The best Tom Hanks movies are Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Philadelphia, Apollo 13, The Green Mile, Toy Story, Big, Catch Me If You Can and Sleepless in Seattle. Hanks has won two Best Actor Oscars (Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) and has appeared in dozens of hit films across more than four decades. His next release is The Comebacker, set for July 30, 2027.

Few actors have a filmography as loved as Tom Hanks. He can make you laugh in a romantic comedy, cry in a war drama, and feel nostalgic hearing Woody’s voice in an animated classic, sometimes all in the same week of watching. That range is exactly why so many people search for Tom Hanks movies every single day.

This guide is built to be your permanent, one-stop resource. You will find the best Tom Hanks movies ranked, a complete filmography in order by year, his award history, a genre-by-genre watchlist, streaming tips and everything we know about his upcoming films. Use the quick answers if you are in a hurry, or read the whole thing to plan a full Hanks marathon.

Who Is Tom Hanks? A Short Biography

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California, according to his Wikipedia biography and IMDb profile. He started in small roles and television before breaking out in comedies in the 1980s. The turning point came with Big (1988), which earned him his first Oscar nomination.

In the 1990s he became a true Hollywood heavyweight. He won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, making him only the second actor in history to win in consecutive years. Since then he has balanced serious dramas, historical epics, family films and voice acting, while also producing through his company Playtone.

His honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded in 2016, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes. You can read the official Presidential Medal of Freedom background for context.

The Best Tom Hanks Movies, Ranked

Ranking a career this strong is hard, but this list balances critical acclaim, audience love, box-office impact and cultural influence. You can compare critic scores on his Rotten Tomatoes page and audience favorites on Letterboxd.

1. Forrest Gump (1994)

The movie most people think of first. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Forrest Gump follows a kind-hearted man who unknowingly takes part in decades of American history. It won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and earned Hanks his second Best Actor Oscar. It is also a huge commercial success, grossing roughly $680 million worldwide.

2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic opens with the unforgettable D-Day landing. Saving Private Ryan has Hanks playing Captain John Miller, leading a squad to find a soldier behind enemy lines. It earned him a Best Actor nomination and is regularly named among the greatest war films ever made.

3. Cast Away (2000)

Almost a one-man show, Cast Away puts Hanks alone on a deserted island for much of the film. His performance (and a volleyball named Wilson) turned a simple survival story into a moving study of loneliness and hope. It earned him another Oscar nomination.

4. Philadelphia (1993)

A landmark legal drama directed by Jonathan Demme. In Philadelphia, Hanks plays a lawyer fighting discrimination, and the performance won him his first Best Actor Oscar. It remains one of his most important and emotional roles.

5. Apollo 13 (1995)

Ron Howard’s gripping space drama recreates the near-disaster of NASA’s 1970 mission. Apollo 13 is a masterclass in tension, teamwork and problem-solving, with Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell.

6. The Green Mile (1999)

A prison drama with a supernatural touch, based on Stephen King’s novel. The Green Mile is long, emotional and unforgettable, with Hanks as a compassionate death-row guard.

7. Toy Story (1995) and the Toy Story Franchise

Hanks voices Woody in one of the most beloved animated series ever made. Toy Story changed animation forever, and later films like Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 each passed $1 billion worldwide. Toy Story 5 arrived in theaters in June 2026 with Hanks returning as Woody.

8. Big (1988)

The film that made Hanks a star. In Big, a boy wakes up in an adult’s body. The piano scene alone is a movie classic, and the role earned his first Oscar nomination.

9. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Spielberg’s stylish crime comedy casts Leonardo DiCaprio as a young con artist and Hanks as the FBI agent chasing him. Catch Me If You Can is fast, funny and endlessly rewatchable.

10. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Nora Ephron’s romantic classic with Meg Ryan. Sleepless in Seattle is a comfort-watch favorite and one of the defining romantic comedies of the 1990s.

11. Captain Phillips (2013)

A tense thriller about the hijacking of a cargo ship, directed by Paul Greengrass. Captain Phillips has a powerful final scene that many critics call one of Hanks’ best moments.

12. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Hanks plays Fred Rogers in this gentle, moving drama from director Marielle Heller. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

13. Bridge of Spies (2015)

Another Spielberg collaboration, this Cold War thriller is smart, patient and beautifully acted. Bridge of Spies has Hanks as a lawyer negotiating a prisoner exchange.

