Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)

19% of critics liked it
(67 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(2,858 ratings)

The internationally popular children's television program Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (shown in the United States as part of the PBS series Shining Time Station) makes its way onto the big screen in this feature-length adventure. On her way to see her Grandpa Burnett (Peter Fonda), young Lily… More The internationally popular children's television program Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (shown in the United States as part of the PBS series Shining Time Station) makes its way onto the big screen in this feature-length adventure. On her way to see her Grandpa Burnett (Peter Fonda), young Lily (Mara Wilson) gets on the wrong train and ends up lost. Fortunately, she meets the tiny Mr. Conductor (Alec Baldwin), who shows her a magical railway where the plucky little steam engine Thomas (voice of John Bellis) pulls the line from the enchanted town of Shining Time to the island of Sodor. Thomas' rival is the bigger (and meaner) Diesel Ten, who has already put one of Thomas' allied engines, The Lady, out of commission. Without The Lady, the Conductor has no source for the magic gold dust that allows him to travel from Sodor to Shining Time in the wink of an eye, so Lily and Thomas have to find a way to find more for him. Thomas and the Magic Railroad also features Didi Conn as Stacy Jones (reprising her role from Shining Time Station) and Russell Means as Billy Two Feathers. Like the TV series, Thomas and the Magic Railroad is loosely based on the Thomas the Tank Engine books written by British children's author Wilbert Vere Awdry. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Britt Allcroft
Written By: Britt Allcroft
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jul 26, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Oct 31, 2000
Studio: Destination Films

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Scenes with Peter Fonda as a melancholy grandfather -- he couldn't get a cherished engine running in time for his late wife to ride it -- periodically bring the movie screeching to a halt.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
It's very slow, though it does offer a respite from the overactive animation that kids are mostly subjected to.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A really unnecessary movie, whose purpose is primarily to promote the inevitable home video.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
An inept assembly of ill-matched plot points.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You really don't want to be railroaded into seeing it.
Loren King, Boston Globe
Thomas is a train worth catching.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Will please its many fans, but might confuse kids.
, Empire Magazine
With clunky bluescreen, spot-a-mile-off matte work and an absolute lack of synergy between real-life and animated action, it all conspires to provide an appropriately amateur sheen.
Derek Adams, Time Out
If all this sounds convoluted, well, it's a toddlers' film and anything goes.
Susannah Breslin, Film Threat
Please, for the love of God, don't let it be a franchise. Think of the parents.
Joe Mader, Palo Alto Weekly
There's no magic here, only incompetence.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
...A strange, brooding story vastly different from its TV ancestor, and it will soon slip indistinctly from the public consciousness and into video stores, which is where it belongs.
Edward Lawrenson, Sight and Sound
An inglorious wreck of a movie.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Kids who loved the TV series will probably love this too. Adults will likely be less enthused.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Could have been worse I suppose. At least there are no Pokemons or (shudder) grinning purple dinosaurs around.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
If I had been on drugs, I would have laughed hysterically at those silly trains, with only their googly eyes giving them expression.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
The sloppy storytelling leaves the magic in short supply.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Directors C

[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I dont like this americanisation of Thomas The Tank Engine as much as the British TV Series I loved when I was younger. I used to like this movie but now I see how adequate it really is.
Michael E

This is one of those nostalgic movies that i grew up with and i still love it just as much as the old series
Bently L

There's nothing memorable about this. Parents, your kids are better off watching the show on PBS, reading the books, and playing with the toys involving Thomas the Tank Engine.
Bradley W

Thomas and the Magic Railroad is propaganda for kids, nothin more and nothing less.
Gavin C

Thomas The Tank Engine has been known for being the most popular TV show made for children of all ages and it goes on for generations ever since, and for some reason, it was based on the Shining Time Station TV show (the only show that I've haven't watched). I have one… More
Thomas The Tank Engine has been known for being the most popular TV show made for children of all ages and it goes on for generations ever since, and for some reason, it was based on the Shining Time Station TV show (the only show that I've haven't watched). I have one question before I start reviewing this movie that was based on the show: Is it fair to make fun of a movie you like from your childhood? Hardly, but I've got no time to waste. Time to review. The story focuses on Mr. Conductor as his magic gold dust is running low. Desperate to find it in order to get back to Shining Time, he embarks on a journey to Sodor to find the magic gold dust there. Meanwhile, Thomas the tank engine tries to find off the attacks of the evil Diesel 10 before he finds the lost steam engine and destroys it. Getting all the help from his cousin, his new friend Lily, and her grandfather, Mr. Conductor helps find the engine that has been hidden for years in order to find all of the magic gold dust that has also been hidden. What's so bad about this movie? The storyline was inconsistent, in my opinion. It had a lot of flaws and plot holes I don't even know how many they were. The storytelling was very poor, and even the script was so bland. What's so good about this movie? The cinematography was creative, the acting wasn't half bad, the pacing was good, the visuals were great the music score was very good, and most of all, it had the potential of the TV show despite the fact that the critics said it got americanized. Thomas and the Magic Railroad isn't good nor horrible either. It's a very mediocre family movie, but at least they brought the TV show to life on screen. It's worth a watch on VHS and DVD only. 5/10