About This Quiz
When it comes to the greatest movie stars of all time, you might not immediately think to yourself that Tom Hanks is at the top of the list, but if you really think about it, you'd be hard pressed to find a movie of his that ISN'T entertaining. Need a good comedy? Go watch "The Money Pit" (1986). Is it time to go to space? "Apollo 13" (1995) should be at the top of your list. Is it time to add a little Stephen King universe to your life? Pop in "The Green Mile" (1999).Â
Let's face it, there isn't a genre this man can't act in. There isn't a scene where he falters. Tom Hanks is a cinematic delight, and we all know that he's quite the person to be around when he's off-screen. The man loves to geek out with typewriters and WWII (everything). It's always a pleasure to watch him on the big screen, and he's fun to watch in interviews. Yet, for some reason, people don't give him the praise he deserves (probably because he doesn't look for it). If you aren't sure just how much you love Tom Hanks, try taking this quiz to see if you can name these 40 movies he starred in.
When we look at the world a little more simply, the complication of everyday life fades. That is the message that Forrest Gump gives us. People think he's stupid or different, but the truth is, he's different, and Tom Hanks delivered that message perfectly.
What happens when a man obsessed with being on time ends up in a place where time doesn't matter? "Cast Away" happens. This movie showed a part of the human condition that still resonates with audiences. Any survival expert would tell you that not opening that box was pretty dumb, though.
Tom Hanks has one of the most unique voices in Hollywood, so it only makes sense to give him an animated role. In the "Toy Story" franchise, Hanks stars as the leader of Andy's (and now Bonnie's) toys, Woody.
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If you aren't thinking about the scene where Hanks is stuck in the floor making paper airplanes with money, you clearly haven't seen this movie. This comedy shows what happens when a marriage is challenged by the trials of homeownership.
While the premise of "Big" (1988) isn't new, Hanks brought a lot of life to his character in this movie. There were some questionable scenes that might make people cringe right now, but in the '80s, things were much different.
Sometimes, all you need is a simple comedy to get you through the day, and "Turner and Hooch" delivers. It's the story about a detective and a dog he acquires unwillingly. Though the dog isn't part of the K-9 unit, it does help him.
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Everyone remembers the song that came along with this movie ... especially if you grew up in the 1990s. The movie is about a band that makes it big fast and fades out just as fast. It's a fun throwback film.
War movies in general can be pretty intense, but when a war movie is so violently realistic, you know you have something worth seeing. "Saving Private Ryan" was one of these movies, and Hanks shines on the big screen.
In his third movie playing Robert Langdon, Tom Hanks must once again follow clues in historical books, plays and artwork to save the day. This time, he is cracking codes in Dante's medieval poetry.
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"Apollo 13" came out when computer graphics were just starting to change the way we watch movies. This film was based on the true story of the Apollo 13 astronauts who were almost lost in space.
While it wasn't necessarily a box office smash, "He Knows You're Alone" (1980) was Hanks's first shot on the big screen, and though his career started out a little slowly, he made up for it just a few years later with his comedies.
Homosexuality wasn't a topic that Hollywood took on frequently in the early 1990s, but when "Philadelphia" was released in 1993, not only did we get a deeper understanding of the HIV crisis, we also were able to see Hanks show his range in a dramatic role.
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A man decides that he wants to hire Joe (Hanks) to jump into a volcano. Joe thinks it might be a good idea, as he is about to die anyway. It's yet another movie with Hanks and Meg Ryan falling in love. Who doesn't love that duo?
Anyone from a suburban neighborhood knows that when new neighbors move in, everyone gets a little interested. However, when everyone suspects the new neighbors of Satanic dealings, you get "The 'Burbs" (1989).
Weird love stories are always welcome, and in the 1980s, people were able to bring the weirdest of love stories together, including "Splash" (1984). This movie is about a boy who was saved by a mermaid and later falls in love with her.
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When children's books are turned into movies, you will either get a flop or a hit (there is no in-between). Bringing a beautifully illustrated children's book to life was a great idea, but most audience members agreed that the animation was a little too real.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars alongside Hanks in this suspenseful comedy about the notorious check forger, Frank Abagnale, Jr. It's all about how the FBI realizes that there are benefits to hiring criminals.
