Has Any Actor Had a Better Run of Films Than Tom Hanks in the '90s?

The Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Cowboys, and…Tom Hanks. When you think of absolute domination in the ‘90s, these are the names that should come to your mind. But while Jordan and Aikman were leading their respective teams to back-to-back championships, Tom Hanks was putting together a string of capital I Iconic films year after year after year. In the 10 years that made up the 1990s, Tom Hanks put out fourteen (!) films. Twelve of those films, several of them back-to-back releases, were successes in their own right and left an impact on culture so strong that we’re still feeling the effects - and hearing the quotes - to this day. Let’s take a look at this insane output of movies and you’ll see why no other actor was even close to matching the level of T. Hanks at this time. (Side note: the other two films released that decade with Tom Hanks were the box office bomb and critical flop The Bonfire of the Vanities and the coming-of-age tale Radio Flyer of which Hanks served as narrator.)

Joe Versus The Volcano - 1990

Let's get this out of the way - calling this movie iconic is a stretch. Not a great starting point for proving the argument of this article correct. A more apt word to describe this film might be goofy. Or eccentric. Or what the hell did I just watch. But it belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Hanks movies because of, ironically, not Hanks but his co-star: Meg Ryan. And while the reception for this film was mixed, the chemistry between Hanks and Ryan was Nobel prize worthy. Such was their chemistry that it paved the road for this duo to deliver two knock-out rom-coms later in the decade. Perhaps this movie isn't everyones cup of tea (an edible might help get you there), but it was enough of a success to serve as a launch pad for Hanks to begin building a historic run of films. A solid start for our guy.

A League Of Their Own - 1992

You know the line. I know the line. 30 years later and “There’s no crying in baseball!” is still being tossed around at family gatherings and rec-league softball games that are being taken too seriously by middle-aged dads. Two years after Joe, Hanks turned in a bonafide box office smash with A League Of Their Own. A film so iconic that it was recently turned into a series on Amazon Prime. Holding his own against a tremendously talented ensemble cast, Hanks' turn as the gruff alcoholic manager was praised by critics. Playing the cynical straight man to the cast's collection of eager and high-energy characters showed off Hanks’ ability to blend his knack for comedic timing and his talent for more dramatic roles. Watch Catch Me If You Can to see a similar standout performance from Hanks.

Sleepless In Seattle - 1993

The movie where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks became Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Sleepless In Seattle is not a rom-com but the rom-com. Just a year off of A League Of Their Own, Hanks starred in one of the highest-grossing films of 1993, collaborating for a second time with Ryan. Despite sharing less than five minutes of screen time together, Ryan and Hanks put on a fireworks show of charm and charisma. Hanks could have very well made a solid career in comedic and lighthearted roles like this one. From his short-lived but praised time as a sitcom star in the ABC comedy series Bossom Buddies to comedy movies like Turner & Hooch, Hanks had the chops to be one of the great funny men of our time. But because many of these comedy characters contained shades of seriousness, like his roles in Big or The Burbs, I believe Hanks was using these roles to further refine and improve his craft. This becomes evident by his next film choice.

Philadelphia - 1993

You want to talk about range? In the same year Hanks puts out the quintessential rom-com, he also flexes his full-on dramatic acting skills with his portrayal of AIDS-stricken lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia. Playing opposite the incredible Denzel Washington, Hanks' performance was critically acclaimed, earning him his first Oscar win for Best Actor. This is the same guy who was just scratching his balls on a baseball field one year prior. Talk about a performance, yall.

Forrest Gump - 1994

Hey Siri, play Back To Back by Drake. Because one year after Philadelphia that's exactly what Hanks did. With his performance of the titular Forrest Gump, the highest-grossing film in the U.S. that year, Hanks secured a second Best Actor Academy Award in as many years, making him only the second person in history to do so. And while Forrest Gump was a debated choice for Best Picture winner that year - it won over Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption which is just, insane - Hanks had no problem beating out his fellow nominees for this historic win. And we’re not even halfway through the decade. Sheesh

Apollo 13 - 1995

Houston, we have a problem. And the problem is that this Hanks guy keeps putting out banger after banger. Apollo 13 was one of the top-grossing films of 1995 and also convinced me I did not want to be an astronaut when I grew up. Hanks played astronaut Jim Lovell in this film and brought a grounding dose of heart and everyman-ness to his portrayal. Performances like that are what make these films dramas instead of sci-fi thrillers. For those of us keeping score at home, this is the fifth movie of Hanks’ to rank in the top ten for box office numbers for the year. What other actor has a run that has matched what he's done so far?

