5 Tom Hanks Movies that Make Guys Cry

Tom Hanks has been in a lot of movies, many with emotional story lines or endings. Even guys can’t help but get a little teary.

The goal of this series is to show that being “manly” and being disconnected with your emotions do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. While the approach to these articles is one of comedy and satire, the emotional core of these movies is very valid. Manly movies often times have the potential to make guys cry, for example:

“Tom Hanks Movies”

This is a man who can do buddy-cop movies with a dog, then win two Oscars, several Emmys, and a slew of other awards that people don’t care about. He played Walt Disney recently, and I’m pretty sure the real Disney gave him a thumbs-up from his cryo-tube. Point is, the man’s a class act, a manly man. His movies make us laugh, definitely cry, and always entertain. What’s the worse Tom Hanks movie you can think of? The Da Vinci Code? Dragnet? STILL GOOD! Better get out your Hankies, cause Tom’s gonna make you cry. (See what I did there?)

1. The Green Mile

It’s easy to forget that Tom Hanks was the main character in this film, with Michael Clarke Duncan booming about. This film does a great job of walking the line between villains and terrible events that you hate, but not so much that you can’t stand repeat viewings *cough*TheMist*cough*. Tom plays a death row security guard that is forced to execute the pure and supernatural Michael Clarke Duncan.

Throughout the film we learn just how innocent Michael is, yet for all the goodness in Tom’s heart, he has to ultimately follow other’s orders and execute the man. The look in Tom’s eyes as he basically murders a unicorn is heart-wrenching, and the fact that he was “punished” with extreme longevity to deal with his guilt is a twist of the knife. NO, M. NIGHT, not your kind of twist! A good twist. A King’s twist.
 

2. Forrest Gump

Remember that time Tom Hanks did everything ever? It was in this movie, where Tom didn’t go full-retard (quoting a movie, calm down guys) and played the titular Forrest Gump. The character, while mentally handicapped, helped shape several decades of American history. What would have been incredulous at best and insulting at worst, Tom made this film memorable, quotable, and there’s even a Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant chain that came out of it.

This film has two scenes that get to me, the first being when Tom meets the son he didn’t know he had. The terror, pride, concern, and speechless wonder that all cross his face when he learns he’s a father all come through in a matter of half a second. Because his character’s emotions are so naked and transparent in general, it comes out as the most beautiful depiction of that human moment. Doubly, he quickly asks if his son inherited his disability and the palpable relief and renewed pride at how smart Lil’ Forrest is, that’s the flood that clears the gates.

The second moment in the movie is Tom’s speech to his love Jenny’s grave. Jenny didn’t exactly treat Forrest (or herself) very well for her life, but seeing her through his eyes, you can’t help but pick up on the emotional Wi-Fi. He can barely speak without choking up, but it’s clear that he has to tell her everything.

3. Saving Private Ryan

And Tom went to war again. This man just cannot be stopped! Unless, you know, he gets shot up like he did in this film.

Tom spends the entire movie trying to hold together a troop to save Private James Ryan, and ends up trading his life for Ryan’s. Tom uses his dying breath to urge Ryan to earn the life Tom and his boys saved, to earn the life Ryan had when so many others weren’t so lucky. Later as an older man, Ryan asks, neigh, BEGS his wife to validate that he earned it. The fear that Ryan might not have lived a full enough life to live up to Tom Hanks’ sacrifice is tremendous…as it should be! Come to think of it, we should all live life as if Tom Hanks were judging us.
 

4. Cast Away

I almost don’t even need to say more than one word on this one…WILSON! Only Tom Hanks can carry almost an entire film alone on an island. First he’s silent, then slowly begins to talk to himself, and finally talks to a volleyball with a drawn face. Upon his eventual self-rescue on a homemade raft, Wilson floats away.

SOMEHOW IN ALL THAT IS HOLY we care that a volleyball is floating away. We care enough to cry along with Tom as he watches his imaginary friend slowly leave him literally and also symbolize his time on the island leaving him. Tom Hanks is magic enough to make this the greatest tragedy in the film.

5. Toy Story 3

Sure Tom was in all three (soon to be four) Toy Story films, but the third one for my money is almost too sad to be enjoyable. It’s a thinly-veiled Holocaust escape film, where the community (Andy) doesn’t need the toys anymore, the Nazis (the bad toys) keep them in a concentration camp (the day care) and so on.

Did I cry when all the toys hold hands as they’re being dragged towards a trash furnace, accepting their fate and treasuring each other for one more moment before they’re melted to death? Did I cry when Andy shows the little girl how to play with the toys, and in doing so plays with them in earnest one last time before leaving them forever? CAN THE ANSWER BE ALL OF THE ABOVE?!

Like what you see? Secure enough in your masculinity for more? Check out more Guy Cry Cinema or watch Dan on No Right Answer, the weekly debate show that knows what’s really important: Pointlessly arguing about geek culture.