The celebrated partnership between Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis has spanned three decades, producing some of cinema’s most memorable moments. Their collaboration began in 1994 and is still going strong after 3 decades.
What makes these two such a dynamic duo? Simple – they’re masters at mixing high-tech movie magic with deeply human stories. Whether they’re making Tom Hanks talk to a volleyball or getting us emotionally invested in a train ride to the North Pole, these guys know how to win over both movie buffs and regular viewers alike. Now that they’re teaming up for the fifth time, let’s dive into their awesome track record and see how each of their collaborations holds up!
5. Here (2024)
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in a still from Here (2024) | TriStar Pictures
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A wedding scene in a still from Here (2024) | TriStar Pictures
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Christmas scene in a still from Here (2024) | TriStar Pictures
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The major cast in a still from Here (2024) | TriStar Pictures
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A birthday scene in a still from Here (2024) | TriStar Pictures
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Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks‘ latest collaboration is a fantasy drama that, while ambitious, doesn’t quite reach the heights of their previous work. This movie is based on the 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire of the same name. In a conversation with Variety, Zemeckis describes the novel as a “meditation on life.” The concept of the movie is fascinating, no doubts regarding that, but the execution could have been way better.
The whole movie is quite interestingly shot from a single camera angle. We witness the incredible transformation of a plot of land – from its prehistoric days of roaming dinosaurs in the Mesozoic Era right up to modern times where the living room of the house comes into focus. We get to witness the house being built and multiple families taking residence there over the course of time.
Although we see this land’s entire journey and all the families who’ve called this house home, at its heart this is really the Young family’s story – especially Richard (played by Hanks) and his wife, Margaret Young (played by Robin Wright). The camera’s undeniably strategic positioning – facing both the living room and its window to the outside world – captures two parallel stories: the intimate family milestones unfolding inside and the sweeping changes taking place in the world beyond.
Despite its simple plot, the film’s non-linear storytelling works against it rather than for it. Instead of adding intrigue, the jumbled timeline only creates unnecessary confusion, feeling more like a distraction than a meaningful narrative choice.
The movie scored 6.2/10 on IMDb and has a 36% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Here is still in the theatres if you want to add it to your watchlist.
4. Pinocchio (2022)
Tom Hanks as Geppetto and Pinocchio in a still from Pinoccchio (2022) | Disney+
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Pinocchio in a still from Pinoccchio (2022) | Disney+
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The character of Honest John in a still from Pinoccchio (2022) | Disney+
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Cynthia Erivo as The Blue Fairy and Pinocchio in a still from Pinoccchio (2022) | Disney+
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This film reimagines Disney’s 1940 animated classic Pinocchio (watch on Disney+) – the studio’s second animated feature after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). he star-studded live-action adaptation features Hanks as Geppetto, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Pinocchio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the voice of Jimini Cricket, and Cynthia Erivo featuring as the fairy, among other talented cast members.
The cast, particularly Hanks, who brings a warm, empathetic portrayal to the lonely woodcarver, makes a significant impact on the audience. Levitt also delivers a convincing performance as Jiminy Cricket. However, the film’s CGI, while not terrible, falls short of expectations. The interactive scenes between the artificially augmented characters and real life personalities is not entirely convincing, but this is a technical limitation that we’ve seen in other films as well.
Even if we forget about the bad CGI, the creative liberties that were taken with this movie are hard to overlook. The original Disney classic wasn’t afraid to get dark, showing kids that lying has real consequences and not everyone who wanders down the wrong path gets a second chance. In contrast, in Zemeckis’s version, Pinocchio is not shown to be punished for his lying, it is not exactly the focal point either.
Even the rendition of The Pleasure Island was extremely watered down, it felt more like feels more like a tame carnival gone wrong. And while the original kept things real by letting some bad guys get away scot-free (just like in the real world), the remake wraps everything up in a neat little bow with all the villains behind bars. Sure, it makes for a cozier family movie, but it loses that special something that made the original hit home.
(On a personal note, the reimagining of Monstro, originally a simple sperm whale, into a tentacled sea monster felt quite unnecessary.)
