The 10 Best Tom Hanks Movies, Ranked
- Joao Nsita
- 12 hours ago
- 16 min read
In the sprawling, star-studded galaxy of Hollywood, few stars shine with the steady, reassuring, and universally beloved light of Tom Hanks. For over four decades, he has been more than just an actor; he has been America's everyman, our trusted captain, our favorite toy, and our guide through some of cinema's most iconic and emotionally resonant moments. To rank the films of Tom Hanks is to chart a course through the very heart of modern movie history. It’s a journey that spans raucous 80s comedies, groundbreaking 90s dramas, epic war films, and animated masterpieces that have fundamentally shaped the childhoods of millions. He is a performer of incredible range, capable of laugh-out-loud comedic genius and profound, heartbreaking dramatic depth, often within the same film.
His enduring appeal is a phenomenon, a status confirmed by the constant celebration of his work on social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest. A new generation is discovering the magic of his 90s rom-coms, while his dramatic roles are endlessly analyzed in video essays and fan compilations. The trends show a deep and abiding affection for Hanks not just as a performer, but as a cultural figure—a symbol of decency, integrity, and unparalleled talent. His frequent collaborations with legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis have produced some of the most iconic and beloved films of all time, solidifying his place as a true cinematic legend.
This guide is a celebration of that incredible legacy. We will count down, in descending order, the 10 best and most iconic films of Tom Hanks. This is not just a list of his most successful movies, but a curated journey through the roles that have defined his career, showcased his immense talent, and left an indelible mark on our hearts. From the voice of a beloved cowboy to the unassuming hero who ran through history, this is a tribute to one of the greatest actors of our time.
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10. Toy Story 3 (2010)
The Vibe: Kicking off our list is a film that, for many, represents the emotional pinnacle of one of the greatest animated sagas of all time. Toy Story 3 is a masterpiece of storytelling, a film that is at once a thrilling adventure, a hilarious comedy, and a profoundly moving meditation on growing up, letting go, and the enduring power of love and loyalty. The story sees Andy, the toys' beloved owner, preparing to leave for college, forcing Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang to confront their own obsolescence and grapple with an uncertain future.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks’s voice work as Woody is the heart and soul of the Toy Story franchise. Throughout the series, he has imbued the pull-string cowboy with an incredible depth of character—he is a leader, a loyal friend, a worrier, and, above all, a figure of unwavering integrity. In Toy Story 3, Hanks delivers his most nuanced and emotionally resonant performance of the series. You can hear the heartbreak in his voice as he watches Andy pack his things, the fierce determination as he tries to keep his found family together, and the ultimate, selfless love in his final, silent goodbye. The film’s final act is one of the most emotionally devastating and beautiful sequences in animated history, a moment that had grown adults sobbing in theatres worldwide.
The film was a critical and commercial behemoth, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earning a rare and deserved nomination for Best Picture. For more on the history of the Academy Awards, you can visit the official Oscars website. The film's powerful, unifying story is a theme we also explored in our list of the Top 10 The Beatles Songs of All Time.
Director: Lee Unkrich
Key Supporting Cast: Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles
Defining Quote: "So long, partner."
9. Philadelphia (1993)
The Vibe: A groundbreaking, brave, and deeply important film, Philadelphia was one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to tackle the HIV/AIDS crisis with compassion and humanity. The film is a powerful legal and personal drama that tells the story of Andrew Beckett, a successful corporate lawyer who is fired from his prestigious firm after his bosses discover he has AIDS. He teams up with Joe Miller, a homophobic personal injury lawyer, to sue his former employers for wrongful termination.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks’s performance in Philadelphia is nothing short of transformative. At the time, he was primarily known for his lighthearted comedic roles. This film marked his arrival as one of the great dramatic actors of his generation. His physical transformation, as he lost a significant amount of weight to portray the physical toll of the disease, is stunning, but it is his emotional performance that is truly unforgettable. Hanks portrays Andrew Beckett not as a victim or a martyr, but as a man of immense dignity, courage, and quiet resilience. The scene where he listens to an opera aria, his face a canvas of pain and transcendent beauty, is one of the most powerful moments in his entire career. The film is a masterclass in acting, with Denzel Washington delivering an equally brilliant performance as the lawyer whose prejudice slowly gives way to empathy and understanding. Hanks won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for this role, a well-deserved recognition for a performance that was not only brilliant but culturally vital. The film's powerful social commentary is a quality we also praised in our review of the epic music film Elvis.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Key Supporting Cast: Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Mary Steenburgen
Defining Quote: "It's that every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens."
