Tonight on Netflix: Tom Hanks’ Hidden Gem Rated 3.7/5 – Have You Seen It?

From roles in Forrest Gump to Apollo 13, The Green Mile, Sully, and Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks has often portrayed everyday heroes who are kind and brave. In 2023, with “The Worst Neighbor in the World,” he slightly shifted away from this image by playing a cranky old man named Otto Anderson.

Tom Hanks as a Grumpy Old Man

This grumpy senior has lost all reason to live following the death of his wife. Just as he is about to end it all, his plans are interrupted by a lively, young family moving into the neighboring house.

He meets Marisol, who is incredibly sharp-witted, and realizes he has met his match! As she challenges him to see life differently, an unlikely friendship forms between them, completely altering Otto’s life outlook.

Despite a quiet debut in theaters in February 2023, “The Worst Neighbor in the World” deserves a second look on Netflix, which has recently added it. The film has captured viewers’ interest, as it now ranks second in the Top 10.

Tom Hanks shines as this cantankerous old man who eventually softens due to the influence of a family whose lifestyle is the polar opposite of his own. This role is a departure from those he typically plays, blending humor and emotion in a way that engages audiences until the end.

A Global Phenomenon

It’s worth noting that Otto Anderson’s character first appeared in the global bestseller “A Man Called Ove” by Swedish author Fredrik Backman. The book was a massive success, staying on the New York Times bestseller list for over 10 months.

In 2015, the book was adapted into a film in Sweden, where it became a huge hit. According to the Swedish Film Institute, it’s the third most popular Swedish film of all time. It also received two Oscar nominations, including one for Best Foreign Language Film.

Following the book’s success in the United States and the Swedish film, producer Fredrik Wikström Nicastro wanted to develop an American adaptation. When Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson saw the original film, they reached out to Nicastro. The producers partnered up, agreeing that Hanks would play the lead role and that SF Studios (producer of the Swedish version) would fully fund the project.

“The Worst Neighbor in the World” is available on Netflix.