Tom Hanks’ Favorite Movies: Eight Films the Oscar Winner Wants You to See

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)

Hanks was just a pre-teen when Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” hit theaters — but the film’s influence on him is still being felt half a century later. The iconic sci-fi film is the epitome of a timeless classic, introducing viewers to the potential of space exploration, technology development, and the evolution of mankind and civilization. Released in 1968 a year before Apollo 11’s moon landing, the picture touched on supercomputers and AI in a way previously unimagined by moviegoers. Hanks cites Kubrick’s film as his possible favorite movie of all time, explaining that he still loves to fast forward through the film and re-watch the main points.

“I still watch it a couple of times a year,” Hanks said in an interview with Letterboxd. “I could walk you through ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ and not stop talking once during the entire film.”

“A Hard Day’s Night” (1964)

Any child who grew up in the 1960s witnessed the evolution of pop and rock music and the changes in the way bands interacted with their fans. The influence of British rock music was increasingly popular throughout the decade, with bands like The Beatles developing a massive fanbase in the United States. “A Hard Day’s Night” takes fans alongside the band and their 36-hour journey counting down to a television performance. The musical comedy received two Oscar nominations and holds a special place in Tom Hanks’ heart. 

“To see The Beatles be so fresh, funny, and hilarious, with the greatest music of any generation, that is definitely number three,” Hanks said. 

“The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946)

Hanks is no stanger to war dramas, having starred in films such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Greyhound” and produced “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” So it makes sense that William Wyler’s 1946 post-war drama “The Best Years of Our Lives” has carried an influence on the actor. The story follows three American soldiers of different rankings and backgrounds and their challenges in adjusting to society as they return to the United States. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in 1947. 

“I think that is the best film about the war and the generation who fought it,” Hanks said. “You could watch that today and it’s all about who we are right now. I think that’s an incredible motion picture.”

“Midnight Cowboy” (1969)

Not only is “Midnight Cowboy” one of Hanks’s favorite films, but before it was re-categorized to an “R” rating, it was also the only X-rated movie to win Best Picture. The 1969 buddy-drama featured two Academy Award-winning actors, Jon Voight as Joe Buck and Dustin Hoffman as “Ratso” Rizzo. Buck is a queer cowboy who travels via bus from Texas to New York. Rizzo is a con man who introduces Buck to a pimp and other shady characters, helping the Texan in his attempts to make money as a male prostitute. Hanks notes the memorable acting in the film and how its themes are still relevant today. 

“That movie is locked into its era, but again, it is right about today and what drives us and it has two magnificent performances that any young man, if they saw, wanted to play,” Hanks said.

“Fargo” (1996)

Who doesn’t love “Fargo”? The Coen Brothers’ pitch-black crime comedy is a classic for a reason, and Hanks heaped praise on it in an interview with the German magazine Bild.

“That’s what I’m looking for when I go to see a film, just like any other cinemagoer,” he said of “Fargo.” “The period, the topic or the genre don’t matter to me. The only thing that matters for me is: ‘Boy, what would you do if that were you?'”

“Elephant” (2003)

One of the darker films on Hanks’s list of favorites is Gus Van Sant’s 2003 landmark indie drama “Elephant.” The film chronicles the lives and events of multiple students both on and off campus at Watt High School in the suburbs of Portland Oregon leading up to a school shooting. Although the film sparked controversy when it was released, it was praised by critics and won the Palme d’Or, at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. It clearly resonated with Hanks, who told Bild that it was “one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen.”

“The Godfather” (1972)

Of course the guy who told us that he always leaves the gun and takes the canolis in “Sleepless in “Seattle” is a “Godfather” fan in real life. Hanks included Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic adaptation of Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name when he listed his top five favorite movies for Bild magazine. “The Godfather” was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

“Boogie Nights” (1997)

The San Fernando Valley was a hotbed for the so-called “Golden Age” that the porn industry enjoyed in the 1970s. Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film “Boogie Nights” looked under the sleazy hood of the era, following the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler, Mark Wahlberg’s fictionalized stand-in for “King of Porn” John Holmes. While the film might seem like it would clash with Hanks’ wholesome screen persona, he told Bild that it’s one of his favorite movies of all time. “That film was a revelation for me,” he said.