8. Cast Away (2000)
The Vibe: A harrowing, visceral, and ultimately profound story of survival and human resilience. Cast Away is a tour de force of solo filmmaking, a film that strands its protagonist—and the audience—on a deserted island for the majority of its runtime. Tom Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a time-obsessed FedEx systems analyst whose life is turned upside down when his plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean. He washes up on an uninhabited island and must learn to survive, a journey that tests the very limits of his physical and psychological endurance.
Why It's One of His Best: This film is a testament to Tom Hanks’s incredible power as an actor to command the screen entirely on his own. For over an hour of the film's runtime, he is the only human on screen, and his performance is a masterclass in physicality and emotional depth. His physical transformation, losing over 50 pounds to portray the gaunt, weathered survivor, is legendary. But the true genius of the performance lies in his ability to convey a universe of emotion without dialogue. His relationship with "Wilson," a volleyball that he paints a face on to preserve his sanity, is one of the most strangely moving and heartbreaking friendships in cinema history. The scene where Wilson is lost at sea is a moment of pure, devastating heartbreak, a testament to Hanks’s ability to make us care deeply for an inanimate object. The film is a powerful meditation on loneliness, hope, and the human need for connection. Hanks earned a richly deserved Oscar nomination for this incredible, singular performance. The film's profound exploration of solitude is a theme we also explored in our review of the series Andor. For more on the making of the film, you can visit its IMDb page.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Key Supporting Cast: Helen Hunt, and of course, Wilson the Volleyball
Defining Quote: "WILSON!"
7. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
The Vibe: One of the most charming, clever, and beloved romantic comedies of all time. Sleepless in Seattle is a film that captures the magic of old Hollywood romance and updates it for a modern age. It’s a story built on fate, serendipity, and the idea that your soulmate could be just a radio wave away. Tom Hanks plays Sam Baldwin, a grieving widower who is tricked by his young son into pouring his heart out on a national radio talk show. His story captivates thousands of women across the country, including Annie Reed, a journalist from Baltimore who is engaged to be married but can't shake the feeling that she and the man on the radio are destined to be together.
Why It's One of His Best: This film solidified Tom Hanks's status as a romantic leading man and cemented his legendary on-screen chemistry with Meg Ryan. The genius of the film is that the two stars, for whom the audience is desperately rooting, spend almost the entire movie on opposite sides of the country, sharing almost no screen time together until the final, perfect scene. Hanks is incredibly charming and empathetic as the heartbroken Sam, a man so devoted to the memory of his late wife that he can't imagine loving again. He brings a deep, relatable humanity to the role that grounds the film's fantastical, fated premise. Nora Ephron’s Oscar-nominated screenplay is a masterpiece of witty dialogue and heartfelt emotion. It is a warm, funny, and unapologetically romantic film that will leave you with a hopeful, contented sigh. The film's timeless romance is a quality we also celebrate in our review of the film About Time.
Director: Nora Ephron
Key Supporting Cast: Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger, Bill Pullman
Defining Quote: "It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together… and I knew it."
6. A League of Their Own (1992)
The Vibe: A triumphant, funny, and deeply inspiring sports film that tells the often-overlooked story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A League of Their Own is a wonderful ensemble piece that is a celebration of female friendship, perseverance, and the love of the game. Set during World War II, the film follows the formation of the league and focuses on the Rockford Peaches, a team of talented and determined women who must navigate sexism, personal rivalries, and the challenges of being pioneers in a male-dominated world.
Why It's One of His Best: In a film that is rightly centered on its incredible female cast, Tom Hanks delivers one of his most iconic and beloved supporting performances. He plays Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up, alcoholic former baseball star who is hired to manage the team. He begins the film as a cynical, chauvinistic mess, but his journey towards becoming a genuine, caring, and respectful coach is one of the film's most heartwarming arcs. Hanks is absolutely hilarious in the role, and his delivery of the iconic line, "There's no crying in baseball!" is one of the most quoted in movie history. It’s a brilliant comedic performance, but it’s also full of heart. He allows the amazing women in the cast—including Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell—to be the true stars of the show, a testament to his generosity as an actor. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Director: Penny Marshall
Key Supporting Cast: Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell
Defining Quote: "There's no crying in baseball!"
