Reviews And Responses
Ever wondered why your mom cries during Forrest Gump, but your film buff friend swears by Cast Away? Tom Hanks has a way of evoking different emotions for every type of movie fan—at least, that’s what Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter ratings tell us.
20. The Post (2017): 3.6/5
The National Board of Review recognized this film with an award for Best Actor for Hanks. It was also titled one of the Top Ten Films of 2017 by the American Film Institute. Here, Hanks plays Ben Bradlee, the executive editor of The Washington Post.
The Post Official Trailer #1 (2017) Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep Drama Movie HD by Zero Media
20. The Post (2017): 3.6/5 (Cont.)
He’s shown as a driven and principled reporter who wants to get to the bottom of things, especially when it comes to the Pentagon Papers. The movie was written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, while the director “Steven Spielberg was at his most solid historical best”.
The Post Official Trailer #1 (2017) Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep Drama Movie HD by Zero Media
19. Charlie Wilson’s War (2007): 3.7/5
This is a political drama penned by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Mike Nichols. About it, critics mention that “Hanks is at his best in those scenes when he impersonates a good old boy, smart as a fox, who deliberately plays the rube to the foreign potentates”.
Charlie Wilson’s War (3/9) Movie CLIP - Afghanistan Refugee Camp (2007) HD by Movieclips
19. Charlie Wilson’s War (2007): 3.7/5 (Cont.)
The actor plays the character of Charlie Wilson, a Texas Congressman who’s known for being charming and living the high life like a stud. The movie was chosen for five Golden Globe Awards and was said to be Mike Nichols’ final directorial project.
Charlie Wilson’s War (3/9) Movie CLIP - Afghanistan Refugee Camp (2007) HD by Movieclips
18. Sleepless In Seattle (1993): 3.8/5
Sleepless In Seattle is a look into romantic drama, with Ephron doing a great job of tapping into the amazing chemistry between Hanks and Ryan. Following the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks), a widowed architect, relocates to Seattle with his son.
TriStar, Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
18. Sleepless In Seattle (1993): 3.8/5 (Cont.)
Hanks received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy for his performance in the film. He mentioned that he first felt “cranky” during filming but later appreciated Nora Ephron, the director’s powerful vision for the movie.
TriStar Pictures, Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
17. That Thing You Do! (1996): 3.9/5
How about watching “a light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut” by the director Tom Hanks? Hanks also wrote the script for this film, which was based on an original story by him and the film’s producers. Original songs like “That Thing You Do!” are pretty famous.
That Thing You Do (1996) 35mm film trailer A, scope 4K by 35mm Movie Trailers Scans
17. That Thing You Do! (1996): 3.9/5 (Cont.)
Rita Wilson, Hanks’ wife, makes a cameo in the film while he himself takes on the character of Mr. White. It is basically a musical comedy-drama that talks about the rise and fall of a fictional 1960s pop band called The Wonders.
Twentieth Century, That Thing You Do! (1996)
16. Big (1988): 3.9/5
It all begins when the 12-year-old Josh Baskin wishes to be “big” at a carnival fortune-telling machine. Tom Hanks as Baskin captures the innocence and wonder of a child trapped in an adult’s body. His comedic timing makes it quite endearing.
16. Big (1988): 3.9/5 (Cont.)
Critics generally agree that the film is super sweet and quite funny. Big is like a perfect spotlight for Tom Hanks, who truly gets into his character and brings unexpected depth. One of the most iconic scenes is Hanks playing a giant electronic piano with Robert Loggia.
Big (1988) - Josh Doesn’t Get It Scene (3/5) | Movieclips by Movieclips
15. Cast Away (2000): 4.0/5
Chuck Noland is a time-obsessed Federal Express executive who travels the world to find solutions to logistical problems. His life changes when he survives a plane crash over the Pacific Ocean, landing on a deserted island. The movie was the third-highest-grossing film of 2000.
Twentieth Century, Cast Away (2000)
15. Cast Away (2000): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
It had a box office gross of $429.6 million worldwide. One of his notable lines includes “We live and we die by time, and we must not commit the sin of turning our back on time”. The audience says the movie was “flawed but fascinating”.
