Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker known for both his comedic and dramatic roles.  It has been a decade since the man is a part of this industry and the 63-year-old actor has been the movies’ A-list everyman of choice, Hollywood’s Mr. Nice Guy, and the kind of real-life Good Samaritan that inspires by example.

He is not only exceedingly versatile but a method actor who tries to become completely emotionally synchronized with the character he is playing. And it shows.

Recently the news of him and his wife contracting the coronavirus has been making rounds which were disheartening. But since now when they finally made it back to Los Angeles after inching down the road to recovery, we are here to celebrate his recovery by listing the top 10 movies of the greatest actor of all-time Tom Hanks.

Sleepless in Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle is an incredibly fascinating story with very realistic acting by the leads Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The story is about a single father Sam whose son Jonah is constantly on the mission of finding his father a new wife.

Love story blooms when Jonah calls into a talk-radio program and Sam grudgingly gets on the line to discuss his feelings and Annie Reed played by Meg Ryan who is a reporter in Baltimore, hears Sam speak and falls for him, even though she is engaged. It is a simple, heart-warming movie with a well-written story.

The Terminal

The Terminal is a 2004 American comedy-drama film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg that features an Eastern European man played by Tom Hanks who is unfortunately stuck at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport terminal when he is denied entry into the United States.

As the movie progress, the misfortune of the men soon turns into fortune as he falls in love with a flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones) with her having feelings for him too. The drama and comic timing of the movie make it a perfect Saturday night flick.

Captain Philips

Captain Phillips is a pulsating account of the kidnapping of the captain of an American cargo ship by Somali pirates.

When the U.S. containership Maersk Alabama is hijacked by Somali pirates, the Captain of the ship played by Tom Hanks has no choice but to wear the hero cap and use his wits to make sure everyone survives and returns home safely.

Tom Hanks is undoubtedly impeccable in his portrayal of a man who’s staring at death in the face, and with his acting, he will make you feel for their fear, dilemmas as their behavior reflects their inner turmoil. The movie also challenges our perception of good and bad, making us realize that a criminal is not born but is made by his/her circumstances.

Cast Away

Cast Away is a 2000 American survival drama. This is one of the classics, with power pack performance by Tom Hanks, as he tries to survive in extreme conditions after his plane crashes in the South Pacific.

The concept of the movie is about the tenacity to survive in the absence of basic necessities like food, water, shelter. The movie is engaging and thrilling with a nice ending making it a must-watch!

Philadelphia

Based on a true story, Philadelphia is about a man who is fired from his company because he had AIDS. The movie portrays how the man hires a homophobic lawyer to fight against a wrongful dismissal suit.

This movie was the first to raise awareness on such sensitive issue and it also made Tom Hanks receive his first Academy Award. Emotional, powerful, gripping, and great performances by Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. A must watch.

Apollo-13

Apollo-13, a movie based on the much-anticipated event in history, the lunar mission. It shows how at one moment everything can be fine and in the other, your world can turn upside down, the uncertainty of life.

As the astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) find everything going according to plan after leaving Earth’s orbit but when an oxygen tank explodes, the scheduled moon landing is called off.

It’s one of those movies that inspire you along with giving you the spice of humor, love, affection, love for the motherland, and the importance of keeping promises.

Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 American biographical crime film. Leonardo Di Caprio plays the role of a con artist Frank Abagnale who had looted people worth millions of dollars.

As he becomes a major problem for the country, the only choice left for them is to turn to FBI agent Carl Hanratty played by Tom Hanks. It is a masterpiece of direction with the unmatchable acting skills of Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Hanks.

The Green Mile

The Green Mile is a 1999 American fantasy crime drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, an Oscar-nominated best picture adaptation of a Stephen King novel about a gentle giant of a prisoner with supernatural powers who brings a sense of spirit and humanity to his guards.

Undeniably a brilliant Film. Tom Hanks yet again proved himself as a great actor in this magnificent drama.

Saving Private Ryan

Saving The Private Ryan is a war movie with excellent cinematography, editing, screenplay, and powerful performances by two great legends Tom Hanks & Steven Spielberg making this movie a great masterpiece.

”There are events in history that show the dark side of humanity” – HBO on Saving Private Ryan and this movie portrays one of those events in a dramatic manner with all the elements of an entertaining film.

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is about a slow-witted, simple-minded but good-hearted person who has never thought of himself as disadvantaged.

This movie is everyone’s favorite because it shows how a simple-minded character who was born with this inescapable handicap of sorts manages to get the cute (but troubled) girl, become an All-Star college athlete, and achieve all his dreams without having the conventional hero type qualities.

It’s funny, charming, pleasing, and makes us feel so good by the end of the film.

Conclusion

After going through this list one thing is clear that Tom Hanks has done some of the most diverse movies and delivered even more memorable characters than many other actors. Hanks has never gone off the rails. Never been in the news for negative press. Making him a great man in addition to a great actor.

He’s the 3rd highest-grossing actor in North America (S), with all of his movies grossing about 4.5 Billion dollars. He can go from genius to dumb, from intense to carefree, from Earth to space, and from animated to artistic, you name it and he will present that slaying in every role of his making his journey even more epic.