Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have starred together in a total of 3 movies:

1. “Joe vs. the Volcano” (1990): A romantic comedy directed by John Patrick Shanley, in which Tom Hanks plays a man who learns he has a terminal illness and Meg Ryan plays multiple roles.
2. “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993): A romantic comedy-drama directed by Nora Ephron, where Tom Hanks plays a widower and Meg Ryan plays a journalist who becomes intrigued by his story.
3. “You've Got Mail” (1998): Another romantic comedy directed by Nora Ephron, featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as two people who fall in love over email without realizing they are business rivals.

Although Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan both appeared in the 2015 film “Ithaca,” they did not share any scenes together, so it is not considered a movie in which they starred together.

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Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have starred in 4 movies together. “Sleepless in Seattle,”, 1990's “Joe vs. the Volcano,” 1998's “You've Got Mail” and 2015's “Ithaca.”

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How Many Movies Did Tom Hanks And Meg Ryan Make Together?

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan make up one of Hollywood's most iconic on-screen duos thanks to beloved romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail. Their undeniable chemistry and heartfelt acting style charmed viewers for decades. But exactly how prolific was the creative partnership between these two acting giants?

Incredibly, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan only starred in four movies together over a 25 year span. However, those few special films left an indelible impact on pop culture and the rom-com genre. Let's take an in-depth look at the complete joint filmography of Hanks and Ryan – an inimitable cinematic pairing.

Table of Contents

• Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's Acting Backgrounds
• Overview of Their Joint Films
• Sleepless in Seattle – A Romantic Comedy Classic
• Joe vs The Volcano – Their Colorful First Pairing
• You've Got Mail – Reunited 90s Magic
• Ithaca – A Small But Meaningful Reunion
• Their Lightning-in-a-Bottle On-Screen Chemistry
• Critical and Audience Reception to Their Movies
• Why Fans Connected to Their Romances
• Their Friendship and Mutual Appreciation
• Impact on 90s Romantic Comedy Culture
• Total Number of Films Together
• Lasting Cultural Legacy of Their Collaborations

Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's Acting Backgrounds

First, a quick look at the two acting heavyweights' origins and rise to fame:

Tom Hanks became a huge star in the 1980s with hits like Big, Punchline, and A League of Their Own after getting his start on sitcoms like Bosom Buddies. Meg Ryan caught audience's eyes in When Harry Met Sally before becoming America's Sweetheart in beloved films like Sleepless in Seattle.

Both were well-established A-listers by the time they united for their first pairing in 1990's Joe vs The Volcano. Their natural chemistry together only increased their star power.

Overview of Their Joint Films

Tom and Meg ended up starring in only four movies together, but made them count:

• Joe vs The Volcano (1990) – Quirky rom-com with Meg in three roles
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – Wildly successful romantic weepie
• You've Got Mail (1998) – Modern update of 1940s classic
• Ithaca (2015) – Indie drama with Meg as lead, Tom in small role

These films remain touchstones in Tom and Meg's careers and are full of memorable moments thanks to their rapport.

Sleepless in Seattle – A Romantic Comedy Classic

After first pairing in Joe vs The Volcano, Hanks and Ryan reunited in 1993's Sleepless in Seattle. Ryan stars as Annie, a reporter intrigued by widower Sam, played by Hanks, after hearing his son call a radio show. The clever premise, meet-cute finale, and their natural chemistry made Sleepless a monster hit. It topped $200 million worldwide and sits at 97% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Sleepless remains many fans' favorite Tom and Meg romance.

Joe vs The Volcano – Their Colorful First Pairing

Hanks and Ryan kicked off their creative partnership with this original 1990 fantasy comedy directed by John Patrick Shanley. Tom plays hypochondriac Joe, who on learning he's dying, agrees to jump into a volcano on a remote island to obtain rare minerals. Meg brings her charm to three roles – Joe's coworker, a socialite, and the island native who ultimately wins Joe's heart. With its quirky tone, Joe vs The Volcano earned mixed reviews but has gained cult status thanks to Tom and Meg's effortless rapport.

You've Got Mail – Reunited 90s Magic

In 1998, Hanks and Ryan re-teamed for their final and most successful romantic comedy together – You've Got Mail. Adapting 1940's The Shop Around the Corner, the stars shine as rivals Kathleen (Meg) and Joe (Tom) who are also unknowing pen pals falling in love. With clever AOL email plot twists and New York City holiday cheer, You've Got Mail captured 90s rom-com magic again. It cemented Hanks and Ryan as a top screen couple, grossing over $250 million globally.