Twentieth Century, Cast Away (2000)
14. Bridge Of Spies (2015): 4.0/5
Critic consensus notes that because of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ consistently excellent work, Bridge of Spies breathes new life into Hollywood’s Cold War spy thriller template. Hanks is basically an insurance lawyer (Donovan) who defends a Soviet spy caught in the US.
Bridge of Spies | Official HD Trailer #2 | 2015 by 20th Century Studios UK
14. Bridge Of Spies (2015): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
It is said that the actor was fascinated by the bond that grows between his character, James B. Donovan, and Rudolf Abel, played by Mark Rylance. Hanks mentioned how he believed that both personally and in terms of his principles, he was fighting for a good guy.
Bridge of Spies | Official HD Trailer #2 | 2015 by 20th Century Studios UK
13. News Of The World (2020): 4.0/5
Based in 1870, the story is about Captain Kidd, a widowed vet who goes from town to town reading the news to people who can’t read. We all know how “Hanks was in peak paternal mode”. The film was out on December 25, 2020, and is now available on Netflix.
NEWS OF THE WORLD Official Trailer (2020) Tom Hanks, Western Movie HD by ONE Media
13. News Of The World (2020): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
News of the World was nominated for four Academy Awards, which include Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. It was like a reunion between Tom Hanks and director Paul Greengrass, who previously collaborated on Captain Phillips (2013).
NEWS OF THE WORLD Official Trailer (2020) Tom Hanks, Western Movie HD by ONE Media
12. Road To Perdition (2002): 4.0/5
Throughout the movie, Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is shown as a complex character stuck between his loyalty to Rooney and his desire to protect his family. Cinematographer Conrad L. Hall even won an Academy Award for his work on this piece.
12. Road To Perdition (2002): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
“Hanks and Newman are the personification of anguish and torn” is what some viewers believe. Apparently, the piano piece played by Paul Newman and Tom Hanks at the starting funeral scene was actually performed by them, with the story being set in 1931.
Road to Perdition (2002), DreamWorks
11. Saving Mr. Banks (2013): 4.0/5
Saving Mr. Banks is a biopic that came out in 2013, directed by John Lee Hancock. It stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. The movie is focused on Walt Disney’s 20-year quest to gain the film rights to Mary Poppins, driven by a promise he made to his daughters.
Saving Mr. Banks Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Tom Hanks Movie by FilmIsNow Movies
11. Saving Mr. Banks (2013): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
The film was reported to be commercially successful, collecting approximately $117.9 million worldwide against a budget of $35 million. According to critic consensus, “aggressively likable and sentimental to a fault, Saving Mr. Banks pays tribute to the Disney legacy”.
Saving Mr. Banks Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Tom Hanks Movie by FilmIsNow Movies
10. Sully (2016): 4.0/5
The actual event of US Airways Flight 1549’s emergency landing on the Hudson River served as the inspiration for Sully. Of course, Hanks is Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in the movie. It brings us back to January 15, 2009, when the flight took off from LaGuardia Airport.
Hurwitz Creative , Sully (2016)
10. Sully (2016): 4.0/5 (Cont.)
The reel captain even met with the real one to better understand his perspective and experiences. After all, the director wanted the film to show a sense of “common humanity” and “who better for Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger than Tom Hanks in white hair and matching mustache?”.
9. Forrest Gump (1994): 4.1/5
Forrest Gump won six Academy Awards out of thirteen nominations. One of these was for Best Actor, Tom Hanks. Forrest Gump is basically a man with a low IQ of just 75, but he tends to experience important events in American history.
Paramount, Forrest Gump (1994)
9. Forrest Gump (1994): 4.1/5 (Cont.)
“Life is like a box of chocolates...” is one of those heart-touching lines in the film. The audience expressed that Tom Hanks gave such a genuine performance that it made Forrest Gump feel real. It turns into a quirky journey that definitely pulls at your heartstrings.
Paramount, Forrest Gump (1994)
8. Catch Me if You Can (2002): 4.1/5
And now we have him as an FBI agent. What role can this man not play? It draws on the real story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before turning 19, pulled off dollars’ worth of scams. Hanks’ portrayal of Carl Hanratty is recognized for balancing humor with seriousness.
