06/12/2023
Tom Hanks' Top 10 Best Movies
21/07/2021
I recently rewatched the film, Apollo 13. Apollo 13 is an incredible movie with one of the largest stars in Hollywood: Tom Hanks. Almost every movie that Hanks stars in turns out to be a success. His acting alone can often easily earn the movies he is in an Oscar nomination. All of Tom Hanks' characters are very different and diverse and there are no two remotely similar characters. I thought that in today's article, I should look back on some of Tom Hanks' best roles in movies.
BIG (M) - Josh (1988)
Big is about a teenage boy who has always wished to be bigger and older. One day he wakes up and has skipped twenty years of his life and is now a full-grown adult. Although Big is probably my least favourite movie on this list, Tom Hanks does a commendable job of portraying a thirteen-year-old boy. He acts in a way that is convincing of an adolescent and can mirror the younger version of Josh to perfection. It is no surprise that the acting earned him an Oscar nomination.
Credit: Twentieth Century Fox
FORREST GUMP (M) - Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is likely Tom Hanks' most famous role where he must play a man with autism and a high IQ as he experiences some of America's most pivotal moments. Similarly to Big, Tom Hanks is tasked with portraying a character who views the world differently. Once again, he pulls this off to perfection. The role obviously scored Hanks' first (but not last) Oscar.
Credit: Paramount Pictures
SULLY (M) - Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger (2016)
Sully follows the real-life events of Chesley Sullenberger after an engine failure forces him to land an aircraft full of passengers onto the Hudson River. Tom Hanks plays Sullenberger (Sully) and can easily depict a man who is going through a tough time. Hanks can portray so many emotions through the character. This isn't the first time that I will mention that Tom Hanks can create a convincing natural and normal person. I wrote a review for this movie and you can read my full thoughts here.
Credit: Warner Bros.
APOLLO 13 (PG) - Jim Lovell (1995)
Apollo 13 surrounds the crew who managed to safely land back to Earth after their infamous spacecraft suffers severe damage. Although Tom Hanks' acting is once again on point in this film, I do not think that this is him at his best. The movie doesn't quite display the full extent of his acting but Hanks does contribute admirably to the film as a regular person. The movie itself is amazing, with two Academy Awards as well as seven other Oscar nominations, and is a must-see for anyone.
The TOY STORY Franchise (G) - Woody (1995-2019)
The Toy Story movies are some of my childhood treasures. The movies are a simple yet praiseworthy concept about how toys are actually alive and have feelings too. Tom Hanks voices the lead character of the movies, Woody. I grew up with the character and he has forever been one of my favourite animated characters. I have to thank Tom Hanks for providing such an incredible and iconic voice and helping shape my early years.
THE POLAR EXPRESS (G) - Hero Boy, Father, Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge, Santa Claus (2004)
The Polar Express, similarly to Toy Story, is an icon to anyone from Gen Z. The movie is on everyone's Christmas watchlist. This is another of Tom Hanks' voice works, but what makes this different from Toy Story, is that Hanks voices almost every character in the movie. This is barely noticeable in the final movie as he can magnificently change his voice easily on cue. Although The Polar Express isn't the strongest of movies on this list, Tom Hanks, who is normally a screen actor, has to be greatly commended for his work on this movie and for filling so many children with wonder.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (MA15+) - Captain Miller (1998)
Aside from the Toy Story movies, Saving Private Ryan has to be my favourite Tom Hanks movie and my favourite movie on this list. Saving Private Ryan is set in World War II and is about a special force of soldiers who are tasked with extracting a soldier from behind enemy lines. The movie is astonishingly well produced and has an outstanding storyline. Once again, this movie doesn't show the full extent of Tom Hanks' acting abilities but Hanks perfectly portrays a regular person with regular habits and acts in a very normal and natural way. The movie itself is also amazing and is another must-see.
Credit: Paramount Pictures
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (M) - Carl Hanratty (2002)
I only just recently saw this movie and a review will be coming out for it this Sunday. In Catch Me If You Can, Tom Hanks stars as an FBI agent who must track down Leondardo DiCaprio's cheque-forging criminal. Tom Hanks' character of Carl Hanratty could be one of his most unique. He has a distinctive voice and it was very obvious that a lot of thought had gone into creating this character. This is mostly why Tom Hanks is such a reliable actor; not only because of his incredibly convincing portrayal of characters but because of how much effort goes into creating those characters. It is very clear in the final film that Hanks goes out of his way to create an entire backstory for the character. If you want to read our full review of that movie, click here!
Credit: Dreamworks Pictures
Honourable Mentions
These next few movies are still on my watchlist as I haven't actually seen them yet (hey, we can't all have seen every movie!) but I have heard that these are also great movies with another of Tom Hanks iconic roles:
CAST AWAY (M) - Chuck Noland (2000)
THE POST (M) - Ben Bradlee (2017)
Tom Hanks in 'Cast Away' - Credit: Twentieth Century Fox
As is quite obvious, Tom Hanks has been in some incredible movies. All of the movies on the list have at least been nominated for a minimum of one Oscar if they hadn't already won multiple. I think that there is no argument against the fact that Tom Hanks is one of the best actors in Hollywood today.
Article by Tristan Carr
Last edited: 25/07/21