Despite its clever nods to Disney history – like those fun Easter eggs hidden in Geppetto’s workshop clocks – the film never quite hits the emotional depths we’re hoping for. It’s got the references down, but misses the mark on delivering those meaningful moments that really make you think. However, Hanks’ performance and the film’s technical achievements make it a worthy addition to their collaborative portfolio.
The movie got a 5.1/10 rating on IMDb and has a 27% Rotten Tomatoes score. Pinocchio is available on Disney+.
3. The Polar Express (2004)
The Conductor and Hero Boy in a still from The Polar Express | Warner Bros. Pictures
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Hero Boy in a still from The Polar Express | Warner Bros. Pictures
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Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and Know-it-all in a still from The Polar Express | Warner Bros. Pictures
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Hero Boy and The Polar Express in a still from The Polar Express | Warner Bros. Pictures
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The film faced an uphill battle at the box office, releasing just one week after Pixar’s The Incredibles (available on Disney+) – a movie that would go on to become a landmark in animation history. And the timing of the release was one of the major contributing factors to the mixed reviews the movie got. Regardless, this is a great choice for a cozy-fantasy Christmas watch.
Another reason why this movie should be up there in the list is because of Tom Hanks himself. He took on six different roles, from the mysterious hobo to the jolly man in red himself, bringing different characters to life.
Moving ahead, there’s no way we can talk about The Polar Express without mentioning the audience reception. Some viewers couldn’t get past what they called the “dead-eye” effect that had some kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) feeling a bit unsettled. But here’s the thing, despite its initial “uncanny valley” reception, The Polar Express has transformed from a technological curiosity into a legitimate Christmas classic that families dust off every holiday season, right alongside A Christmas Carol (2009) and Rise of the Guardians (2012).
What makes it work, you ask? Well, it’s the vibe that the movie encompasses, that magical mix of wonder, nostalgia, and childlike belief that Zemeckis captures so perfectly. The snow-covered landscapes, the moonlit train sequences, the northern lights, and those showstopping musical numbers all combine to create something that feels like a dream on Christmas Eve.
At its heart, it’s a story that reminds us that sometimes the most real things in the world are the ones we can’t see – a message that resonates more strongly with audiences now than it did during its initial release. Also, who does not like a good Christmas movie?
Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.
The movie got a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb and scored 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Polar Express is available on Hulu and Apple TV if you want to add some extra charm to The upcoming holiday season.
2. Cast Away (2000)
Tom Hanks in a still from Cast Away (2000) | 20th Century Studios
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Tom Hanks in a still from Cast Away (2000) | 20th Century Studios
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Tom Hanks in a still from Cast Away (2000) | 20th Century Studios
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Tom Hanks in a still from Cast Away (2000) | 20th Century Studios
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Wilson the Volleyball in a still from Cast Away (2000) | 20th Century Studios
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How can we make a list that includes movies of Tom Hanks or Robert Zemeckis and not include Cast Away? If “less is more was a movie, it is this one. It is more than an average Hollywood survivor movie. It is a bold and experimental filmmaking marvel that is also heart-touching and sentimental. Hanks plays the role of Chuck Noland, a FedEx efficiency expert whose life revolves around the clock until fate (and a spectacular plane crash) strands him on an island where time loses all meaning.
That’s why every FedEx office has a clock. Because we live or we die by the clock. We never turn our back on it. And we never, ever allow ourselves the sin of losing track of time!
What makes this movie even more praise-worthy is the dedication the whole team has. The whole production team production actually took a year-long break so Hanks could lose 50 pounds (≈23 kilograms) and transform into the weathered survivor persona.
One significant aspect that makes it into a cinematic masterpiece is this massive chunk in the middle (roughly, about an hour) where it’s just Hanks, the sound of waves, and his volleyball buddy Wilson. No dramatic music telling you how to feel, no convenient flashbacks, no voiceover explaining everything. Just pure visual storytelling. It’s the kind of creative risk that most studio executives would avoid like the plague, but Zemeckis and Hanks somehow turned it into box office gold.
While talking about Cast Away, one can not forget Wilson. Who knew a volleyball with a bloody handprint could make audiences cry? That’s the magic of what these two pulled off here. Through Hanks’ outstanding performance and Zemeckis’ innovative and patient direction, they managed to make us deeply invested in a man’s relationship with a sports equipment.
