Tom Hanks is the kind of actor who only comes along once in a lifetime. He has a certain charm that has made him beloved by audiences for decades. His performances span across all genres, and he seldom makes a bad movie. Hanks has worked with some of the greatest filmmakers of the past half century and is constantly delivering performances that are real, lovable, and authentic. At the same time, many people who have interacted with Hanks have said that he is a genuinely nice person with a good heart. Hanks has been nominated for six Academy Awards throughout his career and has taken home two Oscars, for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.
Hanks was born in Concord, California, and had a passion for acting from a very young age. He continued to study acting in college but ended up dropping out to pursue an acting career in New York City. Hanks made his film debut in a slasher film entitled He Knows You’re Alone while working in theater. From there, Hanks made guest appearances on shows such as Happy Days and Growing Pains, and made his big break in the 1984 film Splash. Since then, Hanks has become one of the most prestigious actors in Hollywood as well as a successful director and producer. Hanks has some exciting upcoming projects, including the Yellowstone prequel 1883 and Robert Zemeckis’ Pinocchio, but before that, let’s dive into his best movies of all time, ranked.
Updated June 30, 2022: If you love Tom Hanks, you’ll be happy to know we’ve updated this article with additional content and entries.
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13 Sully (2016)
Village Roadshow Pictures
On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media, an investigation unfolded that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career. Hanks shines in the titular role under the skilled direction of the legendary Clint Eastwood. Even this late in his career, Hanks shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to awards-caliber performances.
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12 Cloud Atlas (2012)
Warner Bros. PicturesX Verleih AG
While certainly polarizing, even audiences who hated the Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas has to admit that Hanks in incredible in it, playing a variety of characters throughout multiple time periods: Dr. Henry Goose, a hotel manager, Isaac Sachs, Dermot Hoggins, and Zachry are some of the roles hanks dons in the film. Cloud Atlas is an often bewildering but utterly beautiful and bonkers epic about the human condition, power, and the fluidity of the human experience. Existing simultaneously on critics’ ‘Best Of’ and ‘Worst Of’ lists for the year, Cloud Atlas remains a puzzlebox filled with impressive performances.
11 Apollo 13 (1995)
Universal Pictures
Ron Howard’s American space drama tells the riveting story of the Apollo 13 astronauts who successfully made it home after a near-death mission. Hanks portrays the ship’s commander, Jim Lovell, who leads his team to safety after a series of disasters. Apollo 13 was an intense experience, and the film keeps its characters at the core of the story to create a strong emotional connection with audiences. Apollo 13 is a tale of bravery and showcases the intelligence and determination of the NASA Space Program, and the film was nominated for nine Oscars.
10 Toy Story (1995)
Walt Disney Pictures
In Pixar’s Toy Story, Tom Hanks blessed us with the iconic voice of Woody, who has been delighting audiences to this day. Woody and his gang of toys, overcomes obstacles and villains throughout their many adventures. At the same time, Toy Story is about love, friendship, and self-acceptance. It is possibly one of the most beloved Pixar movies of all time, and it wouldn’t be the same without the voice talents of Tom Hanks.
9 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
DreamWorks Pictures
Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can is a classic cat-and-mouse tale that tells the true story of con-artist Frank Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio). Hanks takes on the role of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, who is on the pursuit of Abagnale throughout the film. The music, performances, and direction all hit the marks for a fantastic dramatic thriller. The chemistry between Hanks and DiCaprio is top-notch, and the film was nominated for two Academy Awards.
8 Captain Phillips (2013)
Columbia Pictures
Paul Greeengrass’ riveting film Captain Phillips tells the true story of Captain Richard Phillips (Hanks), who becomes a hostage to Somali pirates after his ship is hijacked. Hanks gives a solid and emotional performance as Phillips, who struggles to come out of the situation alive and unharmed, and Barkhad Abdi is phenomenal in what was his film debut, earning Oscar nominations and awards as the leader of the pirates. Greengrass’ direction once again delivers a gritty and realistic film depicting true events.
7 Big (1988)
20th Century Fox
This 1988 comedy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who magically turns into an adult overnight. The film is carried by Tom Hanks’ performance. He completely embodies the mindset and physicality of a young boy, and his performance even earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Big is filled with heart, comedy, and one of Hanks’ best performances to date.
6 The Green Mile (1999)
Castle Rock Entertainment
Frank Darabont’s The Green Mile adapts the classic Stephen King novel and tells the story of a magically gifted prison inmate, John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who is wrongfully convicted of murder. Hanks takes the role of a prison guard named Paul Edgecomb who discovers the powers of Coffey and is put to the test of whether he should carry out his duties of execution. The film is a dramatic masterpiece that adapts King’s writing with sheer perfection.
5 Road to Perdition (2002)
DreamWorks20th Century Fox
Tom Hanks had been in a string of successful romantic comedies (Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, That Thing You Do) and heroic characters, so when he took on the role of Michael Sullivan in Road to Perdition, he shocked audiences with his coldness and violence. One of the few times the actor played a villain, though Sullivan is more complicated than the average bad guy, a devoted father who nonetheless leaves a trail of violence and death wherever he travels in this gritty Great Depression neo-noir.
4 Cast Away (2000)
20th Century FoxDreamworks
Cast Away is basically a one-man show consisting of a FedEx executive (Tom Hanks) deserted on an island. It is not easy for an actor to carry a movie with hardly any dialogue or supporting cast, but through Hanks’ emotion, physicality, and talent, the film is a survival story of epic proportions. The film is brilliantly directed by Robert Zemeckis and earned Tom Hanks an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
3 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Steven Spielberg’s epic WWII drama tells the story of a group of soldiers on a quest to retrieve Private Ryan (Matt Damon) after his brothers were killed in battle. Saving Private Ryan is arguably the greatest WWII film of all time and delivers one of the most realistic depictions of battle in the first twenty minutes of the film, as the soldiers storm the beaches of Normandy. Hanks, along with his fellow cast members, delivers brutally honest portrayals of soldiers in the nightmares of war.
2 Forrest Gump (1994)
The Tisch Company
Tom Hanks earned his second Academy Award in Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump. Hanks takes the rtitular role, a man with an extremely low IQ who takes the viewer on a journey through America over the course of several years. Using impressive special effects to insert Hanks into major moments throughout history, and featuring multiple iconic moments that are still quoted today, Forrest Gump is a gem that is still beloved by audiences to this day. It has heart, drama, romance, and one of the best Hollywood scripts of all time, and Hanks is absolutely perfect.
1 Philadelphia (1993)
TriStar Pictures
Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia is a heartbreaking tale of an attorney dying from AIDS (Hanks) who sues his law firm for wrongful termination with the help of attorney Joe Miller (Denzel Washington). Philadelphia was a landmark film that brought AIDS to the attention of audiences (10 years after it first began) and non-judgmentally showcased the pain it brought to innocent people. Hanks delivers a career-defining performance and earned his first Academy Award for Best Actor. Demme’s direction is brilliant, with some of his most subtle but emotionally poignant compositions. While Hanks now believes it was inauthentic to play a gay character, Philadelphia remains an emotionally compelling film that fights for civil rights.
