Tom Hanks Loved This Sci-Fi Movie So Much He Saw It 22 Times: "There Was Just Awe"

Great cinema has the power to change a viewer's worldview at any age. For 12-year-old Tom Hanks, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey was just that.

From the moment he first saw it, the film transformed his understanding of storytelling and became the most influential work of art in his life.

Tom Hanks Revealed He Saw '2001: A Space Odyssey' 22 Times in Theaters

Even decades later, the actor experienced a genuine sense of awe before the genius of its creators every time he watched the film again.

Hanks's love for the movie is impressive in its scope. As he told Playboy, he didn't just watch it on TV – he saw it in theaters 22 times and found something new each time:

“Stanley Kubrick was a huge thing for me; 2001: A Space Odyssey was probably the most influential film, movie, story, artistic package, whatever, that I ever saw. It was just bigger. It affected me much, much more than anything I had ever seen. There was just awe.

I've seen that movie 22 times. In theaters, not on video tape. Every time I saw it, I saw something new, something else that Kubrick had put in.”

What Is '2001: A Space Odyssey' About?

The plot revolves around a mysterious alien artifact, a black monolith, that plays a pivotal role in human evolution.

In the distant past, the monolith inspired apes to use tools. In the present, after its discovery on the moon, the monolith sparks a massive space expedition.

The crew of the Discovery – Captains Dave Bowman and Frank Poole and the onboard computer HAL 9000 – sets out into the depths of the galaxy to investigate a signal emanating from the monolith.

After 58 Years, '2001: A Space Odyssey's Ambiguous Ending Is Still a Mystery

Nearly six decades have passed since the film's release, yet it is still considered one of the greatest sci-fi works. However, neither time nor analysts have been able to provide a definitive interpretation of its ending.

At the climax, astronaut Dave passes through an interdimensional portal and finds himself in a surreal chamber. There, he rapidly ages and transforms into a giant cosmic embryo, or a Star Child, floating above Earth.

Most interpretations agree that Dave has reached the next stage of evolution by transforming into a new species of cosmic being. However, Kubrick's brilliant imagery and philosophical depth leave room for many questions and personal interpretations.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of '2001: A Space Odyssey'?

• 2001: A Space Odyssey has 90% from critics and 88% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, 2001: A Space Odyssey scored 4.3/5.0.

Where to Watch '2001: A Space Odyssey'?

2001: A Space Odyssey is available to stream on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.