That Thing You Do!

1996
PG
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

75K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:30

Teen Drama Comedy Drama Music

A local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager.A local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager.A local Pennsylvania band scores a one-hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from their manager.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

75K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,034

625

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 8 nominations total

Videos2

Trailer 2:30

That Thing You Do!

Video 3:22

What Roles Has Tom Hanks Turned Down?

Video 3:22

What Roles Has Tom Hanks Turned Down?

Photos115

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Film debut of Tom Everett Scott. Tom Hanks was initially opposed to hiring Scott because of Scott's strong resemblance to a younger Hanks. He was finally convinced by his wife, Rita Wilson, who thought Scott was cute.

Goofs
A character states that they'll have to sell 500,000 copies of their single to get a gold record. In 1964 it still required 1,000,000 singles sold to qualify for a gold single record by the R.I.A.A.. It wasn't until 1976 that this was changed to 500,000.

Quotes
[When Jimmy is reluctant to sign a management contract]
Lenny: Are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio! Gimme a pen; I'm signin', you're signin', we're all signin'!

Crazy credits
Soundtrack released on the Playtone record label, founded by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman to coincide with the fictional label in the movie and capitalize on the movie's success.

Alternate versions
In the 2007 two disc version there is an extended version not shown in theaters. Before "The Wonders" appear on national television, Guy arrives back at the hotel in a drunken state and finds an excited Mr. White with the good news about being on television the next day. Waiting for Mr. White is his male friend "Lloyd" played by Howie Long.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Extreme Measures/Secrets & Lies/2 Days in the Valley/Caught/Ed's Next Move (1996)

Soundtracks
That Thing You Do!
Written by Adam Schlesinger

User reviews272

Review

Featured review

8/10

sweet, nostalgic story of a rock band

My guess is that Tom Hanks is a really nice guy. He certainly seems like it when he's interviewed, and since he wrote and directed this movie, and it's really nice, too, that seems to be more evidence.

This is a very small movie. It has no pretensions, but just tells a simple story about a small-town band that makes good. It paints a nostalgic picture of the 60's -- I grew up in a small town during that time, and life wasn't so idyllic in my town -- but it isn't trying for gritty realism. The cast is attractive and more than adequate (some are quite good, including Hanks as the band's manager), and the story is observant enough to be an enjoyable confection. It's very nice family movie (my kids liked it, and so did I).