Veteran actor Tom Hanks recently shared that, in his over 40 years in Hollywood, he believes only about four of his films are what he considers truly good.
Hanks, who is currently working on his debut novel, The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece, spoke with People on September 27. He reflected on the filmmaking process, saying, “No one really knows how a movie is made, though most think they do. In my career, I’ve made a lot of movies, and only about four films turned out well. I’m always amazed when a movie is finished. The journey from a mere idea to a moving image on the screen feels like a miracle.”
The Forrest Gump star added, “Filmmaking is a lengthy process, filled with both joyful and dreadful moments. It’s the hardest and most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I hope my novel captures some of the accidental and honest judgments about the film industry and reflects the experiences I’ve had.”
While Hanks did not specify which films he believes are his best, he has previously spoken about his favorites. In a 2021 episode of Bill Simmons’ podcast, Hanks mentioned three films he is most proud of: A League of Their Own (1992), Cast Away (2000), and Cloud Atlas (2012). He revealed that Cloud Atlas is the only movie he has watched more than twice. Film critic Stuart Heritage of the Guardian speculates that the fourth film could be That Thing You Do (1996), a project Hanks wrote, directed, and starred in.
Despite his many successes, Hanks has also experienced several forgettable projects. He has publicly criticized some of his earlier work, including The Man with One Red Shoe (1985), calling it disjointed and a box-office flop. Hanks also expressed discomfort with his role in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and stated that, if given the chance, he would not revisit certain projects, such as Dragnet (1987), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and The Da Vinci Code (2006).
In addition to his two Oscars, Hanks has won six Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, and, in 2014, was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors by President Barack Obama for his contributions to American culture.
