That Thing You Do!

A catchy tune and a dream of fame take a group of friends on a wild ride through the music scene.

A light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut for director Tom Hanks that trades complexity for charm and warm period nostalgia.

• The film is built around a local band riding the 1964 pop boom
• The film trades complexity for charm and period nostalgia

• Almost FamousShared 1960s small-town American setting, a rising band story, and a bright, nostalgic coming-of-age tone
• HairsprayPeriod pop-music ensemble with a warm, feel-good tone and a fictional band's rise and fall
• The CommitmentsMusic-driven story about a band's brief success and the friendships and rivalries it strains

Director

Tom Hanks

Release Date

1996-10-04

Runtime

108 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (957)

What is That Thing You Do! about?

A small-town Pennsylvania band with one catchy song rides a brief wave of 1964 fame and learns what success costs.

What is That Thing You Do! like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of That Thing You Do! as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is That Thing You Do! violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in That Thing You Do!.

What did critics think of That Thing You Do!?

A light, sweet, and thoroughly entertaining debut for director Tom Hanks that trades complexity for charm and warm period nostalgia.

Which films are like That Thing You Do!?

Films with a similar feel include Almost Famous, Hairspray, and The Commitments.

How long is That Thing You Do!?

That Thing You Do! runs 108 minutes.

Where can I watch That Thing You Do!?

In United States, That Thing You Do! streams on Pluto TV.