Tom Hanks rated 19 movies only 4 worth watching
As far as an actor celebrating a landmark milestone goes, Tom Hanks did it in style when his twentieth feature film appeared on screen: Forrest Gump, released in July 1994.
This milestone wasn’t just a number; it marked a career that consistently delivered hits. It was a year that proved Hanks was not only a beloved figure but a genuine cinematic force. Not only did he secure his second consecutive Academy Award for Best Actor, but the film itself became the highest-grossing live-action release of the year, with only The Lion King keeping the top spot. The emotional appeal of Mufasa’s passing clearly outweighed Forrest’s run.
The momentum didn’t stop there. Hanks continued to build a formidable reputation, with his tenth feature film, Big, earning him his first Oscar nod and catapulting him onto the A-list. This was followed by a performance in Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition, where he played a role that showcased his range and talent, further solidifying his status as a generational talent.
Yet, the journey of a major star is rarely a straight line. Throughout the first few years of his professional life, there were inevitable ups, downs, and fluctuating highs, as actors navigate the challenging process of establishing themselves and picking the right roles.
Looking back at the first fourteen years of his career, just days before Philadelphia was released in the United Kingdom in February 1994, Hanks offered a moment of wry self-deprecation about the cinematic landscape he had navigated. He reflected on his filmography, noting that he had made nineteen movies up to that point, but joked that only four of them were truly worth watching.
When pressed about which quartet he meant, Hanks offered a casual selection, including Philadelphia and Big, alongside memorable entries like A League of Their Own and the career-defining role in The Fucked-Up 1992 Role That Saved Tom Hanks Career. He dismissed lesser choices, jokingly ruling out slasher debuts, the diabolical Bonfire of the Vanities, and even Turner & Hooch>.
Interestingly, decades later, as he had amassed dozens of films, Hanks reiterated a similar sentiment. Whether he was constantly re-evaluating his top four choices or simply felt that his most impactful work had already been established by films like Philadelphia, the sentiment remained: the classics stood out.
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