14. Sully (2016)

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Sully tells the story of the “Miracle on the Hudson” with Hanks as Captain Chesley Sullenberger. At under two hours, it is a tight, fast-moving watch.

15. A League of Their Own (1992)

A baseball comedy-drama with an all-star cast. A League of Their Own gave us the famous line “There’s no crying in baseball” and remains a crowd-pleaser.

Honorable mentions: Road to Perdition, The Terminal, Saving Mr. Banks, Splash, You’ve Got Mail, Turner & Hooch, Elvis, A Man Called Otto and News of the World.

Tom Hanks Movies in Order (Full Filmography by Decade)

Here is a clean, year-by-year list of major Tom Hanks movies. For an even more detailed, official list, see the Tom Hanks filmography on Wikipedia and the IMDb filmography.

1980s: The Breakout Years

1990s: The Golden Decade

2000s: Range and Risk

2010s: Prestige and Pixar

2020s: Streaming Era and Beyond

This table covers his most notable roles, not every minor appearance. For minor credits, voice work and TV projects, use the IMDb page.

Tom Hanks Movie Awards and Oscars

Hanks is among the most decorated actors of his generation. Here is the Academy Awards summary:

In total, that is six acting nominations and two wins. Official records live in the Academy Awards database, and he has also been honored by the Golden Globes and BAFTA. The American Film Institute also regularly features his films on its lists of top American movies.

Best Tom Hanks Movies by Genre

Different moods call for different Hanks films. Use this section to match the movie to your evening.

Best Tom Hanks War Movies

• Saving Private Ryan (1998): the gold standard.
• Greyhound (2020): a tense naval thriller he also wrote. Read about the sequel on the Greyhound 2 Wikipedia page.
• Bridge of Spies (2015): Cold War tension without battle scenes.

Best Tom Hanks Comedies and Romantic Comedies

• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• You’ve Got Mail (1998)
• Big (1988)
• Splash (1984)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Best Tom Hanks Dramas

• Philadelphia (1993)
• Cast Away (2000)
• The Green Mile (1999)
• Captain Phillips (2013)
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Best Tom Hanks Family Movies

• Toy Story series (voice of Woody)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Pinocchio (2022)
• Finch (2021), suitable for older kids (check ratings on Common Sense Media first)

Best Tom Hanks Thrillers and Mysteries

• The Da Vinci Code (2006) and Angels & Demons (2009)
• Road to Perdition (2002)
• Captain Phillips (2013)

Best Tom Hanks True-Story Movies

• Apollo 13, Sully, Captain Phillips, Saving Mr. Banks, The Post and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood all draw from real events and real people.

Best Tom Hanks Sports Movies

• A League of Their Own (1992) is his signature sports film, and a new baseball project is on the way (see below).

Where to Watch Tom Hanks Movies

Streaming rights change constantly, so any list written today may be outdated tomorrow. The reliable method is to search the film title on JustWatch, which shows current streaming, rental and purchase options in your country. Here is where his films tend to appear:

Cheapest way to watch: Start with free services (Tubi, Pluto TV, Kanopy), then rent individual films instead of paying for several subscriptions. For a long marathon, one month of the right subscription is often the best value.

Want to upgrade your home viewing? Check out our tech and gadgets coverage.

Tom Hanks Upcoming Movies (2026–2027)

Hanks shows no sign of slowing down. Here is what is confirmed or in progress, based on trade-press reports.

The Comebacker (July 30, 2027)

Sony has dated this baseball film for July 30, 2027, as reported by Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap. Marielle Heller, who directed him in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, writes and directs, adapting a Dave Eggers short story. Hanks plays a pitching coach whose life changes after a pitcher is hit in the head by a line drive. Screen Rant’s coverage also notes it lands 35 years after A League of Their Own.

Greyhound 2

A sequel to his WWII naval thriller, with Hanks writing and returning as Captain Ernest Krause. Production began in early 2026 in Australia, per the Greyhound 2 Wikipedia page, with Stephen Graham among the returning cast. No confirmed release date at the time of writing.

Lincoln in the Bardo

An adaptation of George Saunders’ Booker Prize-winning novel, with Hanks reported to play Abraham Lincoln, per IMDb and CinemaHolic’s roundup.

