My cousin opened up to our family about having HIV after this film came out. There was a shift in attitudes after Magic Johnson and tv shows/movies like this. It really humanized the disease. Sadly my cousin died from AIDS in 2006 after years of fighting and pain. This movie really did open my eyes on what he went through and I can't watch without thinking about him and crying. Great reaction.. love your honesty. ♥

This movie hits me so hard because my dad, Dr. Charles Craig MD, was at the forefront when HIV/AIDS came out to the public perception. He was an infectious disease specialist so he was one of the doctors studying and treating this goddamn disease. To the day he died he would always accept and help treat patients who had it whether they had insurance or not and I like to think in another universe he was there to help Andy, especially since he lived in Philadelphia for a long time. This movie just reinforces how important my father's work was and still is. Also, the fact you released this reaction so close to Fathers' Day makes it so much more special. Thank you. RIP Dad, you were the greatest man I ever knew.

The Lawyer joke is an Anti-Lawyer joke. Meaning they should ALL be down there, but a thousand of them was a good start. It also works with Car Salesmen lol

This film never fails to not make me cry. Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington did the damn thing with this film, and it's beautiful!

Shanelle, big huggs to you from Scotland in UK, I have seen this film over 25 times, and makes me cry everytime, and I was crying at it along with you, if you don'y cry at this, you don't have a heart. Tom Hanks deserves his Oscar for this, and Denzel was brilliant in this too.

People always talk about the Springsteen song but the Neil Young song also makes me cry every time I hear it. This film gives all the feels, thank you.

The opera scene is absolutely heartbreaking. To see this man who has had so much to live for holding on so tightly to something he loves, and yet at the back of his mind knowing he’s dying - I just find it staggeringly emotional. I’ve never read or heard a review that comes even close to capturing the power of that scene. Only a poet could do it.

This movie was so important to our community. As hard as this movie is to watch because of how it shows the epidemic at that time, it was worse when it was first starting in the 80’s. No one knew anything except people were dying. Doctors, nurses and hospital staff wouldn’t enter patients rooms. People died alone in pain and neglected out of fear. Our lesbian sisters eventually stepped in to help care for the sick and dying. This film from 1993 shows how things were once the virus was identified and some treatments, usually only for the wealthy were available. It brought more awareness to the suffering of our community. Glad you watched it.

Philadelphia is the "City of Brotherly Love." There are so many levels of that theme throughout this movie. From the law firm's profound lack of the spirit of brotherly love, to all of the examples of those showing different expressions of brotherly love. Profoundly moving, and incredible acting.

I was a junior in high school when this came out. This film had a profound impact on my life, it helped me change a lot and become accepting of people who just want to love who they love. Another good film in this same genre is It's My Party, easily the best performance Eric Roberts has ever given.

Philadelphia is one of my favorite Neil Young songs. Great way to end an amazing film.

The scene when the brother tries to say goodbye to Andy in the hospital and burst into tears, destroys me every single time, that's the point when I start to cry and can't stop until the movie ends.

I would comment but I honestly dont even know where to begin with this one. Its a tough watch, especially when you lived through those times as an adult. But it is needed and through tears, enjoyed. Everyone in this movie did an outstanding job from the lighting to the actors. And you gave it the justice it deserved through every emotion you showed Shan.

It’s wild seeing Tom Hanks go from comedian in the 80s to epic dramatic actor in the 90s with this movie.

One of my favorite films ever. It’s so subtle, no loud drama or big scenes. Just powerful.

I understand now why Tom Hanks won his first Academy Award. What a performance. Bravo.

"The night has fallen, I'm lying awake I can feel myself fading away So receive me brother with your faithless kiss Or will we leave each other alone like this On the streets of Philadelphia..."

Magic Johnson was forced to retire from the NBA in 91. We just didn't know much. Movies like this painted a clearer picture

Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia back to back for the Director is almost as impressive as Philadelphia and Forest Gump back to back for Hanks

This is but one example if WHY we all LOVE movies at their best. For what they make us feel and connect with in life.

