You may not have realized it, but most of Tom Hanks’ films are family-friendly, and Hanks has become as big a star with kids as with their parents. Most of Hanks’ films have some great lessons to teach as well, about courage, growth, and believing in oneself against all odds.
All movie descriptions below are from IMDB.com.
Big (PG, 4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $6.99 to buy)
A young boy makes a wish at a fairground machine to be big. He wakes up the following morning to find that his wish has been granted and his body has grown older over night.
But he is still the same 12 year old kid on the inside. Now he must learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown ups including getting a job, and having his first romantic encounter with a woman.
What will he find out about this strange world?
– Written by Sami Al-Taher
Apollo 13 (PG, 4.75/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy)
Based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon.
Astronauts Lovell, Haise and Swigert were scheduled to fly Apollo 14, but are moved up to 13.
It’s 1970, and America have already achieved their lunar landing goal, so there’s little interest in this “routine” flight.. until that is, things go very wrong, and prospects of a safe return fade.
– Written by Rob Hartill
Turner & Hooch (PG, 4.75/5 stars, currently priced at $1.99 to rent)
Scott Turner has 3 days left in the local police department before he moves to a bigger city to get some “real” cases, not just misdemeanors.
Then Amos Reed is murdered, and Scott Turner sets himself on the case.
The closest thing to a witness in the case is Amos Reed’s dog, Hooch, which Scott Turner has to take care of if it’s going to avoid being “put to sleep”.
– Written by Lars J. Aas
Note: this is very much an action-comedy in the vein of Beverly Hills Cop, pitting the semi-germophobe Turner against the huge, slobbering, messy Hooch, but this movie doesn’t have the strong language and adult elements of ‘Cop’
Cast Away (PG-13, 4/5 stars, closed-caption enabled, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $6.99 to buy)
A man is marooned on an island after his plane crashes into the ocean.
Far away from home, his girlfriend, and any human contact, he engages in a battle of wits with himself as he is tested mentally, physically and emotionally in order to survive.
– Written by Amthermandes
Forrest Gump (PG-13, 4.75/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy)
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events – in each case, far exceeding what anyone imagined he could do.
Yet, despite all the things he has attained, his one true love eludes him.
“Forrest Gump” is the story of a man who rose above his challenges, and who proved that determination, courage, and love are more important than [intellectual] ability.
– Written by J. Lake
Sleepless in Seattle (PG, 4.75/5 stars, currently priced at $9.49 to buy)
After his wife Maggie passes away, Sam Baldwin and his adolescent son Jonah relocate from Chicago to Seattle to escape the grief associated with Maggie’s death. Eighteen months later, Sam is still grieving and can’t sleep. Although Jonah misses his mother, he wants his father to get a new wife despite Sam having not even contemplated dating again.
On Christmas Eve, Sam, on Jonah’s initiative, ends up pouring his heart out on a national radio talk show about his magical and perfect marriage to Maggie, and how much he still misses her. Among the many women who hears Sam’s story and falls in love with him solely because of it is Annie Reed, a Baltimore based newspaper writer.
Annie’s infatuation with Sam’s story and by association Sam himself is despite being already engaged. But Annie’s relationship with her straight-laced fiancé Walter is unlike her dream love life in the movie An Affair to Remember…
– Written by Huggo