'The Polar Express' Is Full Steam Ahead for the Holidays! Family Favorite Returns to DVD October 3.

BURBANK, Calif. -- "The Polar Express" -- the dazzling classic and one of Warner Home Video's all-time best-selling family DVDs -- is back for holiday gift givers on October 3rd from Warner Home Video and Shangri-La Entertainment.

"The Polar Express" will be offered in two versions at a great price: $26.99 SRP for the Two-Disc Special Edition and $19.97 SRP for the movie-only version.

Extras on the Two-Disc Special Edition include a making of feature that explores how Tom Hanks and the brilliant special effects team created five different characters; Chris Van Allsburg discussing how he conceived the idea for "The Polar Express" book; Josh Groban's live performance of the Grammy(R) award winning original song "Believe"; two interactive challenges for children; a DVD-ROM weblink to the online world of "The Polar Express" and more!

In connection with the release, "The Polar Express"-themed float will appear for the second year in New York's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R). Also, "The Polar Express" will premiere on ABC Television this holiday. The film will be one of the blockbuster movies airing as part of ABC Family's ninth annual "25 Days of Christmas" programming event that features over a 100 hours of holiday-themed entertainment from December 1 -- 25.

Two previous IMAX releases have helped "The Polar Express" top $300 million in worldwide box office. More than 12 million DVD units have been sold to consumers worldwide who have added this inspiring adventure from the Oscar(R)-winning team of Tom Hanks and Robert Zemeckis to their home libraries or shared them as gifts. Marking another milestone and affirming its status as a perennial classic, the endearing film returns to theaters this holiday season with its third IMAX release of "The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience."

"The Polar Express" is based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children's book about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. His journey of self-discovery shows the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. "The Polar Express" -- which has sold nearly 7 million copies in print and ranked #2 on the National Education Association's Teachers Top 100 Books for Children -- was selected as "Critics Choice" by the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).

Castle Rock Entertainment Presents, in Association with Shangri-La Entertainment, a Playtone / ImageMovers / Golden Mean Production of a Robert Zemeckis Film: Tom Hanks in "The Polar Express." Directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay by Zemeckis & William Broyles, Jr., the film is produced by Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Gary Goetzman and William Teitler and is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg. Tom Hanks, Jack Rapke and Chris Van Allsburg are the executive producers. The production team includes directors of photography Don Burgess, A.S.C. and Robert Presley; production designers Rick Carter and Doug Chiang; and editors Jeremiah O'Driscoll & R. Orlando Duenas. Senior visual effects supervisors are Ken Ralston and Jerome Chen. Co-producer is Steven Boyd. Music score is by Alan Silvestri, and original songs by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri. "The Polar Express" is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. Soundtrack album on Warner Sunset/Reprise Records. This film is rated G by the MPAA. For more information, please visit www.polarexpressmovie.com.