| A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager. | |
| Release Date: | Oct 04, 1996 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Tom Hanks |
| Writer: | Tom Hanks |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Music |
| Keywords | pennsylvania, usa, pop star, record label, recording studio, battle of the bands, 1960s, one hit wonder |
| Production Companies | 20th Century Fox, Clinica Estetico, Clavius Base |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $34,585,416
Budget: $26,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Tom Hanks | Mr. White |
| Tom Everett Scott | Guy Patterson |
| Liv Tyler | Faye Dolan |
| Johnathon Schaech | Jimmy Mattingly |
| Steve Zahn | Lenny Haise |
| Ethan Embry | T.B. Player |
| Charlize Theron | Tina |
| Obba Babatundé | Lamarr |
| Giovanni Ribisi | Chad |
| Chris Ellis | Phil Horace |
| Alex Rocco | Sol Siler |
| Bill Cobbs | Del Paxton |
| Peter Scolari | Troy Chesterfield |
| Rita Wilson | Margueritte |
| Chris Isaak | Uncle Bob |
| Kevin Pollak | Boss Vic Koss |
| Robert Torti | Freddy Fredrickson |
| Chaille Percival | Diane Dane |
| Holmes Osborne | Mr. Patterson |
| Claudia Stedelin | Mrs. Patterson |
| Dawn Maxey | Darlene Patterson |
| Jack Milo | Villapiano |
| Keith Neubert | Dentist |
| Lee Everett | Kitty |
| Sean Whalen | Heckler |
| Clint Howard | KJZZ Disk Jockey |
| Sarah Koskoff | Chrissy Thomkins |
| Mark Brettschneider | Talent Show Emcee |
| Kathleen Kinmont | Koss' Secretary |
| Warren Berlinger | Polaroid T.V. Host |
| Clive Rosengren | Wisconsin Cop |
| Brittney Powell | Shades Fan |
| Jonathan Demme | Major Motion Picture Director |
| Erika Greene | Major Motion Picture Assistant Director |
| Dave Oliver | Rick |
| Tracy Reiner | Anita |
| Barry Sobel | Goofball |
| Paul Feig | KMPC DJ |
| Gedde Watanabe | Play-Tone Photographer |
| Michael P. Byrne | Play-Tone Reporter |
| Dick Corman | Play-Tone Reporter |
| Diane McGee | Play-Tone Reporter |
| Randy Fechter | Play-Tone Tour Manager |
| Mars Callahan | Ernie the Disc Master Engineer |
| Benjamin John Parrillo | Marine Sergeant |
| Robert Ridgely | Hollywood Showcase Announcer |
| Marc McClure | Hollywood Showcase Director |
| Karen Praxel | Hollywood Showcase Script Supervisor |
| Paulie DiCocco | Hollywood Showcase Floor Manager |
| Bryan Cranston | Virgil "Gus" Grissom |
| Charlie Frye | Plate Spinner |
| Colin Hanks | Male Page |
| Elizabeth Hanks | Bored Girl in Dress Shop |
| Renée Lippin | Beautician |
| Robert Wisdom | Bobby Washington |
| Gina Aponte | Band Fan (uncredited) |
| Heather Hewitt | Sales Lady |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Tom Hanks | Screenplay, Director |
| Tak Fujimoto | Director of Photography |
| Dan Webster | Art Direction |
| Howard Shore | Original Music Composer |
| Toni Basil | Choreographer |
| Frank Smathers | Foley Editor |
| Richard Chew | Editor |
| Victor Kempster | Production Design |
| Adam Schlesinger | Music |
| Howard Feuer | Casting |
| Merideth Boswell | Set Decoration |
| Randy Woodside | Gaffer |
| Kathryn Blondell | Hair Department Head |
| Frank Griffin | Key Makeup Artist |
| Will Blount | Property Master |
| Robin Citrin | Location Manager |
| Baird Steptoe | First Assistant Camera |
| Dan Moore | Video Assist Operator |
| Kimberly Harris | Supervising ADR Editor |
| Bob Beemer | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Charles Skouras III | Unit Production Manager |
| Lisa C. Satriano | Second Assistant Director |
| John Pritchett | Sound Mixer |
| Anne Rapp | Script Supervisor |
| Ken Peterson | Transportation Coordinator |
| Christa Vausbinder | Production Supervisor |
| Cha Blevins | Costume Supervisor |
| Gregory Lundsgaard | Steadicam Operator |
| Catherine Chase | First Assistant Editor |
| Bill W. Benton | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Alex Gibson | Music Editor |
| John Glaeser | Cableman |
| Pamela Cederquist | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Valerie T. O'Brien | Key Costumer |
| Cindy Evans | Set Costumer |
| Mike Paventi | Transportation Captain |
| Jon J. Bush | Set Dresser |
| Doug Sieck | Set Dresser |
| Martin Charles | Graphic Designer |
| Masako Masuda | Set Designer |
| David A. Weinman | Construction Foreman |
| Richard L. Carden | Dolly Grip |
| Rick Sharp | Makeup Artist |
| Janice Alexander | Hairstylist |
| Norma Lee | Hairstylist |
| Robert Troy | Dialogue Editor |
| Michael J. Benavente | Sound Effects Editor |
| Catherine Calleson | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Robert Renga | Sound Recordist |
| David Boulton | ADR Mixer |
| Meredith Tucker | Casting Assistant |
| John R. Hansen | Payroll Accountant |
| Gary Burritt | Negative Cutter |
| Mark Cotone | Second Assistant Director |
| Herb Ault | Key Grip |
| Audrey L. Anzures | Key Hair Stylist |
| Ellen Adolph | Production Accountant |
| Marsha Robertson | Unit Publicist |
| Brent Lon Hershman | Second Assistant Camera |
| Phillip V. Caruso | Still Photographer |
| Chris Carpenter | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Deva Anderson | Music Coordinator |
