By 1994, Tom Hanks had made 19 movies. He thought only four were actually worth watching
Tom Hanks joked in 1994 that only four of the films he had made were “pretty good” and worth watching. The remark came as he was promoting *Philadelphia*, a pivotal role that won him his first Academy Award for Best Actor and helped shift his reputation from comedy star to serious dramatic performer.
Hanks said he was 37 and had made 17 films, though the article counts 19 by including *Philadelphia* and another release. He did not name his chosen four; the article suggests *Philadelphia*, *Big* and *A League of Their Own* as likely picks, with *Sleepless in Seattle* or *Splash* possibly making up the final place. He also made a similar comment decades later.
In short
- Hanks joked that just four of his films were worth watching.
- *Philadelphia* marked a major shift in his career.
- He never named which four films he meant.
Explained simply
Tom Hanks began his film career in the early 1980s and became widely known for comedies such as Splash and Big. By the time he starred in Philadelphia, he had made a large number of films, though accounts differ on the exact count.
Philadelphia follows a lawyer who is dismissed after his employer learns he has AIDS. The film brought wider attention to the discrimination and stigma faced by people with HIV and AIDS, and Hanks’s performance marked a major change in how audiences saw him.
Hanks became known for moving between comedy and drama, with roles in films including A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle. His joking assessment of his earlier work reflects how actors may look back critically on a long career.