Tom Hanks on Film Critics: “None of That Stuff Matters”.

In a candid appearance on Conan O’Brien’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Hollywood icon Tom Hanks took aim at film critics, sharing his belief that time is the true judge of a movie’s impact—not the immediate reviews it receives. The Oscar-winning actor expressed that, while critics’ perspectives are part of the cinematic landscape, they hold limited weight when it comes to a film’s lasting significance.

“A movie is first reviewed by a critic, then the audience weighs in, and then a ton of time goes by when none of that stuff matters anymore,” Hanks remarked. He noted that with the passage of time, a film’s status can shift, sometimes finding new relevance or, conversely, becoming a relic of the past. “The movie just exists exactly as it is outside of loser or winner status, or thumbs up, thumbs down,” he said, describing the unpredictable nature of cinema.

Emphasizing that he trusts the long-term journey of his work, Hanks stated, “That’s the carnival, that’s the contest. I got faith in that.” The acclaimed actor is currently promoting his new project, Here, which reunites him with Forrest Gump collaborators, actress Robin Wright and director Robert Zemeckis. This highly anticipated reunion has fans excited to see Hanks revisit his creative roots with the legendary filmmaking duo, promising another film that, according to Hanks, only time will judge.