Ithaca – A Small But Meaningful Reunion

After nearly two decades apart, Hanks and Ryan's fourth and final joint project arrived with 2015's indie film Ithaca. With Meg as lead playing a widowed mother and Tom in a modest role as her deceased husband through flashbacks, this WWII coming-of-age tale received a limited release. While lower-profile than their hits, Ithaca represented a poignant final chance for these cinema soulmates to share the screen.

Their Lightning-in-a-Bottle On-Screen Chemistry

So what made Tom and Meg work so well as romantic leads? Experts cite their balanced blend of grounded everyman (Hanks) and bubbly sweetheart (Ryan) energy. Their naturalistic acting styles and easy rapport created a magical chemistry fans adored. Film critic Roger Ebert summed up their perfect symbiosis: “They make a good team.” Audiences agreed, falling for their humorous and emotional courtships over four memorable movies.

Critical and Audience Reception to Their Movies

Reviews from critics were mixed, but box office results proved fans couldn't get enough of Hanks and Ryan together:

• Sleepless in Seattle – 97% Rotten Tomatoes / $227 million global gross
• Joe vs The Volcano – 63% Rotten Tomatoes / $39 million
• You've Got Mail – 69% Rotten Tomatoes / $255 million
• Ithaca – 50% Rotten Tomatoes / $2 million (limited)

Critics appreciated the stars' charm and comedic skills. But audiences truly drove the success through their emotional connection to the couples' journeys.

Why Fans Connected to Their Romances

What made viewers flock to each Tom and Meg romance? Experts cite the relatability and nuance they brought to their roles. Their characters felt familiar – everyday people looking for connection. And they exuded an innocent chemistry fans wished they could find in their own lives. Hanks and Ryan made audiences believe real soulmates existed out there. Their good-natured appeal as America's romantic ideals simply entranced viewers, film after film.

Their Friendship and Mutual Appreciation

Part of their success stemmed from Hanks and Ryan's off-screen friendship. They related as hard-working actors who started in TV sitcoms. In interviews, they've expressed mutual admiration and enjoyment working together. Meg called Tom “wonderful and really funny” while Tom praised her authenticity. Their natural bond shines through in their movies' effortless chemistry. They remain close, with Hanks saying he'd love to partner again with his “fantastic wingman” Meg.

Impact on 90s Romantic Comedy Culture

Tom and Meg's iconic pairings, especially Sleepless and Mail, helped drive the explosion of romantic comedies in the 1990s. They set the tone for grounded, heartfelt storytelling other films emulated into the 2000s. Hanks and Ryan showed romantic movies could appeal to male and female audiences equally. And they left a model of natural chemistry and likability newer on-screen couples aspire to.

Total Number of Films Together

To summarize – screen legends Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan costarred in just four movies total between 1990 and 2015. Yet their special blend of humor, emotion, and rapport made those few films – Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Joe vs The Volcano, and Ithaca – shine so brightly they left a permanent mark on pop culture.

Lasting Cultural Legacy of Their Collaborations

Though their joint filmography was limited, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan's collaborations, especially Sleepless and You've Got Mail, are cemented as classics. Thanks to their undeniable chemistry and heartfelt acting, they created memorable romances each generation revisits.

Film scholars agree Hanks and Ryan represented a high point of the romantic comedy genre. Their natural, funny, and poignant style set the mold other on-screen couples aspire to. The magic they made together remains unmatched decades later.

Reference

[1] https://movieweb.com/movies-with-tom-hanks-and-meg-ryan/
[2] https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-hanks-meg-ryan-and-25-other-rom-com-partners-we-think-should-make-another-movie-together
[3] https://screenrant.com/tom-hanks-meg-ryan-movie-ranked-worst-best/
[4] https://collider.com/joe-versus-the-volcano-tom-hanks-meg-ryan/
[5] https://www.yournextshoes.com/meg-ryan-tom-hanks-movies/
[6] https://imdb.com/news/ni64012544/
[7] https://thcsnguyenthanhson.edu.vn/22-how-many-movies-have-tom-hanks-and-meg-ryan-advanced-guide/
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27ve_Got_Mail
[9] https://www.quora.com/How-did-Tom-Hanks-and-Meg-Ryan-meet-each-other-for-the-first-time