Tom Hanks says this is the “crappiest” movie he ever made

Tom Hanks has had an incredible career in film, spanning over four decades. He’s starred in some of the most celebrated movies in history and has received numerous awards for his performances. But with such a lengthy filmography, it’s no surprise that not every project has turned out to be a hit.

One film that Hanks himself has openly criticized is The Bonfire of the Vanities, which he described as the “crappiest” movie he ever made. Directed by Brian De Palma, this black comedy tells the story of Sherman McCoy (played by Hanks), a shady Wall Street banker who helps his mistress cover up the accidental death of a Black teenager. Unfortunately, the movie was both a financial failure and a critical disaster, facing harsh reviews from critics, audiences, and even its cast members.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Hanks shared his thoughts on the film, saying, “It’s one of the crappiest movies ever made.” He reflected on how he struggled to connect with his character and realized that trying to fake it didn’t work. However, Hanks also acknowledged that the experience was valuable for him as an actor.

“If I hadn’t gone through that experience, I would have missed out on something important,” he explained. “That movie was a fascinating endeavor from the start. It was larger than life and garnered a lot of attention for some reason.”

Hanks further noted that even today, he gets questions about The Bonfire of the Vanities. “I can go to Germany, and people will ask, ‘How come you don’t make good, gritty movies like The Bonfire of the Vanities anymore?’” he said, expressing how people might not grasp what it meant to be American during the time that film entered the cultural conversation. He learned from that project that he couldn’t just create a superficial connection with audiences.

These days, Hanks reportedly only accepts roles that truly excite him, which likely explains the impressive projects he’s taken on in recent years. Still, it does make you wonder what drew him to a film like The Da Vinci Code—that one seems like a bit of a mystery in itself!