download
91 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
8 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 02/17/25 to 03/17/25
Data for region:

NordVPN is our top VPN recommendation for pretty much anything. It offers an unrivaled combination of security, privacy, fast speeds and streaming ability. It also has a huge server spread — though it doesn’t quite stretch to the North Pole — and is easy to use, even if you’re completely new to the VPN scene.

Better yet, NordVPN is relatively cheap. Its monthly plan is on par with most competitors; but annual plans offer huge savings. You can read our NordVPN review to learn more about the service, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee you can use to test drive it.

Plus
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Complete
  • *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Prime
  • **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
  • 10

2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Polar Express

Surfshark connect to france

Pros

  • Solid security
  • Excellent speeds
  • Great unblocking ability

Cons

  • No Mac/iOS split tunneling
  • High latency on close servers

Unleash global content with Surfshark — sign up now for 66% (plus 3 months free) off and unrestricted access.

Download
94 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 02/17/25 to 03/17/25
Data for region:

Surfshark may not have the holiday-appropriate theming of NordVPN, but it’s another great choice for settling in to watch The Polar Express. Posting quick speeds all over the world (though with a slight lag issue over great distances), it’s reliable for getting into Netflix in any country.

It’s also got unlimited simultaneous connections per account, in case some of your family would rather watch another Christmas favorite. We recommend signing up for a year of Surfshark Starter to get the best deal. See inside the package with our Surfshark review, or unwrap it yourself with a 30-day refund promise.

Surfshark Starter
  • Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
  • Yes
Surfshark One
  • Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best New User VPN for Polar Express

expressvpn france

Pros:

  • Fast speeds
  • Plenty of servers
  • Very Beginner-Friendly UI

Cons:

  • Expensive

Stream like a local anywhere — get ExpressVPN’s 25% off deal with a 30-day refund policy.

Download
91 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
5 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 02/17/25 to 03/17/25
Data for region:

ExpressVPN is near the top of most of our VPN lists. It balances beginner-focused apps with totally seamless function; whether streaming, torrenting or video chatting, we hardly see it stumble. Connections happen quickly, and its formidable server network covers well over 100 countries.

As we said, though, ExpressVPN isn’t cheap. Its best value plan is for two years and costs $4.99 per month. Read our ExpressVPN review to learn more, or test it out with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

Final Thoughts: The Polar Express Streaming

Whether it’s your first time joining Hero Boy on The Polar Express train journey to the North Pole or you’re a seasoned veteran, we hope this guide has given you all you need to stream one of the best Academy Award nominated Christmas movies ever.

Skeptical? Put NordVPN to the test yourself — its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it without any financial commitment.

What service will you watch The Polar Express on? Will you watch it on Christmas Eve? Do you need to use a VPN? If so, which one will you choose? Let us know in the comments section and, as always, thank you for reading.

FAQ: Polar Express Streaming

↑ Top