Thank you for being one of the very few to react to this. Easily one of my all-time favorite movies. Top ten.

Underrated performance by Banderas as well. This movie is a masterpiece all around.

It’s a rough movie to get through, and yes, in the early 90s, there was still a lot of confusion and misinformation about AIDS. And the fear was amplified around the time this movie was filmed because we had the deaths of Freddie Mercury and the dad from “The Brady Bunch” along with Magic Johnson announcing he had HIV all within a few months.

Fun Fact, Tom Hanks had quite the trifecta of Films 3 years in a row. Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Apollo 13, he was the first actor since Spencer Tracy to be nominated and win the Best Actor at the academy awards back to back, let alone be nominated 3 years in a Row.

1:08 - Oh, Jonathan Demme was one HELL of a director! Silence Of The Lambs, Melvin And Howard, Swimming To Cambodia, this movie...chef's kiss of a filmography!

The way Hanks’ character continues to diminish in health and stature. His physical body is so brutally sculpted down to barely above its essence. Love your insights, Shanelle - they add so much to my love for this movie 🙏🏼

It was indeed Bruce Springsteen and he won an Oscar for that song, "Streets of Philadelphia," as well as Grammy awards and VMA's :) The movie is such a powerful one!! The acting is impeccable. Mary Steenburgen did her job well, since you think she's slime in her role ;) also 25:45 is when Steenburgen's character says she hates the case, I'm glad you included it since it was ad-libbed (as you said in the trivia, it was because she hated her own character!!!). Watch Springsteen's music video to the song, he sings it while walking through the literal streets of Philadelphia while singing live with the backing track. It's so good!!!

I love this film. When I first saw this movie in 1999 as a 16 year old it blew my mind. Being from the mid-west our AIDS education was extremely lacking. AIDS education was usually a 5 minute lecture in health/gym class saying "You can only get AIDS from the exchange of bodily fluids and having sex. So don't touch a person who has it, abstain from sex, and condoms are not always effective against transmission.". That was the extent of what we got, 5 minutes of a 90 minute class, that met a total of 45 days. So upon watching this movie and seeing the physical symptoms, the effects of treatments, and then the realization that AIDS also socially destroys a person was devastating. I understand the criticism from the gay community about not going far enough and the incorrect medical information, but even in 1998 the proper information about AIDS was still not being taught. I don't think this movie was meant to accurately depict the gay community, but to show people the true extent of what AIDS does to a person. And also to show the deep felt prejudices surrounding both AIDS and the gay community.

On a lighter note, the Kevin Kline comedy In & Out is inspired by Tom Hanks ‘s Philadelphia Oscar speech where he “outed” a former teacher and a high school friend. It’s dated and a little cheesy, but it’s got an excellent comedic cast and some great lines.

This was one of the last movies I saw in the theater with my mother. Not a dry eye in the entire audience leaving.

The Neil Young song at the end during the wake is such an amazing piece of music. It's one of my favorite 'sad' songs.

Danny devito tells the lawyer joke in The War Of The Roses *A underrated comedy no one talks about*

38:29 ❤ This movie makes me cry and for all the reasons you already said. Just how many people we lost due to ignorance and inaction…unbelievable. The home movie at the end always leaves me a mess…and I even cried watching your reaction (still trying to get it together so I can go back to my office job from lunch lol). I think this is a movie everyone should see at least once.

This is in my top 20 films ever. While Tom dabbled in drama before this... in 'dramedies' like Nothing In Common in 1986 or Big in 1988 - this is when he went full on 100% drama and really shined. Amazing actor.

Seeing this in the theater was such an emotional experience. You could FEEL the emotion with everyone. There was a point where I swear that everyone was crying. Probably from when Hanks is on the stand to the end credits.

neil young wrote this song specifically for this movie and makes me tear up everytime I hear it

3:58 - You should binge Moonlighting. It's a TV show from the '80s with Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepard. This actress, Allyce Beasly is in it quite a bit, though not a main protagonist.

