Tom Hanks 2016 Movie Releases
In 2016, Tom Hanks starred in two major theatrical releases. The first was Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood, which premiered on September 9, 2016, and focused on the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549. The second was Inferno, a thriller based on Dan Brown's novel, released on October 28, 2016, in which Hanks played the role of Robert Langdon. Both films were distributed by major studios and received wide global theatrical runs. Learn more about the Sully film on its official Warner Bros. page here.
Sully grossed approximately $240 million worldwide, while Inferno earned around $220 million globally, according to studio estimates and industry tracking sources. Sully received a PG-13 rating and ran for 96 minutes, while Inferno was rated PG-13 with a runtime of 121 minutes. Both films featured Hanks in lead roles and were supported by large ensemble casts. For additional box office data on these releases, refer to the Box Office Mojo page here.
Roles, Characters, and Plot Context
In Sully, Tom Hanks portrayed Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River after a bird strike. The film dramatized the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the emergency landing. In Inferno, Hanks played Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist who wakes up in an Italian hospital with no memory and becomes entangled in a global conspiracy. Both roles relied on Hanks' grounded, everyman screen presence.
Sully was produced by Village Roadshow Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures, with Clint Eastwood directing from a screenplay by Todd Komarnicki. Inferno was produced by Columbia Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, and LStar Capital, with Ron Howard directing from a script by David Koepp. Both films adapted real-world or best-selling source material into mainstream theatrical releases. For more background on the production of Sully, see the Forbes article here.
Reception, Rankings, and Industry Context
Sully received generally positive reviews, earning a 76% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore from audiences. It was nominated for several awards, including a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor for Hanks. Inferno received mixed reviews, holding a 53% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B CinemaScore. Both films were among the highest-grossing releases of 2016 and contributed to Hanks' sustained box office relevance.
Industry analysts cited Sully as a strong example of a fact-based adult drama succeeding alongside larger franchise films during the fall season. Inferno, despite mixed critical reception, performed solidly in international markets, particularly in Italy and other European territories. Together, these two films represented Tom Hanks' primary theatrical output in 2016 and reinforced his status as a reliable leading man for studio dramas and thrillers. For more information on the business of film in 2016, see the SEC filing summary for Warner Bros. parent company