That Thing You Do!

The Fab Four without the Mop Tops

1996 • 108 min • Comedy · Drama · Music

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Synopsis

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager. But behind the scenes, the group’s sudden fame tests their strength, their maturity and responsibility, and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.

Our family guide

Best from age 9

Movie Knight Score

938 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
69 Audience · 937 · 49%

A small-town band from Pennsylvania rockets to fame in the 1960s with a catchy pop song. As they navigate the music industry and sudden stardom, the band members grapple with personal growth, ambition, and the pitfalls of celebrity.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 3/10
Romance & sensuality: 2/10
Scary moments: 0/10

Heads up

Characters smoke cigarettes
Mild alcohol consumption
Some kissing and flirtation

What it models well

The value of teamwork and friendship
Pursuing passions and dreams
Honesty and integrity
Finding your own path

Talk about it after

The pressures of fame and success
How to handle disagreements in a group
Making responsible choices for your future
The difference between talent and staying true to yourself

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for That Thing You Do!. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Tom Hanks • Crew: Tom Hanks

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
**Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.** The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity when their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do".…
Filipe Manuel Neto, TMDB Community