Catch Me If You Can - Trailer by Paramount Movies
8. Catch Me if You Can (2002): 4.1/5 (Cont.)
The film received two Academy Awards. Interestingly, it is said that Tom Hanks expressed interest in the role of Carl Hanratty after reading the script as a writing sample. One top critic rightly mentioned that “this is a delectable film indeed”.
Catch Me If You Can - Trailer by Paramount Movies
7. Apollo 13 (1995): 4.1/5
The phrase “Houston, we have a problem”, spoken by Hanks’ character, has become really famous in cinematic history. This movie focuses on the aborted Apollo 13 mission, which was meant to be the third crewed lunar landing.
7. Apollo 13 (1995): 4.1/5 (Cont.)
Hanks went to the US Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, to fulfill his role as Commander Lowell. There, he did training exercises alongside astronauts Jim Lovell and David Scott. A 2014 review says, “Hanks is on his way to becoming the American Everyman”.
6. A League Of Their Own (1992): 4.1/5
This movie is set during WWII and tells the story of how a women’s baseball league was formed because there just weren’t enough male players available in Major League Baseball. In 2012, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
Columbia, A League Of Their Own (1992)
6. A League Of Their Own (1992): 4.1/5 (Cont.)
One of the famous dialogues delivered by our star actor, Tom Hanks (Jimmy Dugan), in this film, is “There’s no crying in baseball”. Some reviewers have particularly praised the “wonderful cast” featuring the “Oscar-winner Hanks and the talented Davis”.
Columbia, A League of Their Own (1992)
5. Captain Phillips (2013): 4.2/5
Here comes “yet another brilliant performance” by the legend, as critics suggest. Captain Phillips is a biographical action thriller directed by Paul Greengrass. The movie is based on Captain Richard Phillips’ memoir, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea.
Scott Rudin Productions, Captain Phillips (2013)
5. Captain Phillips (2013): 4.2/5 (Cont.)
Holding a 7.8/10 rating on IMDB, some reviewers say the merits undoubtedly go to the director and star Tom Hanks. The film earned six Academy Award nominations, one for Best Picture, highlighting survival, leadership, and modern piracy themes.
4. A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (2019): 4.4/5
Viewers noted that A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood conveys a very moving message of acceptance and understanding. The story is about Lloyd Vogel ( Matthew Rhys), a cynical journalist appointed to write a profile on Fred Rogers (Hanks) for Esquire.
TriStar Pictures, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (2019)
4. A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (2019): 4.4/5 (Cont.)
With a rating so high, are there any doubts about this man’s performance? After all, it received many award nominations, including Tom Hanks’s nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. The film follows the article “Can You Say... Hero?” by Junod.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), TriStar Pictures
3. The Green Mile (1999): 4.4/5
“At times, you notice The Green Mile tugging your heartstrings”, that’s what one reviewer had to say about the movie, but others suggest it’s “perfect” in every way. The film is considered one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.
Castle Rock, The Green Mile (1999)
3. The Green Mile (1999): 4.4/5 (Cont.)
The Green Mile picked up four Academy Award nominations. Paul Edgecomb, played by Tom Hanks, is the head guard of Cold Mountain Penitentiary’s death row, which is called “The Green Mile” because of the color of its floor.
Warner Bros., The Green Mile (1999)
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998): 4.5/5
This one starts with the harrowing D-Day landing at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, where Captain Miller and his men face casualties. It seems that Hanks and the cast even participated in a tough six-day boot camp led by military advisor Captain Dale Dye.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998): 4.5/5 (Cont.)
Also, Hanks alone got together with some WWII vets to get a closer look at what they went through and what combat was really like. This firsthand knowledge enhanced his portrayal of Captain John H. Miller in this picture.
Paramount, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
1. Toy Story 4 (2019): 4.5/5
Of course, you’ll want to watch this one. Toy Story 4 is the fourth addition to the beloved Toy Story franchise, starring our hero reprising his iconic role as Woody. The story picks up after Toy Story 3, where Woody and the other toys are now owned by a new child named Bonnie.
1. Toy Story 4 (2019): 4.5/5 (Cont.)
With a Tomatometer score of 97%, it’s seriously “enough to make a grown man cry, and that’s ok”. It became one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, grossing $1.073 billion worldwide. The actor himself described the ending as “profound”.
