The Polar Express Presented in 3D

WARNER
Street: Oct. 28
Prebook: now
> 3D element adds another plus for this recent Christmas classic.

First released as an Imax 3D attraction during 2004’s holiday season, this imaginative adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book has become a Christmas perennial, earning tens of millions with each successive reissue. Warner finally brings the 3D experience to home viewers by packaging multiple pairs of special glasses with both standard and Blu-ray editions. (Both discs also offer the 2D version.) The then-revolutionary motion-capture computer animation still holds up, and families will enjoy replicating the Imax experience in their living rooms.

Shelf Talk: As close to a slam dunk as could be hoped for this holiday season, Polar Express should fly off the shelves once Warner flexes its marketing muscle and gets the word out. It’s a natural for family trade, and the 3D hook makes it all the better to pitch to customers with ambitious home-theater setups. Expect this release to be one of the season’s most popular stocking-stuffers.