Not to be confused with being a ranking of the films in general, but specifically Tom Hanks’s performances.
Tom Hanks has starred in some of the greatest films of the past 3 decades and given several Oscar worthy performances. Now everybody knows about the big stuff, “Big”, “Green Mile”, “Toy Story”, “Cast Away” ect., but Hanks has been given some pretty noteworthy performances that have flown under the radar in the grand scheme of things. Here are what I believe to be his best 20:
20) Apollo 13 (1995)
Although this performance didn’t garner tons of critical acclaim, Hanks did get a nod at that years Peoples Choice Awards. At the end of the day, this is a pretty standard performance, but even so, Hanks always brings charisma to each role that you can’t really find from all the movie stars out there.
19) The Terminal (2004)
One of the more low-key Spielberg products, sadly, I don’t have a strong enough memory of this film to include it on my Spielberg rankings earlier this week, but I do recall Hanks giving a very honest and heartwarming performance (even a bit off type at the time).
18) The Burbs (1989)
Aside from the smash hit ‘Big’, this dark comedy boasts one of Hanks only memorable performances pre “Philadelphia”, before he was considered a “serious actor”. I think he had a lot of improving to go, and the nature of the script made it a less than stellar avenue to show talent, but even in 89′ you could see that he was bound for success.
17) Toy Story 2 (1999)
After breaking new ground by starring in an animated feature (Toy Story) during the first peak in his career (95), Hanks made a major statement and also gave an amazing voice performance. He didn’t stop there, but enjoyed the experience so much that he cranked it up to 11 for the sequel! Bonus points for being the best film in the franchise!
16) Road to Perdition (2002)
Following one of the greatest acting performances of all time (Cast Away), Hanks dialed back a bit in the early 2000’s barring this one fantastic performance. RTP was a major change of pace at the time and even though it isn’t exactly a career highlight, Hanks did prove his versatility yet again with this crime drama, earning himself a Hollywood Film Award nomination.
15) A League of Their Own (1992)
Another pre Philadelphia performance that showed improvement with Hanks in terms of expressiveness vs emoting, something a lot of actors and actresses start to really improve as they take on more more mature content.
14) Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Even though Hanks has cranked out some pretty in depth performances over the years, he does have the charisma and every man qualities to make the perfect rom-com actor, and this is rom-com at it’s finest. This is the Hanks we would come to know and love, and this performance even earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
13) Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
There is so much good acting in this film that you almost forget how subtly brilliant Hanks is. CWW was more of a low-key film in terms of reception, but Hanks really started to develop himself for “old man who is also very serious” roles with this performance and even earned yet another Golden Globe nomination for his work!
Did I ever mention how versatile this man is?!
12) Sully (2016)
Even though he only earned a Best Actor nomination at the People’s Choice Awards, he was definitely snubbed by the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he earned an Oscar nod that year (with the steep competition that year) but he acted his butt off. At this point nobody was really sure that he still had a ton of star power left in the tank, having really shown out in just Captain Phillips and Cloud Atlas as far as major performances for about a 10 year span.
11) Cloud Atlas (2012)
Hanks didn’t give us any particularly deep performances, but he did put on a clinic on versatility, diving into a wide array of character types, each with believable conviction.
10) The Post (2017)
I wasn’t really sure where to put this at first, but I knew it deserved a spot in the Top 15. Upon reflection, Hanks didn’t do anything we didn’t already expect,but managed to go toe-to-toe with Meryl Streep (easily one of the top 4 actors of all time, regardless of genre) and there was also such a vitality to his approach in The Post that you don’t find with many actors 35 years in the game. Major props, and also a Golden Globe nom.
9) Catch Me If You Can (2003)
This was released during a generally quiet period for Hanks in terms of blockbuster performances but he does something pretty special, competes with the most charismatic actor of all time (DiCaprio) and gave us some of the best cat and mouse chemistry in all of cinema.
Even though Hanks sometimes falls into a type, there’s just something so honest and human about is portrayal of the ordinary. It really puts it perspective that everyone is unique in their own way.
8) Toy Story (1995)
Not only was Toy Story one of the most revolutionary animated films at the time, but even started the global powerhouse that is Pixar. It took a lot of grit for Hanks to risk his image as a serious actor (having just won 2 Best Actor Oscars back to back the previous year) to do a voice role fora company that has 0 films under it’s belt. It’s the grit like that,that truly puts Hanks ahead of many of his contemporaries, not to mention he committed fully to his new experience and crushed it, creating one of his most iconic roles.
7) Green Mile (1999)
I’m not really sure how Hanks got 0 nominations for this role, but Green Mile is one of the strongest book adaptations and modern epics of all time, and Hanks really showed out. It isn’t easy to help carry a 3 hour film.
6) Captain Phillips (2013)
Before I get into this performance, can we just acknowledge how consistently great Tom Hanks has been throughout his 35 year career. I mean he’s gained critical and fan love for roles dating back to the mid 80’s and all the way up to The Post in 2017. Tom Hanks has had a very rare career trajectory, and he isn’t even done yet!
Anyone who follows the awards circuit knows that Hanks was snubbed an Oscar nomination with this performance. I mean,it’s incredibly rare to be nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild award and not gain an Academy Award nod. Hanks shreds harder than he has in over a decade during this role and if you haven’t seen it, you definitely should. What a captivating hostage?!
5) Big (1988)
The performance that started it all (in terms of recognition),earning him a Golden Globe, Academy Award, and even a Saturn Award nomination(s). Tom Hanks played this role with so much honesty that people cherish this film today (30 years later). Although we wouldn’t see his dramatic chops until a few years later, 1988 was the day Hanks became a star.
4) Saving Private Ryan (1998)
This is Hanks doing Hanks. Bringing major honesty and nuance to the every man role, and under crazy circumstances. Not only was the leading role in one of the best War Films of All-Time, but Hanks would even earn some stripes as a producer of a multi-Oscar nominated film (the mark of a maturing artist).
With this performance, Hanks earned his 4th Best Actor Oscar nomination, as well as his 5th Golden Globe nom and his 2nd SAG and BAFTA nom’s as well.
3) Philadelphia (1993)
Tom Hanks has never been afraid to play risky and/or gutsy roles, and playing an HIV positive homosexual in the 90’s is the epitome of risky. If this performance didn’t go well, it could have marked an early end to the rising star but Hanks showed major acting chops and went toe-to-toe with another all-time great, Denzel Washington.
This was his first Academy Award win for Acting, but it wouldn’t be long before achieving that feat again.
2) Cast Away (2000)
I debated putting this at 1 all the way up until just now. Just a moment ago I mentioned that Hanks is no stranger to taking on new challenges, and he really must’ve been bored with what he was given at the time because acting with yourself (and holding up a 2.5 hour film) for almost an entire, very long, film takes major comfort with your skill. It’s kind of crazy to think that this was Hanks last Oscar nomination, but it is pretty clear that he will have to go above and beyond to match his work in this film.
1) Forrest Gump (1994)
The year following his Best-Actor win with Philadelphia, Hanks gave us one of the most meme worthy, honest, and biting performances of all time in Forrest Gump. On a list of iconic american films, FG has to be top 10 or even 5 for most people and there’s a good reason, Tom Hanks is a master at playing truth. Forrest Gump is one of those once in a lifetime roles, and Hanks really leaned into it, earning nominations for best Actor at the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, BAFTA and even the People’s Choice, winning ALL but BAFTA.
Tom Hanks is one of the most recognized actors of all time, but even more importantly, he’s a fan favorite for people of all ages and backgrounds all over the world and I don’t think we’re anywhere near seeing the end of him.
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