TL;DR: The Tom Hanks Quick-List
- Best for the whole family (Ages 5+): Toy Story 1-4
- Best for the "I want to be a grown-up" phase (Ages 9+): Big
- Best for history/science buffs (Ages 10+): Apollo 13
- Best for teaching empathy (Ages 7+): A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
- Best for holiday vibes (Ages 6+): The Polar Express
- Best for animal lovers (Ages 8+): Turner & Hooch
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With Toy Story 5 hitting theaters soon, we’re about to see Woody and Buzz face their biggest villain yet: the iPad. Disney and Pixar have already teased that the plot involves the classic toys going head-to-head with the "distraction" of modern electronics.
It’s a theme that hits a little too close to home for most of us. We’re all living in that battle every day, trying to figure out how to keep our kids grounded in the "real world" while they’re being pulled toward the latest viral trend or an endless Roblox session.
But before we dive into the new stuff, let’s talk about why Tom Hanks—"America’s Dad"—is the ultimate gateway to intentional family movie nights. He’s spent decades making movies that don’t just entertain; they actually give us something to talk about at breakfast the next morning.
In an era of "brain rot" content and 15-second TikTok loops, a Tom Hanks movie is often the antidote. Most of his filmography celebrates patience, integrity, and human connection. Whether he’s a guy stuck on an island or a neighbor in a red sweater, the pacing of his films is a deliberate break from the high-dopamine, neon-colored chaos of modern YouTube kids' channels.
Watching a Hanks classic is a way to practice "slow media" with your kids. It’s about sitting through a character arc that takes two hours to resolve, rather than two minutes.
Toy Story 1-4 (Ages 5+)
You know these. I know these. But if you haven't revisited them lately, they hold up better than almost anything else in the Pixar vault. The themes of loyalty and "growing up" are universal.
- Parent Note: Toy Story 3 and 4 get surprisingly heavy regarding loss and moving on. If you have a sensitive kid, be ready for some "why is Andy leaving?" questions.
- Digital Wellness Angle: These movies are the perfect setup for Toy Story 5. Use them to talk about why physical play and imagination still matter in a world where everything is on a screen.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Ages 7+)
Hanks playing Fred Rogers is basically "Peak Dad" energy. This isn't a biopic for kids; it's a movie about how to handle big feelings.
- Why it works: It’s quiet. In a world of loud, fast-paced media, this movie forces kids to slow down and listen. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of emotional intelligence without it feeling like a therapy session.
Big (Ages 9+)
The ultimate "be careful what you wish for" story. Every kid thinks being an adult is all about eating pizza for dinner and buying toys. Josh Baskin proves it’s a bit more complicated.
- Safety Consideration: There is a brief scene involving a "night on the town" and some 80s-era PG-13 language. It’s mild by today’s standards, but worth a heads-up.
- The Conversation: This is a perfect movie to talk about the pressure to "grow up" too fast, which is something kids feel acutely now with social media.
That Thing You Do! (Ages 8+)
Hanks wrote and directed this one, and it’s pure, infectious joy. It follows a 1960s "one-hit-wonder" band.
- Why kids love it: The music is catchy, and the rise-to-fame story is something every kid who wants to be a YouTuber can relate to.
- The Lesson: It shows the "behind the scenes" of fame—the hard work, the ego, and how quickly it can vanish.
Apollo 13 (Ages 10+)
If you have a kid into STEM, this is the gold standard. It’s a masterclass in problem-solving and staying calm under pressure.
- Parent Note: It’s intense. There’s some swearing (mostly "NASA stress" swearing), and the stakes feel very real.
- Digital Wellness Angle: It’s a great reminder of what technology looked like before the internet. Seeing them do math with slide rules to save lives is a great perspective shift for kids who get frustrated when the Wi-Fi lags for three seconds.
Finch (Ages 11+)
This is a newer Apple TV+ gem. Hanks is a robotics engineer in a post-apocalyptic world who builds a robot to take care of his dog after he’s gone.
- Why it’s relevant: It’s a beautiful look at AI and robotics through a human lens. Instead of "robots are taking over," it’s "how do we teach a robot to be human?"
- Warning: It’s a tear-jerker. If your kid (or you) can't handle movies where the dog’s future is at stake, maybe skip it.
While Tom Hanks is generally the "safest" name in Hollywood, his movies often deal with heavy themes:
- Mortality: From Cast Away to Finch to A Man Called Otto, Hanks doesn't shy away from the fact that life ends.
- Historical Realism: In movies like Forrest Gump (which we recommend for ages 13+), he touches on Vietnam, civil rights, and drug use. It’s "family-friendly" in the sense that it’s a classic, but it requires a lot of context.
- The "Slow Burn": Younger kids used to the pacing of YouTube Shorts might find his older live-action movies "boring" for the first 20 minutes. Stick with it. It’s good for their attention spans.
Learn more about managing your child's attention span and media pacing
Since Toy Story 5 is going to tackle the "screen time" debate, use your Tom Hanks marathon to start the conversation now.
Ask your kids:
- "Why do you think Woody and the gang are worried about tablets and phones?"
- "In the movie Big, Josh had all the toys he wanted but he was lonely. Do you think having all the games on an iPad can feel the same way?"
- "If you were stuck on an island like in Cast Away, what’s the one 'analog' thing (not a phone!) you’d want with you?"
Tom Hanks movies are a "safe harbor" in a pretty chaotic digital ocean. They offer a mix of nostalgia for us and genuine, high-quality storytelling for our kids. Whether you’re gearing up for the "Toys vs. Tech" battle in Toy Story 5 or just looking for a movie that won't make you want to hide in the kitchen, you can't go wrong with the classics.
Next Steps:
- Pick a "Decade": Start with the 80s (Big), move to the 90s (Apollo 13), and end with the 2020s (Finch).
- Check the Wise Score: Before you hit play, check the Screenwise media page for any specific triggers or content warnings.
- Put the phones away: If the toys in Toy Story 5 are fighting for our attention, let's give it to them for two hours.