One of the most well-known actors of all time is Tom Hanks. From voicing Woody in the legendary Toy Story movies to playing Forrest in Forrest Gump, Hanks has a very long list of iconic films that he has starred in.
He has quite the diverse array of projects that he's done, from dramas to comedies, and it seems that Hanks has done it all since he started acting in films 42 years ago. Perhaps surprisingly, one category that he has thrived in is the action genre, and this is only proven by the high scores these movies received on IMDb.
The film Inferno brings out some of Hanks' best features. He plays the part of Robert Langdon and is the smartest person in the room, but he plays it with modesty, practically perfectly. This is a role that Hanks has nailed over his many years of acting, and it definitely shows in this film.
The action stems from the heroes trying to save the world from a plague and a group of people trying to end it, which is a common story theme, and while it may not be one of Hanks's best movies, he performs admirably.
Just like in Inferno, Hanks plays Robert Langdon in Angels & Demons, where he is called by the Vatican Church to explore why the Illuminati is coming back to seek revenge.
Seeing Hanks run around and make demands of the church to help solve what they called him there for and solve a mystery, plus with Ewan McGregor as his co-star, led to a great film. Although not Hanks's best action work, it has earned its spot in the top ten.
Fans got to see a different side of Hanks as he starred in the News of the World. This highly rated western film, only on Netflix at the time, was a success with fans and critics alike.
The action in the film was much more subtle, as it took place in 1870, so it was more about the adventure of getting the girl, Johanna Leonberger, back to the little family she had left. Seeing Hanks take on the role of a father figure gave the intensity of the film an emotional weight as his attachment to the girl grew.
The movie inspired by actual events that took place during World War II, Greyhound, showcases one of Hanks' best performances. The action in the movie is breathtaking and heartbreaking and Hanks' part in the film only adds to the emotional levels as well as increases the cinematic beauty and tastefulness of the piece.
It's no secret that creating a movie of a historical event that actually happened can be hard to nail and keep respectful, but this film was able to do that, and Hanks was able to demonstrate the hardships, trials, and triumphs that the Navy veteran might have gone through not only as a first-time captain, but as someone who everyone is counting on to provide men and supplies to help win the war.
In the unique Cloud Atlas, Hanks plays a variety of characters, ranging from a doctor to a tribesman as the movie goes through six different storylines as it explores the possibilities of people's souls being connected over time.
His wide acting range and his ability to embody different characters shines in this film, as the audience sees him play multiple people that are all very different from one another.
Playing a hero in a war movie is one of Hanks's specialties at this point in his acting career. He has done it countless times. In Bridge of Spies, things are a little different. One of Hanks's most likable characters is when he plays an insurance lawyer that the government ropes into not only talk to, but defend a Soviet spy.
The action in the movie lies within the court case, and the drama that ensues as an American defends what everyone is calling a traitor. Hanks' performance stands out due to his character being more calm and collected, and sincerely fighting for the other side because, as he says in the film, "every person matters".
Whenever Hollywood has a movie they want to make based on real-life events, it seems like Tom Hanks is on their speed dial. The film Apollo 13 is proof that Hanks is the guy to call. Hanks plays one of the astronauts that is aboard Apollo 13.
The action side of this film doesn't really occur until the space mission begins, and really until it begins to go awry. When things start to go wrong on the ship, Hanks' character jumps into action, along with the other crew members, in the hopes that they can at least make it back home. Hanks is always able to portray all the emotions one may experience in a time of panic and plays the actions perfectly.
Playing a captain is another role that Tom Hanks has been able to embody and capture perfectly each and every time. In Captain Phillips, Hanks plays the titular role as his cargo ship gets hijacked by Somali pirates.
The action from the hijacking on is top-tier and keeps fans and viewers sitting on the edge of their seats, but it's Hanks' performance as the captain that is mesmerizing. Being able to capture the panic, the necessary calmness, the ownership, and the leadership that a captain would have to embody all at once as their ship is getting overtaking is depicted perfectly through his acting in the film, and it may just be one of Hanks' saddest movies.
Twenty years ago Steven Spielberg gave the world a film that starred Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Christopher Walken - Catch Me If You Can. The film is based on the true story of a Frank Abagnale Jr. who conned millions of dollars by faking his way through various different occupations.
Hanks plays the part of the FBI agent that is trying to catch Frank. His frustration of always being just one step behind this kid while not getting much help from the parents is played wonderfully by Hanks.
Perhaps one of Tom Hanks's most iconic characters is Captain Miller in the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan. His performance moved people in many ways, and the film has one of the highest IMDb scores of all the feature films he's been in (which is over 100).
When many people think of Tom Hanks this is one of the movies they associate with him due to his stellar work and because of Saving Private Ryan's quality as a whole. Yet again, perfecting the role of a captain in a war movie, he seems to have no problem taking on the action scenes in this film, and there truly seems to be nothing that Tom Hanks can't do.