5. The Green Mile (1999)
The Vibe: A somber, beautiful, and deeply moving supernatural drama based on the novel by Stephen King. The Green Mile is a profound and often heartbreaking exploration of empathy, justice, and the quiet miracles that can be found in the darkest of places. The story is told in flashback by an elderly Paul Edgecomb, who recounts his time as a death row prison guard in the 1930s. His life, and the lives of his fellow guards, are forever changed by the arrival of John Coffey, a gentle giant of a man who is convicted of a horrific crime but possesses a miraculous, supernatural gift for healing.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks’s performance as the compassionate and world-weary Paul Edgecomb is the anchor of this powerful, emotional film. He is our guide through this dark and magical world, and he portrays Edgecomb's journey from a dutiful prison guard to a man grappling with a profound moral and spiritual crisis with incredible nuance and grace. His interactions with the phenomenal Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey are the heart and soul of the film. Hanks is the quiet center of the story, a decent man trying to navigate an impossible situation. The film is a long, patient, and deeply immersive story that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It is one of the most acclaimed Stephen King adaptations of all time and a testament to Hanks’s ability to find the humanity in any story. The film's exploration of good and evil is a theme we also explored in our review of The Dark Knight.
Director: Frank Darabont
Key Supporting Cast: Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Sam Rockwell
Defining Quote: "He killed them with their love. That's how it is every day, all over the world."
4. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
The Vibe: A slick, stylish, and incredibly entertaining cat-and-mouse caper based on an unbelievable true story. Catch Me If You Can is one of the most purely enjoyable and rewatchable films in both Tom Hanks's and Steven Spielberg's filmographies. The film tells the story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a brilliant young con artist who, before his 19th birthday, successfully posed as a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer, cashing millions of dollars in fraudulent checks along the way. Hot on his trail is the dogged, no-nonsense FBI agent, Carl Hanratty.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks is the perfect foil to Leonardo DiCaprio’s charming, charismatic con man. As the perpetually exasperated and determined FBI agent Carl Hanratty, Hanks provides the film with its moral center and a surprising amount of its heart. The relationship that develops between the hunter and the hunted is the core of the film. What begins as a professional pursuit slowly evolves into a strange, almost paternal bond. Hanks portrays Hanratty not as a bumbling detective, but as a dedicated, intelligent, and ultimately lonely man who comes to admire the very person he is trying to catch. The film is a visual feast, with a swinging 60s aesthetic and a fantastic score by John Williams. It is a masterful piece of pure entertainment. For more on the real-life story, you can read Frank Abagnale Jr.'s autobiography, which the film is based on. The book’s success is well-documented on its Wikipedia page. The complex dynamic between a lawman and his quarry is a theme we also explored in our review of Mindhunter.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Key Supporting Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams
Defining Quote: "Stop breaking the law!"
3. Apollo 13 (1995)
The Vibe: "Houston, we have a problem." With that iconic (though slightly misquoted) line, Apollo 13 launches into one of the most gripping, tense, and inspiring true stories of survival in human history. Directed by Ron Howard, the film is a meticulous and breathtakingly realistic dramatization of the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, which suffered a catastrophic onboard explosion, leaving the three astronauts stranded in space and forcing NASA's mission control to engineer a daring and improbable rescue plan.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks is perfectly cast as the calm, capable, and heroic Commander Jim Lovell. In a film that is a masterclass in sustained tension, Hanks is the unwavering anchor. He portrays Lovell with a quiet, steely resolve, a leader who never loses his cool, even in the face of almost certain death. It is a performance of incredible subtlety and strength. The film is a technical marvel, renowned for its historical accuracy and its groundbreaking use of real zero-gravity filming. But the true power of the film lies in its celebration of human ingenuity, teamwork, and the unyielding will to survive. It is a powerful tribute to the real-life heroes of the Apollo program, both in space and on the ground in Mission Control. The film was a massive critical and commercial success, earning nine Academy Award nominations. For more on the history of the real mission, the NASA website is a treasure trove of information.
Director: Ron Howard
Key Supporting Cast: Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris
Defining Quote: "Houston, we have a problem."
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The Vibe: A brutal, visceral, and profoundly moving masterpiece that redefined the war film genre. Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan is not a celebration of war; it is a harrowing and unflinching depiction of its horrific reality. The film's opening 27 minutes, a graphic and terrifyingly realistic recreation of the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach, is one of the most powerful and influential sequences in cinema history. The story follows a group of U.S. soldiers, led by Captain John Miller, who are sent on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines to find and bring home a paratrooper, Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have already been killed in the war.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks’s performance as Captain John Miller is one of the greatest of his career. He portrays Miller not as a gung-ho action hero, but as a decent, ordinary man—a schoolteacher—who has been placed in an extraordinary and terrible situation. Hanks perfectly captures the quiet, weary, and deeply humane soul of a leader who is grappling with the immense moral weight of his mission and the trauma of what he has witnessed. His performance is the quiet, emotional core of the film. The film is a technical and artistic marvel, a powerful and important examination of the chaos, sacrifice, and quiet heroism of war. It is a difficult but essential watch, a true cinematic landmark. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Director for Spielberg. For more on the film's incredible impact and critical reception, you can visit its Rotten Tomatoes page. The film's powerful themes of duty and sacrifice are as compelling as any great epic, a quality we praised in our review of House of the Dragon.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Key Supporting Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Vin Diesel
Defining Quote: "Earn this... earn it."
