Tom Hanks – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 26, 2026

United States Drama thought provoking

Tom Hanks’ best films show an actor who authentically inhabits characters across genres, from the heartwarming Forrest Gump to the intense Saving Private Ryan. Forrest Gump follows a kind-hearted man who influences history, Saving Private Ryan leads a squad to bring a soldier home, Cast Away strands a FedEx executive on an island, and Apollo 13 plays astronaut Jim Lovell. Philadelphia, The Green Mile, Toy Story, Big, A League of Their Own and Captain Phillips round out the list.

Forrest Gump (1994) 01

Forrest Gump (1994)

IMDb ★ 8.8 RT 75% Metacritic 82

A one-man tour through three decades of American history.

"My mama always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 22m · Rated PG-13

Won 6 Oscars51 wins & 74 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Saving Private Ryan (1998) 02

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 94% Metacritic 91

A squad of soldiers is sent behind enemy lines to bring home a paratrooper whose brothers have all been killed.

"Earn this." - Saving Private Ryan

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 49m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars79 wins & 75 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Cast Away (2000) 03

Cast Away (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A FedEx executive stranded alone on a deserted island for years must find the will to survive.

"I'm gonna die, Wilson!" - Cast Away

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 23m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Apollo 13 (1995) 04

Apollo 13 (1995)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 92% Metacritic 78

A moon mission's crew has to improvise a way home after an oxygen tank explosion cripples their spacecraft.

"Houston, we have a problem." - Apollo 13

Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 20m · Rated PG

Won 2 Oscars31 wins & 59 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Philadelphia (1993) 05

Philadelphia (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 66

A lawyer fired for having AIDS sues his old firm with the help of a reluctant, homophobic attorney.

"What do you call a thousand lawyers chained together at the bottom of the ocean? A good start." - Philadelphia

Directed by Jonathan Demme · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 Oscars21 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxHulu
The Green Mile (1999) 06

The Green Mile (1999)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 78% Metacritic 61

A death row prison guard witnesses miraculous events around a gentle inmate convicted of a brutal crime.

"On the day of my judgment, when I stand before God, and He asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles, what am I gonna say? That it was my job?" - The Green Mile

Directed by Frank Darabont · 3h 09m · Rated R

Nominated for 4 Oscars15 wins & 37 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Toy Story (1995) 07

Toy Story (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 100% Metacritic 96

A cowboy doll's world is turned upside down when a flashy new spaceman toy arrives.

"To infinity and beyond!" - Toy Story

Directed by John Lasseter · 1h 21m · Rated G

Nominated for 3 Oscars29 wins & 24 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoYoutubeTV
Big (1988) 08

Big (1988)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 98% Metacritic 73

A young boy magically turned into an adult must handle work and love with a child's heart.

"I wish I were big." - Big

Directed by Penny Marshall · 1h 44m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 Oscars12 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV
A League of Their Own (1992) 09

A League of Their Own (1992)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Women's professional baseball steps in to fill the gap left by men sent off to the Second World War.

"There's no crying in baseball!" - A League of Their Own

Directed by Penny Marshall · 2h 08m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd Amazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV
Captain Phillips (2013) 10

Captain Phillips (2013)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A cargo ship captain is taken hostage by Somali pirates in a tense, drawn-out standoff.

"I am the captain now." - Captain Phillips

Directed by Paul Greengrass · 2h 14m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd NetflixAmazon Prime VideoHBO MaxYoutubeTV

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

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Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.