Tom Hanks may believe he only has four good movies, but he has many more amazing films that have left a remarkable impact on Hollywood. The actor has one of the recognizable careers in the film industry, becoming a staple to households of all ages. Hanks has also managed to become one of the most successful actors of his generation with his films grossing nearly $10 billion at the box office worldwide.
In a recent interview in which he promoted the upcoming novel The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, Tom Hanks revealed how many of his movies he thinks are good. Even though he has made "a ton of movies," he feels that only "four of them are pretty good." While he didn't specify which films he believes are his best, it could lead anyone reading his comments to speculate which movies he was referencing. Having starred in films dating back to 1980, Hanks could have been referencing many films that audiences would have guessed like Forrest Gump or Saving Private Ryan. The actor is clearly being very modest and likely doesn't want to come across as egotistical for having such an acclaimed career throughout the last four decades.
While his first starring feature role in 1984 was in Ron Howard's Splash, the breakout Tom Hanks role that earned him his first Oscar nomination was Penny Marshall's Big in 1988. Hanks delivered a perfect interpretation of how a young teenage boy would feel if he woke up one morning in an adult's body. His role as Josh Baskin is comedy gold, so it's no surprise that he went on to star in other comedies after such as Turner & Hooch and A League of Their Own. The actor also saw a great level of success in dramas like Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, both of which earned him back-to-back Oscar wins for Best Actor. Tom Hanks has also played real-life people in movies and TV as in films like Apollo 13, Captain Phillips, and Sully.
Tom Hanks Is Still Showing Why He's One Of The Best Actors In Hollywood
Film is very subjective, and not every movie that is released will achieve success financially or critically. Actors have to be very cautious with what kind of films they want to star in. This contributes to why certain actors and actresses are still just as relevant today as when their careers first started out. Many also like to try something new like writing or directing and reinvigorate their careers that way. Tom Hanks made his debut as a screenwriter and director in 1996's That Thing You Do!. He later went on to write and direct Larry Crowne in 2011 and wrote 2020's Greyhound for Apple TV+. Tom Hanks turned down major movie roles over the years as well, and it's not hurt his career as he branched into different genres. The Toy Story franchise is one of the most popular of all time, for example, and part of that is thanks to his performance as the voice of Sheriff Woody.
With one of the most eclectic careers in the history of film, Tom Hanks will always be remembered as one of the greatest actors of any generation. To this day, the actor is still delivering great performances and is sure to see more of his films received well. His most recent Oscar nomination was in 2020 for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, in which he portrayed another icon: Mr. Rogers. Tom Hanks is not just one of the most respected celebrities, but he also gave audiences around the world some of the most memorable performances of all time.