That Thing You Do!

A 1996 American musical comedy-drama, marking Tom Hanks's debut as both director and screenwriter, chronicles the rapid rise and fall of the fictional 1960s band The Wonders. The story follows Guy Patterson (Tom Everett Scott), a young drummer from Erie, Pennsylvania, who joins the local band The Oneders after their drummer breaks his arm. During a school talent show, Guy plays their song "That Thing You Do!" at a faster tempo, transforming it from a ballad into an upbeat rock tune, leading to unexpected success. Renamed The Wonders, the band quickly gains popularity, signs with the Play-Tone label, and embarks on a national tour under the management of Mr. White (Tom Hanks). However, internal conflicts begin to unravel the group: frontman Jimmy Mattingly (Johnathon Schaech) is dissatisfied with the commercialization, guitarist Lenny Haise (Steve Zahn) is distracted by new relationships, and the bassist (Ethan Embry) contemplates military service. Faye Dolan (Liv Tyler), Jimmy's devoted girlfriend, witnesses the band's disintegration and ultimately grows closer to Guy. The film explores themes of fame, creativity, and personal ambition, accompanied by an original soundtrack featuring the title song, which was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Despite positive critical reception, the film achieved moderate commercial success, grossing $34.6 million against a $26 million budget.