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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Destination Films


6.9

based on 23 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 16 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: G for General Audiences

Starring Peter Fonda, Mara Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Didi Conn, Colm Feore, and Cody McMains

A magic journey happens when a young girl visitis her grandfather and finds herself on a special train pulled by an engine named Thomas.

GENRE(S):	Family/Kids
WRITTEN BY:	Britt Allcroft
DIRECTED BY:	Britt Allcroft
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 31, 2000 Video: October 31, 2000 Theatrical: July 26, 2000
RUNNING TIME:	85 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	UK / USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Boston Globe Loren King

A train worth catching.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

The film is inoffensive, and Baldwin is fun and engaging.

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

An archaic rail-ride into the heart of boredom.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

A welcome alternative to such hyperkinetic drivel as Pokémon.

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

This land of sweetness and light may appeal to many, but to some it is going to seem like living hell.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Has the look of a great fairy tale -- all that's missing is the tale.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Something of a mess.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

The plot keeps switching tracks.

Chicago Tribune Monica Eng

Children's films can be thrilling affairs for parents and kids. Unfortunately, this film is not likely to thrill either group.

TNT RoughCut Susannah Breslin

Confusing to anyone who's familiar with the word "plot."

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

An inept assembly of ill-matched plot points, meandering through a production that has attractive art direction (despite the immobile mouths).

Miami Herald Kevin Baxter

Skip the movie and pick up the videos at Toys R Us.

Los Angeles Times Gene Seymour

Lays thick, goopy layers of uplift on what should be lighter on the heart and stomach.

Film.com John Hartl

Only very small children are likely to be satisfied.

LA Weekly Paul Malcolm

If you're above the target age of 5, Thomas may coax you into a naplike stupor.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Mr. Baldwin's attack -- there's no better way to put it -- is unforgettable. He's the first shrunken narrator with a serial killer's swagger.

Film.com Tom Keogh

Nearly incomprehensible story.

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

Disheveled tripe pieced together with the good intentions.

Variety Derek Elley

All mish-mash.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

A big, fat clunker.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Skin-crawlingly awful.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

An ugly and insipid film.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Even Amtrak hasn't seen a derailment this godawful in some time.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 16 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Mike S gave it a1:
This is an absolutely terrible movie even by the standards of my 2 year old. It is poorly acted, poorly scripted, poorly shot and doesn't even give much screen time to the steam engines (the main reason my 2 year old wanted to watch it). One big long non-sequitur that makes Teletubbies seem like Shakespeare. There is nothing here for your kid. There is nothing here for you. Don't waste your time or money.

D Robinson gave it a9:
Come on you lot!... Whos this for? My little one love it, hours of piece and quiet. What more could you want? At least you dont get the theme tune every 10 minutes with the movie. Bring on the Tweenies movie or the Teletubbies movie. Cant wait to see the crtics review of those.

sharon w. gave it a10:
Great for my kids they love it.

mark c. gave it a9:
Great for the kids they love it especially my daughter who is 4 she has model of lady.

R Smith gave it a0:
Missold as Thomas the Tank Engine. I agreee wil Gilbert!!!!! Even my two year old asked me to switch it off and watch the REAL thomas videos (with ones the Liverpudlian accent!)

Zack W. gave it a 10:
Best movie ever made.Fat daddy and Gilbert have no idea what Thomases storyline is really about. I recommend the movie for ages 1-12.

Fat daddy gave it a 0:
This film is an insult to the intelligence and attention span of parents and toddlers alike. can we blame drug intake in the 60s for peter fonda's incomprehensible muttering? who can we blame for the script which has a kid in the train station asking a dog a simple question when there are hundreds of nearby people who presumably talk and are capable of answering her?

Thomas and the Magic Railroad Destination Films

Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Destination Films