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Hanks or Cruise

Hosts debate whether Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise would have been better in lead roles, often comparing across multiple parts.

Hanks or Cruise has run in 45 episodes. The most recent 40 are listed below — open any episode at its timestamp to hear the segment.

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‘It Follows’Bill Simmons

Tom Cruise — Cruise - citing Risky Business (1983) and Cruise as the naked 'scary guy on the roof' (Digger)

‘It Follows’Joanna Robinson

Tom Cruise — Agrees it's Cruise either way

‘Law Abiding Citizen’Bill Simmons

Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise as a law-abiding citizen/villain type is a role he's wanted Cruise to play, citing Collateral as closest example

‘Law Abiding Citizen’Craig Horlbeck

Tom Cruise — Cruise would have crushed Clive, playing him as a hyper-fixated, manic, over-the-top character who'd learn tricks like bomb-making and tunneling

‘Law Abiding Citizen’Van Lathan

Tom Cruise — Cruise would be a phenomenal Clive, praising how seamless and natural he was in Collateral as a comparison point

‘Apollo 13’Bill Simmons

Tom Cruise — Tom Cruise could not have played Jim Lovell; Hanks was perfect for Apollo 13, while he wouldn't want to see Hanks in Eyes Wide Shut or The Firm (Cruise roles)

‘Apollo 13’Rob Mahoney

Tom Hanks — Jokes that Hanks would be 'something to behold' in Eyes Wide Shut, playing along with the bit rather than staking a clear position

‘The Karate Kid Part II’Bill Simmons

Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise fits as Sato's American chief of staff or as Chozen, since casting a white actor as Sato himself wouldn't work

‘The Karate Kid Part II’Kyle Brandt

Tom Cruise — Would cast Cruise as Chozen (the American pupil/chief of staff role), ripped and physical like Taps/The Outsiders era Cruise

‘Pacific Heights’Bill Simmons

Tom Cruise — Cruise to play Carter Hayes; jokes Cruise would've said no until shown the running scene at the end

‘Pacific Heights’Chris Ryan

Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise for Carter Hayes, comparing it to his Ripley-type roles; says his mimicry skill fits stealing identities

‘Pacific Heights’Kyle Brandt

Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise for Carter Hayes, citing his physicality (running) and comparing scenes to Days of Thunder

Episode	Host	Answer
‘It Follows’	Bill Simmons	Tom Cruise — Cruise - citing Risky Business (1983) and Cruise as the naked 'scary guy on the roof' (Digger)
‘It Follows’	Joanna Robinson	Tom Cruise — Agrees it's Cruise either way
‘Law Abiding Citizen’	Bill Simmons	Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise as a law-abiding citizen/villain type is a role he's wanted Cruise to play, citing Collateral as closest example
‘Law Abiding Citizen’	Craig Horlbeck	Tom Cruise — Cruise would have crushed Clive, playing him as a hyper-fixated, manic, over-the-top character who'd learn tricks like bomb-making and tunneling
‘Law Abiding Citizen’	Van Lathan	Tom Cruise — Cruise would be a phenomenal Clive, praising how seamless and natural he was in Collateral as a comparison point
‘Apollo 13’	Bill Simmons	Tom Cruise — Tom Cruise could not have played Jim Lovell; Hanks was perfect for Apollo 13, while he wouldn't want to see Hanks in Eyes Wide Shut or The Firm (Cruise roles)
‘Apollo 13’	Rob Mahoney	Tom Hanks — Jokes that Hanks would be 'something to behold' in Eyes Wide Shut, playing along with the bit rather than staking a clear position
‘The Karate Kid Part II’	Bill Simmons	Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise fits as Sato's American chief of staff or as Chozen, since casting a white actor as Sato himself wouldn't work
‘The Karate Kid Part II’	Kyle Brandt	Tom Cruise — Would cast Cruise as Chozen (the American pupil/chief of staff role), ripped and physical like Taps/The Outsiders era Cruise
‘Pacific Heights’	Bill Simmons	Tom Cruise — Cruise to play Carter Hayes; jokes Cruise would've said no until shown the running scene at the end
‘Pacific Heights’	Chris Ryan	Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise for Carter Hayes, comparing it to his Ripley-type roles; says his mimicry skill fits stealing identities
‘Pacific Heights’	Kyle Brandt	Tom Cruise — Agrees Cruise for Carter Hayes, citing his physicality (running) and comparing scenes to Days of Thunder