21:30 was the Oscar winner making scene if there ever was one. Tom's performance was outstanding throughout, but this part drove it home.

Jonathan Demme is a really interesting director. He started out in the 80s working mostly with the cool kids. He was like a new wave John Hughes. He did the Talking Heads concert film "Stop Making Sense" and some kind of road comedy with Melanie Griffith in her underwear a lot. His massive breakthrough was "Silence of the Lambs" but he caught a lot of flak because of the scene where Buffalo Bill is mincing in front of a mirror. That drove him insane, because if anyone was going to be considered transphobic or homophobic, it would not be him. He just hadn't considered the way his images would strike the trans community. So he intentionally made Philadelphia as both a follow-up to his big break and an apology to the LGBT community. Which went about as well as you would imagine. He was actually getting criticized for doing an LGBT movie, not because it sent the wrong message, but because he had the wrong motivation! I don't know that he quit after that, but that was my impression at the time. But he was such a big deal director at the time that he was able to get Bruce Springsteen to do the title song.

The opening song was sung by Bruce Springsteen, who won an Oscar for the song!

Jonathan Demme directed Silence of the Lambs, as well. He’s a top director.

Maria Callas is unquestionably my all-time favorite operatic Soprano. She was an absolute legend, an otherworldly force. A genuine artist, who personified every role she ever portrayed. You hear and feel the raw emotions in her rendition of "La Mamma morta", in the movie scene. As Leonard Bernstein once famously said of Callas: "She is the Bible of Opera."

12:20 Shanelle, this whole sequence is in reality on the specific context of that time about the strong stigma on touching people with AIDS. Basically people hugging Tom Hanks, and Tom Hanks holding the baby, just put the audience on the theater very nervous and on edge.

3:52 - Miss Depesto (from 'Moonlightning')

the music in this is AWESOME Bruce Springsteen

Beautiful reaction Shanelle. It's been awhile since I've seen this movie, but it is still as powerful as i remember it. Thank-you for reacting it

I remember before this came out people were saying “Tom Hanks in a drama? But he’s a COMEDY actor!”

Whats interesting about these actors is that many of them were also in Silence of the Lambs AND The Manchurian Candidate. I know you've done the Silence of the lambs, but I haven't seen many review The Manchurian Candidate.

i saw this in a theater when it was released in 1993. This was a tough one to get through. Hope you brought the Kleenex. Not many people tackle this subject matter. Kudos to you.

You held it together well. Imagine trying to keep it together in a theater full of other people who could not. That is what happened to me when I first saw it. A very powerful movie at the time and it still holds up.

And The Band Played On is an HBO movie from '93 that showed the progression of the epidemic . Based on a book written by a reporter . I believe it is mostly biographical . Great movie and heart braking too . I always like your reviews .You remind me of myself on how I watch and analyze things . Loved your messages to Haters . My thoughts exactly .

Forrest Gump and Philadelphia back to back. Frigging Tom Hanks is so brilliant.

Thank you, Shanelle. Nothing slipped pastya. Demme should be on your radar for more reactions-his directorial style is on par with your keen eye of productions. Philadelphia is worth every tear shed, every moment of introspection it offers. ❤✌️🎬

I saw it in the theater when it came out. I had been a Tom Hanks fan since the Bosom Buddies days, and of course this was an utter breakthrough for him. Just astonishing to see after his years of comedies.

Bless your heart Shanelle. Great movie and very hard to sit through without feeling emotions. That is human nature. Very well written, acted and filmed. Love your reaction. Hope you are feeling better by the time you read this , if you read this. 💔

I watched this movie 2 or 3 times when it was new, then again a few months ago, shortly After my mom died (on 10/14/22) it certainly hit differently. I cried a lot harder at the end of the film After mom was gone, I don't really know why.😢

Stunning performance from Hanks & Washington. I was there in theatres in 1993 and it really did open the eyes of many about a world so many knew nothing about - but never talked about. Would be good to see you react to The Dallas Buyers Club (2013) to see another take on this era with more magical performances from McConaughey & Leto.