There is no denying that Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan make an excellent romantic comedy team. In "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993), Hanks plays a widower whose son wants him to find love again and calls into a radio station to make it happen.
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In "Larry Crowne" (2011), Hanks plays the lead character who is basically told that he can't move up in his job. He finds himself in debt and out of a job, so he returns to college. It's a fun movie where we get to see his life turn around in a different way.
"Bachelor Party" (1984) is a pretty standard '80s comedy. A nice guy gets into trouble with his friends and has to thwart someone who is trying to thwart him. The only thing missing is a rich guy trying to demolish a children's playground.
The behind-the-scenes movie studio deals can get a little crazy. This movie is all about how Walt Disney was trying to obtain the rights to "Mary Poppins." Though the author wanted to keep her rights, she eventually ends up considering a deal (as we clearly know based on the fact that the movie exists).
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It had to be difficult writing a movie that spanned five centuries, but it was a nice touch to bring in the same actors through space and time to give the audience a little bit of comfort in consistency.
Tom Hanks has a laundry list of movies in which he plays historical figures and people who once lived (or were still alive). In "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007), Hanks plays Representative Charlie Wilson.
It was only a matter of time before we saw Hanks in a movie directed by the Coen brothers. In this film, Hanks plays an unusual character who seems displaced from his time period (which is a staple in Coen brothers films).
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You can tell the difference between "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993) and "You've Got Mail" (1998) by the change in Meg Ryan's hair. They're both love stories that star this power duo, but they are considerably different in story lines.
In 1986, Hanks was really in a lot of comedies, but this is his first real drama movie. Although it didn't get great reviews, it did show us that Hanks was capable of more than just funny jokes and intelligent humor.
The role Hanks plays in this movie is interesting. While he isn't on screen a lot, his character is woven through the entire film. If you haven't seen this movie, just understand that it is intense in many different ways.
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In the mid-1980s, Hanks did quite a few romantic comedies, but this one was a little different. It was more of an action film in which he played a clueless violinist who is mistaken for an international spy.
This is one of Hanks's earlier films. It didn't do so well, but it wasn't really all that bad. Sure, it moved a little slowly, and the dialogue was stiff, but with a little help perhaps a remake of this film could be an instant remake classic.
When you have to close a deal, you have to close a deal, and in this film, Tom Hanks travels to Saudi Arabia to close a huge deal. He gets help from a doctor played by Sarita Choudhury and a taxi driver played by Alexander Black.
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This is one of those movies that's a little tough to explain. The plot is full of characters and actions, and if you haven't seen the movie, you'll never understand what's going on. However, if you get to the end of the film, you may just cry.
During World War II, male baseball players all headed off to fight the Nazis. This left room for the all-female baseball league to begin. That's how we got "A League of Their Own" in 1992. It showed that girls were tough and that there was no crying in baseball.
What happens when you're in a foreign country and you see yourself stuck? In "The Terminal" (2004) Tom Hanks plays an Eastern European man who basically lives in an airport. It's hilarious and touching, like so many Hanks films.
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Tom Hanks has been in many movies that take place during World War II. In "Ithaca" (2015), he plays the father of a young boy coming of age and wanting nothing more than to support his country and his family.
What happens when you mix powerful technology with a hardheaded woman? "The Circle" (2017) is what you get. It's about what happens when ethics and privacy are brought into the equations that include social media empires.
Hanks has made guest appearances on the show, but when he decided to show up on the movie, fans were excited. "The Simpsons Movie" was released in 2007 after years of fans begging to see their favorite dysfunctional family on the big screen.
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When it comes to action films, you probably don't think of Tom Hanks as the hero. However, he's been in several action films as the man who solves mysteries or saves the day. Think of the war movies he's been in and that time he was an astronaut.
In "Sully" (2016), Tom Hanks plays airline pilot, Chelsey Sullenberger, the man who saved his passengers by landing his plane in the Hudson River. The plane had been severely damaged, and Hanks saved the day.
When a ship is invaded by Somali pirates, what is the captain to do? Well, you'll have to watch "Captain Phillips" (2013) to find out. Hanks plays Capt. Richard Phillips as he does his best to save his crew.
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"Bridge of Spies" (2015) is about what happened when spies were captured during the Cold War. When it comes down to it, this is one of Hanks's best historical fiction roles as he has to broker an exchange between the US and Soviet Russia.