From Forrest to Woody: The 25 Best Films Of Tom Hanks’ Legendary Career

16. Splash, “Allen Bauer” (1984)

Image Source: IMDb

One of the biggest surprises of 1984, this Ron Howard romantic comedy became a hit and put Hanks on the map in terms of making himself a profitable leading man. Your average Joe falls in love with a mermaid. It shouldn’t have worked, but Hanks and his witty performance alongside Daryl Hannah, as his sexy sea dwelling love interest, captivated audiences and got the ball rolling for his film career.