Best Tom Hanks Movies

Today is Tom Hanks’ birthday — a legendary actor whose films are familiar to almost everyone. Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Catch Me If You Can, where he starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio — these films hardly need an introduction.

We’re sure you watched them long ago without our help. But today is a perfect reason to revisit your favorite classics!

Forrest Gump

One of the most famous roles of Tom Hanks’ career and one of the defining films of the 1990s.

The story of Forrest Gump — a kind and naive man who accidentally finds himself close to key moments in American history — became a true classic of world cinema.

For this role, Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor. It was his second consecutive win after Philadelphia, making him one of the few actors in history to win the award two years in a row.

Saving Private Ryan

Steven Spielberg’s war drama, widely considered one of the most powerful films about World War II.

Tom Hanks played Captain John Miller, the commander of a squad assigned to find soldier James Ryan and bring him home.

To prepare for their roles, the actors went through special military training. It helped create a real sense of frontline brotherhood and made the film even more realistic.

Cast Away

A drama about delivery company employee Chuck Noland, who ends up on a deserted island after a plane crash and is forced to fight for survival.

The role became one of the most physically demanding of Tom Hanks’ career. For the film, the actor noticeably changed his appearance: he first gained weight for the opening part of the story, then lost weight and grew out his hair to convincingly show years of life in isolation.

For much of the film, Hanks appears with almost no dialogue, and that is exactly what makes his performance so powerful.

The Green Mile

A drama based on Stephen King’s novel about death row prison guard Paul Edgecomb and inmate John Coffey, who possesses an unusual gift.

Tom Hanks played a calm, honest, and compassionate character through whom the audience gradually discovers John Coffey’s tragic story.

The film became one of the most touching King adaptations and received four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Philadelphia

One of the most important dramatic roles of Tom Hanks’ career.

The actor played Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who is fired after his employers learn about his illness. He decides to fight for justice and sues his former employers.

The film became one of the first major Hollywood projects to openly address AIDS and discrimination. For this role, Tom Hanks won his first Academy Award for Best Actor.

Catch Me If You Can

Steven Spielberg’s crime drama based on the story of Frank Abagnale, a young con artist who spent years pretending to be a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer.

Tom Hanks played FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who gradually turns the chase for Leonardo DiCaprio’s character into a personal mission.

Their duo is one of the main reasons the film is still so easy to rewatch: it is not only a story about fraud, but also an almost Christmas-like film about loneliness, growing up, and an unusual friendship.