The scene where Wilson floats away? Onions were being chopped all around the audience. The reason why that scene is so profound is because we are not just watching a guy lose a ball, we are watching a man lose his last grip on humanity.
Even with all the physical demands of the role – the weight loss, the unkempt beard, running around barefoot (that too on coral) – it’s the quiet moments that really show off Hanks’ caliber as an actor. Watch his eyes when he finally makes fire, or the way his voice changes over his time on the island. The guy makes you feel every moment of isolation without needing to spell it out in dialogue. And Zemeckis? He just lets the camera linger, trusting his actor and trusting his audience to get it.
What they created together is more than just a survival story – it’s a deep dive into what makes us human. When everything is stripped away – the deadlines, the technology, the constant connection – what’s left? Turns out, that’s when things get really interesting.
Cast Away has got a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb and 89% Rotten Tomato Score. Watch it on Apple TV or AMC’s website and cross it off your list.
1. Forrest Gump (1994)
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in a still from Forrest Gump (1994) | Paramount Pictures
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Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in a still from Forrest Gump (1994) | Paramount Pictures
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Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in a still from Forrest Gump (1994) | Paramount Pictures
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Tom Hanks and Mykelti Williamson in a still from Forrest Gump (1994) | Paramount Pictures
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Where it all began… The first collaboration between Hanks and Zemeckis. A movie that stands the test of time. It is not just the best movie that came out of this alliance, it is also one of the greatest movies of all time. You know those rare movies that somehow get better every time you watch them? Forrest Gump is that movie.
On paper, it sounds like it could’ve been a disaster: a slow-witted guy from Alabama somehow stumbles through every major event in late 20th century America? The plot line is so simple it ideally would not have made it out of the ptch meeting. But in the hands of these two master-craftsmen, it turned into something truly magical. How right was Forrest about the box of chocolates analogy.
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Moving on to Hanks, his portrayal of Forrest isn’t just good acting, it’s a high-wire performance that could’ve gone wrong in about a thousand different ways. Make him too simple, and it’s offensive. Too knowing, and the whole thing falls apart. Instead, Hanks found this perfect sweet spot where Forrest becomes the most purely honest character in modern cinema. That Oscar was very rightly deserved.
Whether he’s telling JFK he has to pee, accidentally inspiring the “Have a Nice Day” slogan, or explaining his love for Jenny in the simplest, most heartbreaking terms, Hanks makes you believe every single moment.
And Zemeckis? He is working on multiple levels here. He’s seamlessly integrating Forrest into historical footage (revolutionary for its time), juggling multiple decades of American history, and somehow making it all feel intimate and personal.
The direction by Zemeckis and the acting by Hanks makes the movie what it is. One minute you’re laughing at Forrest’s ping-pong adventures, the next you’re ugly-crying when Bubba (played by Mykelti Williamson) talks about shrimp in Vietnam, and somehow it all feels natural.
The movie becomes this perfect lens for viewing the American experience – the good, the bad, and everything in between. Through Forrest’s eyes, we see the complexity of the ’60s and ’70s stripped down to their essence. Vietnam, the Black Panthers, Watergate – it all gets filtered through this perspective that’s somehow both simple and profound.
Then there’s the dialogues, “stupid is as stupid does,” “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is” – these aren’t just quotable lines, they’ve become part of our cultural DNA. People who’ve never even seen the movie know these phrases. That’s not just good writing; that’s cultural impact on a whole other level.
But what really makes Forrest Gump stand the test of time isn’t the special effects, the historical moments, or even the quotable lines – it’s the heart. At its core, it’s a story about love in all its forms: romantic love, friendship, maternal love, patriotic love.
Through Forrest’s eyes, we see both the simplicity and complexity of human connection. Whether he’s running across America (multiple times!), building the Bubba Gump Shrimp empire, or just sitting by Jenny’s grave, every moment feels genuine.
This wasn’t just Hanks and Zemeckis working at the top of their game – this was two artists bringing out the absolute best in each other. They’ve made great films apart, and they’ve made good films together since, but Forrest Gump remains that rare moment where everything aligned perfectly. It’s the kind of movie that reminds us why we love movies in the first place.
This movie has got an IMDb rating of 8.8/10 and has got a score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. All you’ve got to do is run over to Paramount+ to give it a watch.
