Tom Hanks has worked across comedy, drama, animation and historical film for more than four decades. This is our own selection of twelve of his films, grouped by type, with the facts that are easy to check: year, role and, where we confirmed it, the director. It is not a ranking. Availability on streaming services varies by country and changes often, so check your own service.
Comedies and romances
Big (1988). Directed by Penny Marshall. Hanks plays Josh Baskin, a boy who wakes up in an adult body and gets a job in New York.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993). Directed by Nora Ephron. Hanks plays Sam Baldwin, a widowed father whose radio call-in sets off a long-distance romance.
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Awards-era dramas
Philadelphia (1993). Directed by Jonathan Demme. Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who takes legal action after he is dismissed. The role earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Forrest Gump (1994). Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Hanks plays Forrest Gump and won Best Actor for the role, which made him a winner in consecutive years.
The Green Mile (1999). Directed by Frank Darabont. Hanks plays Paul Edgecomb, a prison guard on death row.
Real events and history
Apollo 13 (1995). Directed by Ron Howard. Hanks plays astronaut Jim Lovell in the story of the troubled 1970 moon mission.
Saving Private Ryan (1998). Directed by Steven Spielberg. Hanks plays Captain John H. Miller, who leads a squad sent to find a soldier behind enemy lines in World War II.
Catch Me If You Can (2002). Directed by Steven Spielberg. Hanks plays FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who chases a young con artist.
Captain Phillips (2013). Directed by Paul Greengrass. Hanks plays Captain Richard Phillips, a ship captain whose vessel is boarded by pirates.
Bridge of Spies (2015). Directed by Steven Spielberg. Hanks plays lawyer James B. Donovan, who becomes involved in a Cold War prisoner exchange.
Animation and survival
Toy Story (1995). Hanks voices Sheriff Woody, the cowboy doll whose place in a boy’s room is challenged by a new space-ranger toy.
Cast Away (2000). Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Hanks plays Chuck Noland, who survives a plane crash and is stranded on a remote island.
Where to start
For a light first film, Big or Sleepless in Seattle are the easiest entry points. For drama, Philadelphia and Forrest Gump are the two films that brought him Best Actor Oscars. For a story drawn from real events, Apollo 13 and Captain Phillips are good choices, and Toy Story suits a family viewing. Other well-known titles not covered here include A League of Their Own, Sully and A Man Called Otto, which are also listed in his filmography.
Film details on this page were checked against the sources below. Plot summaries are brief and general on purpose.