I was 14 when this came out. My sister and I saw it in the theaters three times. It's a movie that's made with just so much love.

From 1992 -2000, from A League of their Own to Cast Away, Hanks gave nothing but stellar performances. Crazy to think when this movie was released Hanks was already working on the movie he will be forever known for.

Antonio Bandaras was such a good supporting character. I loved his performance ❤

This movie had 2 songs up for an Oscar, quite unique. Springsteen and Neil Young. First song and last song! Now some irony...this movie and the time it came out, could have literally been a blueprint of what happened to my brother. Also, Hanks...he goes from one of the most raucous and sophomoric tv shows ever-bosom nuddies, then the most rediculousness sophomoric movie ever-Bachelor Party, to.less than 10 years later making this, maybe a top ten dramatic movie of all time!

I never knew Leguizamo had been offered the part of Miguel. Earliest thing I ever saw him in was Moulin Rouge. This is the first Philadelphia reaction I've ever seen; it's such a powerful film. I've never really seen any other "AIDS drama," unless you count Bohemian Rhapsody, and I wouldn't. (I loved it, though.)

I saw this movie with a friend of mine in Manhattan when we both were living in Astoria, NY. We met after work and dinner to see this movie. It was a challenging watch. Usually after seeing a movie or a show in Manhattan, we'd just get on the subway and head back to our apartments in Queens. After seeing this movie, we walked quietly out of the theater, in our own thoughts, then both said that we couldn't just go home. We had to talk about what we had just seen. It was a transformative experience.

Philadelphia was a beautiful city to visit back in the 1990s better in 1980s. I would always eat at Geno Steaks the movie Rocky was also filmed in Philadelphia.

the best part of the official theme song of the movie is that springsteen made the song in a single day you know your a legend if this is what phoning it in sounds like lol

Yeah this one got me. I’m older and I saw this one in a theater. It was sad. Only seen it all the way thru once. Cuz of the sadness. Awesome acting. Love your reactions. ❤

Love the library scene and I come to KZfaq to watch it every once in a while. Denzel sees Andy by himself and decides to friend him and represent him.

Tom Banks won the first of his two Oscars for Philadelphia. He also the following year for Forrest Gump. Philadelphia also won for best original song Streets Of Philadelphia written and sung by Bruce Springsteen

Another classic from the 90s IMO... films were made assuming the audience had some intelligence and empathy for these kind of issues and stories. I always love your reactions, especially the trivia stuff!

Masterpiece. One of the very best films from the last thirty years.

Such a brilliant and important film. If you can find it, I'd also highly recommend "And The Band Played On" (1993). You rock, Shanelle. 🤘✌ I'm sure it's been mentioned, but the theme is "Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen, a hauntingly beautiful song. Side Note: I'll echo some other comments here; if you don't cry at this movie, you either hate movies or have no soul. 😢

So happy you're doing this one!

I have to give Roger Corman, the witness at 14:25, some credit for his acting in this movie. He is not known as a actor, more as a producer and director. The fact he gave a decent performence and held his own is a credit to him.

Finally someone reacts to this flick. There’s another Tom Hanks Movie you might catch, Nothing In Common with Jackie Gleason playing his dad.

I remember seeing this in the theater. Hanks earned that Oscar. Your next reaction to a movie set in a courtroom should be Primal Fear

I was 13, living in nyc, when this movie came out. I remember these times. This is a raw unflinching look at what it felt like in those days.

This was such a huge role for Hanks. Very serious and controversial subject matter at the time. There's a world where if this doesn't work, Tom doesn't expand his acting repertoire beyond comedies.

If you liked this one, you should watch "And the Band Played On", also from 1993. It was a TV docuseries, but it was an excellent depiction of the very beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Couple of Hollywood royalty in here. Joanne Woodward and Jason Robards.

This has been my most favorite reaction video of yours. Thank you so much for being you. Can't wait for your next one.

