Despite good reviews, this tale of a disgruntled employee who finds he has six months to live and goes on a voyage to a volcano was a flop — and Hanks' floppy mane probably didn't do much for ticket sales. Still, Meg Ryan agreed to star opposite the up-and-coming actor in two subsequent movies, so he must have been doing something right.
See the world's most influential people in the 2009 TIME 100.