| David M. Roberts | Boom Operator |
| Doug Cowden | Best Boy Grip |
| Patrik Alven | Assistant Property Master |
| Marsha Bozeman | Set Costumer |
| Donna O'Neal | Costumer |
| Tommy Samona | Leadman |
| James E. Marchwick | Set Dresser |
| Christopher S. Nushawg | Assistant Art Director |
| Stella Vaccaro | Set Designer |
| David T. Cannon | Construction Coordinator |
| Hugo Herrera | Greensman |
| Margaret E. Elliott | Makeup Artist |
| Steve Artmont | Makeup Artist |
| Elizabeth Rabe | Hairstylist |
| Kimberly Lambert | Dialogue Editor |
| Susan Dudeck | ADR Editor |
| Carmen Flores De Tanis | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Charleen Richards-Steeves | ADR Mixer |
| Bobby Johanson | ADR Recordist |
| Nerses Gezalyan | Foley Recordist |
| Phil Hetos | Color Timer |
| R. Michael De Chellis | Rigging Gaffer |
| Beth Horton | Second Assistant "B" Camera |
| Eva Prappas | Key Costumer |
| Alix Friedberg | Costumer |
| Larry Stelling | Picture Car Coordinator |
| Bart C. Hubenthal | Set Dresser |
| Charlie Daboub | Assistant Art Director |
| Keith P. Cunningham | Set Designer |
| Suzan Wexler | Set Designer |
| Thomas R. Ward | Special Effects Coordinator |
| Kent H. Jorgensen | Key Rigging Grip |
| Larry Abbott | Makeup Artist |
| Carolyn Elias | Hairstylist |
| James Matheny | Dialogue Editor |
| Nicholas Korda | ADR Editor |
| Jeffrey R. Payne | Foley Editor |
| Monique 'Nico' Salvato | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Craig Heath | Sound Recordist |
| Diane Linn | ADR Recordist |
| Jeffrey Wilhoit | Foley Artist |
| Bill Dance | Extras Casting |
| Adria Later | Studio Teacher |
| Colleen Atwood | Costume Design |
| Katterli Frauenfelder | First Assistant Director |
| Pablo Ferro | Title Designer |
| Craig Haagensen | Camera Operator |
| Daniel C. Striepeke | Key Makeup Artist |
| Richard King | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Gary A. Hecker | Foley Artist |
| Dixie Webster-Davis | Extras Casting |
| Wayne Jones | Additional Music |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Gary Goetzman | Producer |
| Edward Saxon | Producer |
| Jonathan Demme | Producer |
| Terry Odem | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 22 | 31 | 16 |
| 2024 | 5 | 24 | 33 | 17 |
| 2024 | 6 | 22 | 36 | 13 |
| 2024 | 7 | 21 | 35 | 15 |
| 2024 | 8 | 16 | 29 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 | 16 | 28 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 | 18 | 31 | 9 |
| 2024 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 | 16 | 29 | 11 |
| 2025 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 695 | 695 |
**Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.** The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity whe ... n their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do". Believing in a potential that might not exist, the scouts of the music world waste no time and the boys get a contract with a major label, which is waiting expectantly for equally good songs. However, sudden fame will test the strength of the group, the maturity and responsibility of that guys and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible. Tom Hanks is more than a protagonist, he is the engine that pulls the film and makes it possible. He had achieved fame at the expense of good comedies like “Big” or “Money Pit”, but he had his consecration in films like “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Philadelphia”, “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13”. In addition, he already had two Oscars on his shelf, so he had the means to leverage a project he liked, and there is no doubt that he liked this one, and it was the lever that made it go forward. And contrary to what often happens in these situations, he didn't want the lead role: it's in a reasonably more modest role that we see him, a role where he doesn't fail to stand out. The main role is assured by the band's boys, played by Tom Everett Scott, Johnatton Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Giovanni Ribisi. All quite young, still at the beginning of their respective careers, all capable of relatively slick and honest work, especially Scott, who is given a little more visibility. We also have to highlight the pleasant participation of Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron. The film is quite light, lively and cheerful, even in the most tense moments, and in which it takes paths that could make it denser, more dramatic and profound, which it always avoids. That was a conscious choice, I'm sure, and that's debatable. Where the film stands out is in its attention to historical details, in the care with which it seeks to recreate the era and environments through the choice of suitable props, good costumes and make-up, as well as a set of excellent sets. And being such a musical film, the soundtrack is unavoidable and vibrant, with songs that stay in the ear and where the main melody, created especially for the film emulating the aesthetics and taste of the time, deserves a very special highlight.