Some sources say he also voiced the narrator of the book? But that’s a gray area. Let’s be safe: five major roles.
Here’s the full list. Conductor. Hero Boy. Dad. Hobo. Santa. That’s the Hanks Hall of Fame for this movie.
If you rewatch it now, you’ll hear him in every scene. You’ll think, “Oh, there’s Hanks. And there he is again. And again. And again.”
The Verdict: Hanks-Level Dedication
Is it weird? Yes. Is it brilliant? Also yes. Tom Hanks basically acted out a whole department store Santa’s worth of characters.
He gave us the authoritative conductor. The innocent kid. The wise Santa. The mysterious hobo. And a dad who missed his son’s big moment but brought hot chocolate.
That’s a lot of emotional labor for one Christmas movie. But hey, it’s Tom Hanks. He makes it look easy. And now you can sound smart at your next holiday party: “Actually, Hanks plays five characters in that film.”
You’re welcome. Now go drink your coffee. And maybe watch the movie again. You’ll see Hanks behind every beard and train cap. Pure magic. Pure Tom.