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There are movie stars, and then there’s Tom Hanks. For more than four decades, he’s played characters that feel like people you actually know. He’s a stranded FedEx employee, a lovable dreamer or a toy cowboy having an existential crisis. Narrowing his filmography down to just seven movies is no easy task, but if you’re looking for the best place to start, this list has you covered.
1. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Few films hit as hard as Saving Private Ryan, and it deserves a spot as one of Tom Hanks’ best movies. Set during World War II, it opens with the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, in a sequence so intense that it changed how many people thought war could be portrayed on screen.
After three Ryan brothers are killed in combat, Captain John Miller receives an extraordinary mission. He needs to find the fourth brother, Private James Ryan, and bring him home. The journey takes Miller and his men deep into dangerous territory, where every decision carries life-or-death consequences.
Tom Hanks anchors the film as Captain Miller, a leader who earns respect through calm judgment. You learn very little about him at first, but this makes the moments when he finally opens up feel even more powerful. Hanks brings humanity to the role that balances the film’s brutal combat scenes.
2. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
If you enjoy crime movies that move at the speed of a fast-talking lie, Catch Me If You Can is hard to resist. Based on the disputed claims of Frank Abagnale Jr., the film follows a young man who con people by posing as a pilot, prosecutor and doctor while cashing fraudulent checks across the country.
The fun comes from watching the cat-and-mouse game unfold between Frank, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and FBI agent Cal Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks. Rather than turning Hanratty into a typical movie detective, Hanks gives him a quiet determination that makes him just as interesting as the man he’s chasing. As the years pass, the relationship between hunter and hunted becomes surprisingly personal.
With a 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes and Steven Spielberg behind the camera, this is one of the most entertaining films in Hanks’ catalog. Smart, funny and endlessly watchable, it makes two hours disappear before you realize it.
3. A League of Their Own (1992)
You might come for baseball, but you’ll stay for the characters. Inspired by the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League created during World War II, A League of Their Own tells the story of women who stepped onto the field when many male players were away at war.
Tom Hanks stars as Jimmy Dugan, a former baseball star who reluctantly takes charge of the Rockford Peaches. At first, he treats the job like an inconvenience. Over time, though, his attitude changes as he begins to respect the talent, determination and heart of the players around him.
Jimmy isn’t the center of the story, but that allows Hanks to gradually reveal the character’s better qualities without taking attention away from the women leading the team. He delivers plenty of laughs along the way, but also brings real sincerity when it matters most.
4. Forrest Gump (1994)
No Tom Hanks film ranking is complete without this one. Some movie characters become part of pop culture, but Forrest Gump became something bigger. In this Oscar-winning drama, you follow Forrest, a kind-hearted man from Alabama whose optimism carries him through some of the most memorable moments in American history.
The movie combines humor, heartbreak and hope. No matter where life takes him, Forrest keeps moving forward with a simple belief in doing the right thing. His lifelong connection with Jenny gives the story its emotional center and reminds you that some relationships can shape an entire lifetime.
Tom Hanks won his second Academy Award for the role, and it’s easy to see why. He brings warmth, sincerity and charm to a character who could have felt like a caricature in less capable hands. Even decades later, Forrest Gump remains one of Hanks’ most recognizable films. It’s funny, uplifting and surprisingly emotional, leaving you with plenty to think about long after the credits roll.
5. A Man Called Otto (2022)
If you’ve ever met someone who seems determined to be annoyed by absolutely everything, you’ll probably recognize Otto. Tom Hanks plays the grumpy retiree at the center of this comedy-drama, a man struggling with loss after the death of his wife, Sonya.
Otto would prefer to be left alone, but life has other plans. Just as he prepares to give up, a group of cheerful new neighbors keeps pulling him back into the world. Their interruptions spark a series of unexpected friendships that slowly chip away at his tough exterior.
The film moves between the present day and flashbacks that reveal how Otto became the person he is. Those glimpses into the past add depth to a character who seems impossible to like. Hanks fully embraces Otto’s stubbornness while making sure his humanity never disappears.
6. Toy Story (1995)
Long before cinematic universes were everywhere, Toy Story showed just how much audiences could care about animated characters. The groundbreaking film was the first fully computer-generated feature-length animated movie, and it introduced you to the cowboy doll voiced by Tom Hanks, Woody.
Woody enjoys life as Andy’s favorite toy until Buzz Lightyear arrives and turns everything upside down. Suddenly feeling threatened, Woody reacts with jealousy, frustration and more than a little anger. Hanks’ voice performance gives Woody heart, and he transforms the character into one of animation’s most beloved icons.
The franchise has remained remarkably popular, with Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 all earning praise from audiences. The latest chapter, Toy Story 5, proved there’s still plenty of life left in the franchise. The 2026 sequel galloped to a franchise-best $160 million domestic debut. Three decades after the original film changed animation forever, audiences were still showing up to hear Hanks say, “Howdy, partner.”
7. Cast Away (2000)
Imagine carrying an entire movie largely on your own. That’s exactly what Tom Hanks does in his film Cast Away. After a FedEx plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, you find yourself stranded alongside Hanks’ Chuck Noland on a deserted island and wonder how anyone could possibly survive such an impossible situation.
The film follows Chuck as he adapts to years of isolation. He relies on whatever washes ashore and finds companionship in the unlikeliest places. A large part of the film focuses on his day-to-day struggle, and it never feels boring. You’re right there with him through the hard moments, the funny ones and the quiet stretches when loneliness starts to set in.
Years of isolation leave a visible mark on Chuck. Hanks appears almost unrecognizable in the later stages of the film, complete with a wild beard and a gaunt appearance. Funny in places, heartbreaking in others, the movie is a reminder that life can change course without warning.
Still America’s Favorite Everyman
The best Tom Hanks movies have a little bit of everything. They can make you laugh, break your heart, keep you on the edge of your seat or somehow do all three at once. You’ve probably seen some of these films more than once. If not, now’s as good a time as any to find out why Hanks has remained one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars for so long.
