That Thing You Do!

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That Thing You Do!

PG

Released Oct 4, 1996

1h 50m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Wily band manager Mr. White helps a small town band achieve big time success when they release a Beatles-style pop song in 1964. Pennsylvania band the Oneders become a sensation after their drummer breaks his arm, and is replaced by jazz enthusiast, Guy Patterson, who injects something a bit different into their music.

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Critics Consensus

A light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut for director Tom Hanks, That Thing You Do! makes up in charm what it lacks in complexity.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

The chief wonder of this rock 'n' roll cast is Tom Everett Scott, whose easy charisma, dreamy smile and undersurface intelligence should shoot him up the acting charts like a bullet.

Oct 4, 2016

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Though Hanks keeps the satirical and critical aspects of this look at show biz fairly light, there's a lot of conviction and savvy behind the steadiness of his gaze.

Dec 17, 2007

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

First-time writer/director Tom Hanks stays about a half-beat ahead of the cliches with rim shots of boyish enthusiasm and deft comedy. The movie's also buoyed by the title song, whose Beatles sound is infectious enough to merit a real hit.

Dec 17, 2007

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

For a film about rivalry, recriminations, and the allure of success, That Thing You Do! is a sweet, charming, humorous look at how far people are willing to go for success and how difficult it is to attain while maintaining the purity of your true self.

Rated: 4/4

Dec 4, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A nostalgic, whistle-clean comedy about a (fictional) band like the dozens of other nice-boy bands that cropped up after The Beatles.

Rated: B

Sep 1, 2022

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a persistently entertaining endeavor that's been suffused with a whole host of appealing, captivating elements...

Rated: 3/4

Apr 13, 2021

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Stephen C

"That ****ing **** you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

Full Review

Cfunk D

Entertaining movie. Lots of humor without needing to cuss or be vulgar. I love raunchy comedies and this movie was funny without being crude. Great casting. Good pacing

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

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Tim M

With Tom Hanks pulling triple duty as a writer-director-star, the movie has an infectious sense of fun that'll have viewers tapping their toes to That Thing You Do!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/25

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Michael W

This showbiz movie was really good. Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn, Johnathon Schaech, Ethan Embry, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. The story of the movie was dramatic and entertaining. It's about the rise and fall of 60s rock band. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a must see.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

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Oliver L

Funny movie with lovable characters to root for. Plus it has a great soundtrack. What more could you ask?

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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Audience Member

this was a masterpiece, such a sweet and also great movie. feels like they try to pull you into the movie and expiriencing the same feeling of the group. you should watch this at least once of your lifetime

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/24

Full Review

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Tom Hanks

Director

Tom Everett Scott

Guy "Skitch" "Shades" Patterson

Liv Tyler

Faye Dolan

Johnathon Schaech

Jimmy Mattingly

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Synopsis

Wily band manager Mr. White helps a small town band achieve big time success when they release a Beatles-style pop song in 1964. Pennsylvania band the Oneders become a sensation after their drummer breaks his arm, and is replaced by jazz enthusiast, Guy Patterson, who injects something a bit different into their music.

Director: Tom Hanks
Producer: Gary Goetzman, Jonathan Demme, Edward Saxon
Screenwriter: Tom Hanks
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.9M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround

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