The Four Films Tom Hanks Calls His Absolute Favorites

Tom Hanks first captured the public’s imagination in the early 1980s, leveraging a natural charisma that quickly made him a fixture of the silver screen. His breakout moment arrived with the 1988 classic Big, a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Just a few years later, he solidified his legacy by winning back-to-back Oscars for his powerful roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, becoming one of the most respected figures in cinema history. Over the decades, Hanks has collaborated with an elite roster of filmmakers, ranging from Steven Spielberg to Robert Zemeckis.

His career has been defined by a rare ability to disappear into a wide variety of roles, earning him a global fan base that spans generations. In a recent discussion with the film community on Letterboxd, the actor shared the four specific movies that he considers the greatest of all time, offering a glimpse into the art that inspires him.

At the top of his list is Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Hanks admitted that he revisits the sci-fi epic multiple times a year and is so well-versed in its lore that he could walk you through 2001: A Space Odyssey and not stop talking once during the entire film.

For him, the film remains an unrivaled achievement in visual storytelling and philosophical depth. His second selection moved from science fiction to the historical drama The Best Years of Our Lives.

Released in 1946, the film focuses on the lives of veterans returning home after World War II. Hanks, who famously starred in Saving Private Ryan, considers this the best film about WWII in the generation that fought it, praising its incredible emotional resonance and honest portrayal of the era.

For his third pick, Hanks chose the 1964 Beatles classic, A Hard Day’s Night. Reflecting on his childhood, he recalled seeing the film when he was just eight years old and being captivated by the band’s energy and humor.

He noted that seeing the group be so fresh and hilarious while performing some of the greatest music of any generation cemented its place as a permanent favorite in his heart. Rounding out his list is the gritty 1969 drama Midnight Cowboy, which features iconic performances from Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

Hanks described the movie as being locked into its era while dealing with universal themes of human drive and unlikely companionship. He believes the film contains two magnificent performances that continue to inspire young actors who hope to master the craft of dramatic acting.

As of this year, Tom Hanks is showing no signs of slowing down his prolific work schedule. He starred in the ambitious drama Here, which reunited him with director Robert Zemeckis and used cutting-edge de-aging technology to tell the story of a single room over thousands of years.

Additionally, his recent collaboration with Wes Anderson in The Phoenician Scheme has become a global streaming hit, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Scarlett Johansson and Benedict Cumberbatch. Fans can also look forward to his return to the booth for Toy Story 5, which is currently scheduled for a release later this year.

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