Strange Origin Story Behind Tom Hanks’ Oscar-Nominated Directorial Debut is Too Hilarious To Be True
James Olson
Updated on April 03, 2026
Starting his acting career in the 1980s, Tom Hanks had his breakthrough with the leading roles in comedy films like Splash, The Money Pit, and A League of Their Own. Having solidified his status with two Oscars, he went on to take the director’s role and made his directorial debut with the 1996 musical comedy-drama That Thing You Do!
Since its release, the movie has grown to become a fan favorite and has earned the status of a cult classic. Surprisingly, Hanks penned the script out of sheer boredom while on the promotional tour for the 1996 hit Forrest Gump.
How Did Tom Hanks Write the Script For His Directorial Debut?
Robert Zemeckis‘ 1994 comedy-drama Forrest Gump featured Tom Hanks in the title role of a man with a low average IQ who unwittingly becomes a part of significant events while pursuing his love for Jenny. The movie was a commercial and critical hit and won six Oscars, including for Best Actor and Best Picture.
And it was while promoting Forrest Gump that he started working on the screenplay for his directorial debut, That Thing You Do! As per Deadline, the actor-filmmaker shared that during his global tour for the 1994 movie, he had to talk about himself for a year straight.
So he “started writing to maintain some sort of creative sanity.” He also shared that it was Sean Penn who encouraged him to direct, saying, “Every actor should direct just to find out just how hard a job it is, and every director should have to act.” And Hanks loved the first film he directed.
That Thing You Do! is a musical comedy that follows the meteoric rise of a one-hit wonder band, The Wonders, and explores the highs and lows of fame, friendship, and the music industry with a nostalgic and infectious energy. The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song at the 69th Academy Awards.
Tom Hanks Reflected Working on That Thing You Do!
During an interview with The New Yorker, Tom Hanks recalled working on his Oscar-nominated directorial debut That Thing You Do! The movie that has grown to earn the title of a cult classic has also become a favorite for the movie’s actor and director.
“I loved making that movie. I loved writing it. I loved being with it. I love all the people in it,” he said. He also reflected on the movie’s initial reception, saying,
“When it came out, it was completely dismissed by the first wave of vox populiIt didn’t do great business. It hung around for a while, was viewed as being some sort of odd, kinda quasi-ripoff of nine other different movies lane.”
The Philadelphia star shared how the opinion of the movie has changed over the years as he stated how the same publications dismissed their initial reviews, calling it “Tom Hanks’s cult classic, That Thing You Do!” The actor has continued to venture as a filmmaker for multiple movies and shows.
Forrest Gump and That Thing You Do! are available on Paramount+.
