“I try to do what I call the three E’s”: Tom Hanks Has A Bulletproof Formula To Choose Movie Roles That Led To A $10B Box Office Empire

Tom Hanks Has A Bulletproof Formula To Choose Movie Roles That Led To A $10B Box Office Empire
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The journey from an actor to one of the greatest of all time is something that most might associate with luck and situations, and while those definitely are some factors, the perseverance and want for that success are more valuable than anything. The same goal was what drove Tom Hanks to become one of the biggest stars to ever leave a mark on Hollywood and the global film industry in general.

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Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks

Everyone knows the man, but very few know the story behind how he became who he is today and how he managed to do so in his illustrious career. In the past, the star talked about how he developed a secret formula to choose films that would help him receive the status of one of the highest-grossing stars of all time.

The Secret Formula That Tom Hanks Used To Create His $10 Billion Film Career

Tom Hanks in and as Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks in and as Forrest Gump

While luck can be credited to a rising star’s success, nothing can beat good old hard work and determination in this world, which also goes for the film industry. But with Tom Hanks, a star whose career is larger than life, it took all those factors, plus some smart and educated decisions, to become one of the highest-grossing actors in the world with his films earning a total of $10 Billion. And to achieve those staggering numbers, all that the two-time Oscar winner had to do was create a formula that almost guaranteed his success at the box office.

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In a past interview with Oprah Winfrey for her O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine, the Cast Away star talked about his journey from a trustworthy lead star to the icon he is today. He also revealed the secret formula that he uses to choose his films in the industry, which he calls The Rule Of Three Es. Basically, he checks if the project he is being proposed consists of those three Es, which are Educate, Entertain, and Enlighten. If the film is fulfilling these three conditions for the audience, only then does he accept those proposals. He said:

“I try to do what I call the three E’s—educate, entertain, and enlighten. If you don’t entertain, no one will show up. But you also have to educate, because people want to discover specific things about a world unlike their own—whether it’s how hard it is to go to the moon or how scary it is to be on Omaha Beach. A story also has the opportunity to enlighten us, because as we connect the extraordinary moments on film with the ordinary moments of our lives, we ask ourselves, “What am I going to do the next time I’m scared? What would it be like to say goodbye to my family for the last time?”

With a lot of hard work mixed in with a clever bit of smart work, the star was able to become the icon of the Hollywood industry he is today.

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Why Is Tom Hanks Such A Revered Star?

Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks

Apart from the aforementioned technique that he uses to choose which project he will be a part of next, the star is also iconic for extrapolating and expanding on those ideals through the characters he portrays in his films. The sheer expressive nature of his performances was well-suited for all of his characters so far, which makes acting them a natural instinct for the star.

On top of those qualities, Hanks has the desire to do everything as artistically as possible, whether it be minor subtleties or a huge sequence, he always makes sure that every action and expression of his is according to a vision.

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Source: O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine

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Written by Deepak Bisht

Articles Published: 1392

Deepak Bisht is a writer at FandomWire who has vast expertise in films of many genres, a hardcore anime nerd along with two years of writing experience. After completing his Bachelor's in Business Administration, he became part of the company in hopes of providing accurate, informative, and exciting articles to the world.

Apart from his contributions to FandomWire, the rest of his time is spent either reading quality works of literature, listening to vintage music, or playing any video games he can get his hands on.