Toy Story 5 (Already Released)

Woody returned to theaters in June 2026, and the film performed strongly at the box office. It will move into digital and Disney+ windows over time.

Important: Some websites list “sequels” such as Asteroid City 2, Mamma Mia 3 or Finch 2 as Hanks projects. Treat those with caution. Always confirm upcoming projects with trusted trade outlets like Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter before believing a rumor.

Which Tom Hanks Movie Should You Watch First?

Not sure where to begin? Pick based on what you are in the mood for.

A simple three-movie starter pack: Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and Catch Me If You Can. Together they show his warmth, intensity and charm.

A weekend marathon plan:

1. Friday night: Sleepless in Seattle (cozy start)
2. Saturday afternoon: Toy Story (energy boost)
3. Saturday night: Saving Private Ryan (the heavy one)
4. Sunday afternoon: Cast Away
5. Sunday night: Forrest Gump (the finale)

Fun Facts About Tom Hanks Movies

• Hanks has worked with director Steven Spielberg on five films: Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal, Bridge of Spies and The Post.
• He has worked with Robert Zemeckis on several projects, including Forrest Gump, Cast Away, The Polar Express and Here.
• He wrote and directed That Thing You Do! (1996) and also directed Larry Crowne (2011).
• Hanks voices Woody across the entire Toy Story saga, one of the longest-running voice roles in animation.
• He played real people including Jim Lovell, Walt Disney, Fred Rogers, Chesley Sullenberger and Colonel Tom Parker.
• Forrest Gump helped make “Life is like a box of chocolates” one of the most quoted movie lines ever.

You can verify box-office numbers for most of these films on Box Office Mojo and The Numbers.

Common Mistakes When Searching for Tom Hanks Movies

• Trusting random “upcoming” lists. Many sites mix confirmed films with rumors. Stick to trade outlets.
• Assuming a movie is on one platform forever. Streaming rights rotate monthly.
• Skipping voice roles. His Toy Story work is part of his core filmography.
• Confusing TV with film. Projects like the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific are TV productions he helped produce.
• Ignoring older comedies. Early films like Splash and Big show where his charm began.
• Not checking age ratings. Some films, such as Saving Private Ryan, are very intense. Review guidance first.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Tom Hanks’ best movie?

Forrest Gump (1994) is widely considered his best and most iconic film. It won six Oscars, including Best Picture, and earned Hanks his second Best Actor award. Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away and Philadelphia are also frequently named as his greatest work.

How many Oscars has Tom Hanks won?

Two. He won Best Actor for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), and has six acting nominations in total.

What are the top 5 Tom Hanks movies?

Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Philadelphia and Apollo 13 are the most common top-five picks, though The Green Mile and Toy Story are strong contenders.

What is the next Tom Hanks movie?

His next confirmed theatrical release is The Comebacker, scheduled by Sony for July 30, 2027. Greyhound 2 has also been in production.

How many movies has Tom Hanks made?

He has appeared in more than 90 film and television projects across more than four decades. See the full list on IMDb or Wikipedia.

What was Tom Hanks’ first movie?

His film debut was the low-budget slasher He Knows You’re Alone (1980). His breakout came with Splash (1984) and Big (1988).

Which Tom Hanks movies are on Netflix?

It changes frequently. Search the title on JustWatch for the current availability in your country.

What are the best Tom Hanks war movies?

Saving Private Ryan, Greyhound and Bridge of Spies are the top picks, with a Greyhound sequel in production.

Are Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in more than one movie?

Yes. They starred together in Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

Which Tom Hanks movie is best for kids?

The Toy Story films are the safest choice. The Polar Express and Pinocchio are also popular, but check each film’s rating on Common Sense Media.

Why Tom Hanks Movies Still Matter

Tom Hanks has become something rare in modern cinema: an actor audiences trust. Whether he is leading a mission to bring a soldier home, surviving alone on an island or voicing a cowboy doll, he brings humanity to every role. That is why his films keep being rediscovered by new generations.

Here is your quick game plan:

1. Start with the top five: Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Philadelphia and Apollo 13.
2. Match a genre to your mood using the lists above.
3. Check where each film is streaming on JustWatch.
4. Compare reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and Letterboxd.
5. Bookmark this page for The Comebacker and other upcoming news.

Keep exploring: visit our Entertainment section for more film guides, rankings and streaming tips.