1. Forrest Gump (1994)
The Vibe: Taking the top spot on our list is the film that is perhaps most synonymous with Tom Hanks himself. Forrest Gump is a sweeping, sentimental, and truly iconic piece of American filmmaking. It is a modern-day fable, the extraordinary and improbable life story of a simple, kind-hearted man from Alabama who unwittingly finds himself at the center of some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century. From the Vietnam War to the Watergate scandal, from inventing the smiley face to meeting multiple presidents, Forrest Gump's journey is a funny, heartwarming, and often heartbreaking odyssey through American history.
Why It's One of His Best: Tom Hanks’s performance as Forrest Gump is, quite simply, one of the most iconic and beloved in the history of cinema. It is a performance of incredible physical and vocal transformation, a complete inhabitation of a truly unique character. Hanks imbues Forrest with a profound sense of innocence, unwavering loyalty, and a simple, powerful decency that is the heart and soul of the film. He makes us laugh, he makes us cry, and he makes us believe in the simple power of a good heart. The film was a cultural phenomenon, a box office juggernaut, and an awards-season darling, winning six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Robert Zemeckis, and, of course, Best Actor for Hanks—his second consecutive win. The film's groundbreaking visual effects, which seamlessly inserted Forrest into historical footage, were revolutionary for their time. It is a film that is deeply embedded in our cultural lexicon, a beautiful and enduring story about life, love, and destiny. The film's powerful, life-affirming message is a theme we also explored in our review of the series This Is Us.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Key Supporting Cast: Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field
Defining Quote: "My momma always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'"
Where to Watch These Iconic Films
The incredible filmography of Tom Hanks is a treasure trove of cinematic classics. You can explore his amazing body of work by streaming, renting, or purchasing these films and many more on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and other major streaming services.
Conclusion
To look back on the filmography of Tom Hanks is to look back on a career of unparalleled consistency, versatility, and enduring excellence. He is a cinematic chameleon, an actor who can disappear into any role, from a grieving widower to a determined astronaut, and find the deep, relatable humanity within. His films are more than just entertainment; they are cultural touchstones, beloved classics that have shaped the way we see the world and ourselves.
His legacy is not just in the two Oscars on his mantelpiece or the billions of dollars his films have grossed; it is in the profound and lasting connection he has forged with audiences around the world. He is a star we trust, an actor we believe in, and a storyteller who has given us some of the most unforgettable characters in the history of film. The films on this list are a testament to his incredible talent and a celebration of a career that continues to inspire, move, and delight us.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Academy Awards has Tom Hanks won? Tom Hanks has won two Academy Awards for Best Actor, which he won in consecutive years for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). He has been nominated a total of six times.
What was Tom Hanks's first major film role? His breakout role is widely considered to be in the 1984 film Splash, directed by Ron Howard, where he starred opposite Daryl Hannah.
Are Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan friends in real life? Yes, they are known to be good friends. They have starred in four films together: Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and Ithaca.
Is Tom Hanks related to Abraham Lincoln? Yes, through his mother's lineage, Tom Hanks is a distant cousin of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
What is the "Forrest Gump bench"? The bench that Forrest Gump sits on for much of the film was a movie prop placed in Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia. The actual bench is now housed in the Savannah History Museum.
Did Tom Hanks really lose all that weight for Cast Away? Yes, he lost over 50 pounds and grew a long beard and hair to realistically portray his character's time stranded on the island. The film's production took a year-long break to allow him to accomplish this transformation.
What is the "Hanks-Spielberg" collaboration? Tom Hanks has had a long and incredibly successful collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. They have worked on five films together: Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, Bridge of Spies, and The Post. They also produced the acclaimed WWII miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific.
Is the voice of Woody in Toy Story always Tom Hanks? For the feature films, yes. However, for some of the related video games and merchandise, his brother, Jim Hanks, has often provided the voice of Woody.
What is Tom Hanks's most financially successful film? As of the latest box office data, his highest-grossing film is Toy Story 4 (2019), which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
I'm new to Tom Hanks's movies. Where is the best place to start? Forrest Gump is a fantastic starting point as it showcases his incredible range and is his most iconic role. For his comedic work, Big is a classic. For his dramatic work, Apollo 13 is a gripping and accessible choice.
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