Toy Story - 1995

Academy Award nominations, top box office spots, critical acclaim, quoted for decades. This is becoming routine for Hanks. 1995’s Toy Story ushered in a new era of animated filmmaking. The first-ever 3D animated full-length film, Toy Story was a technical marvel that changed the way we as a society viewed what animated films could be. And of course, it introduced us to our favorite toy cowboy Woody, voiced by Hanks. Who, without which, we would never know how to properly exclaim that there was a snake in our boot.

That Thing You Do - 1996

Again, to call this movie iconic is a stretch. But also, it kind of is iconic? That Thing You Do, released in 1996, marks the directorial and writing debut of Tom Hanks. Because once you’ve dominated being in front of the camera, getting behind it is the logical next step. I personally love this movie and the work Hanks did with it. Just look at his cast. With the exception of Charlize Theron, this is a gang of character actors that Hanks gathered to carry the film. But with strong direction and a fun, comfortable story, he was able to make a charming, low-stakes movie that produced an Oscar-nominated song. If Denzel or Robert Deniro had a chance of catching up to Hanks’ output in the 90s, this was the time to do so. But with so much momentum, Hanks was able to finish this movie and not have another film come out for two years and still be on top. The Hanks-ification of the ‘90s continues.

Saving Private Ryan - 1998

Tom Hanks? As a soldier in a war film? Sounds odd, but at this point what can’t he do? Saving Private Ryan is largely regarded as one of, if not the, best war films of all time. Such was its impact that there was a resurgence of interest in WWII history following its release across the U.S. Books, films, and even video games, like the original Call Of Duty, all took cues and inspiration from Saving Private Ryan. For his work in this film as Capt. John Miller, Hanks was nominated for his fourth Best Actor Academy Award. He simply cannot miss.

You’ve Got Mail - 1998

Have we mentioned range already? Hanks yet again shows he’s a triple threat (I’m assuming he can dance) by following up the war film Saving Private Ryan with his third rom-com team-up with Meg Ryan in 1998’s You’ve Got Mail. A permanent fixture on rom-com top-ten lists, these sorts of film choices are what were able to keep Hanks endeared to a wide variety of audiences throughout his career. Some criticize this film as being a low-key commercial for AOL and while that may be true, what definitely is true is that if AOL had put the same amount of dedication into their craft that Hanks gave to his, they still might be around. Hanks 1, AOL 0.

Toy Story 2 - 1999

Hanks begins his victory lap of the 90s by reprising the role of our favorite sheriff Woody in Toy Story 2. Fun fact: this is the first sequel Hanks had ever been a part of and remains one of the few sequels he has ever done. Additionally, along with the original Toy Story, this is one of the few films that has attained and kept a score of 100% on the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes. Paddington 2 should be up there as well but we’re going to save that frustration for another article. One of the special things about the Toy Story movies are the characters that were brought to life and the reflection of our human emotions in them. Despite Woody being a toy cowboy made of cotton and plastic, his anxieties and fears of no longer being needed or wanted resonate in an all-too-real sense with audiences. While the most impressive thing about these films will always be the animation, Hanks and co. delivered performances that were outlandish and comical but also familiar and touching, making us root for and ultimately feel connected to the characters. Hanks could have easily closed out 1999 with this hit but he had one more memorable role up his sleeve.

The Green Mile - 1999

Who was the real star of this movie, Tom Hanks or Mr. Jingles? The final film that Hanks turned in for the decade was the prison tale The Green Mile. Both funny and heartbreaking, this film was an undeniable standout of 1999, for both its quality and its runtime. Easily one of the better Stephen King film adaptations, Hanks' role as prison guard Paul Edgecomb helped lead the film to an incredible run at the box office as well as multiple Academy Award nominations, including another Best Picture nom for one of his projects. You really can't ask for a better way to close out the 90’s.

After seeing this list, what other actor, or even artist in another medium, compares to the level of productivity that Hanks put out in the 90s? To be in one film that is universally loved and remembered is a feat. To be in more than 10? In a single decade? Unmatched and hard-pressed to be beaten. If we were to do a Verzuz-style battle with movies, who is going toe-to-toe with Hanks? Nic Cage? Solid run from ‘96-97 with The Rock, ConAir, and Face/Off but there are some real “meh” movies thrown in there in the years prior to and after that run. Will Smith? Bad Boys to Independence Day to Men In Black to…The Wild Wild West? Yikes. Comb through the IMDB page of your favorite actor and you’ll find impressive runs that last for three, four, maybe five movies over the same amount of years. But none like what Tom Hanks did between 1990 and 1999. Because while his peers are taking years between hits to regroup and find the next big project, Hanks is winning awards, cleaning up at the box office, and bringing iconic characters to life on the silver screen. Absolute king shit. See you in the comments for debate.