Well it's about time. I was starting to think the subject matter of this movie was too much for reactors and that's why they avoided it when they went through their original Tom Hanks phase. A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood, Finch, Greyhound and A Man Called Otto are all newer Hanks movies but they all came out around the the Covid pandemic and didn't get a lot of attention, no reactions to any of them. I watched A Man Called Otto and The Whale with Brendan Fraser back to back, holy crap, what an emotional roller coaster.

The song is "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen

Don’t forget the outro music was Neil Young. Gorgeous

I haven't seen this movie in a long time, but I teared up just like you -- it leaves us with a long-aching kind of sadness. The entire endeavor of this movie was superb, a bit sublime, powerful like few other movies can deliver. Thanks for doing this -- and as always, I can't wait to see what you pick next!

This is a beautiful film, amazing performances and presentation of a very difficult topic & very representative of the time it took place in... the fears and misinformation prevalent throughout the culture. I saw it a while back and it blew me away... but I had a lot of trouble going back and re-watching it because it was so heartbreaking to watch this vibrant man deteriorate and pass. But I still love it and have owned several versions on VHS and DVD ... I just have trouble re-watching it. I'm glad to have watched it again with you. Thank You

Denzel serves the summons at one of the loges in the Spectrum, where the Philadelphia 76ers used to play. The gentleman he's tallking to was actually 76ers legend Julius Erving.

This was a real eyeopener to most on Tom Hanks range. Up until now he had been mostly known for comedies... and while parts of many of those movies had very dramatic scenes... Hanks in no way was considered the heavy weight he is today.

"A good start" - all lawyers should be chained up at the bottom of the sea, but that number is a good start.

The ultimate Big Fish level of crying!

Good choice. Didn't know what I was in for when we went to see this in the theater. Hanks and Washington. I'm there 👍👍

I agree with you about the Springsteen song, so much emotion in that opening scene. Really hits in the feels.

Thanks, Shanelle! 🩸 I was fortunate to see this one at the cinema... many tears were shed. #ShanelleRiccio #JonathanDemme #Philadelphia

This is such an important movie, even nowadays,

Femme directed Silence of the Lambs among many other excellent films such as CITIZENS BAND aka Handle with Care (with Paul Le Mat and Candy Clark) , MELVIN AND HOWARD (with Paul Le Mat and Mary Steenburgen), STOP MAKING SENSE (a Talking Heads live film), SOMETHING WILD and MARRIED TO THE MOB.

Bruce Springsteen had never written a song for a movie but Jonathan Demme called him up and said he was doing something that would be very important and he wanted Bruce to write the themesong. Bruce heard what it was about and said he was in. Demme directed dune great films. One of the best concert movies, "Stop Making Sense, " about the Talking Heads. And a little click you may have heard of called Silence of the Lambs.

I was glad to fall apart one more time to this film, and knew it was coming and knew it was coming for you, too. One thing the trivia may not have mentioned was Banderas making his English Language film debut in this... which, given the time and nature of things, was a pretty fearless move on his part. I so appreciate your frank and unambiguous invitation to those who might come into this discussion with hate to eff off. I feel like there is a new license to be awful to each other in the past few years. Fantastic, as always, despite the wracked with sobs bit there at the end. The end credit sequence is just devastating in its construction. Demme was an Honorary Doctorate recipient at my university graduation (1990, Wesleyan) BEFORE he made this or Lambs. It was largely because of his involvement with the Artists United Against Apartheid effort (Desmond Tutu was also a recipient and keynote at the same Commencement), including being the director of the 'Ain't Gonna Play Sun City' video. At the time, he was also known for directing Spalding Grey's spoken word narrative film "Swimming to Cambodia," as well as the Talking Heads concert film "Stop Making Sense" and "Something Wild" both of which were content in courses at the school. (Rock Music and Rock Film & The Language of Film).

You just got a new subscriber with this one!! Thank you! You are lovely, articulate, empathetic, intelligent and kind.

Just as a sidenote, this movie came out two years after Magic Johnson made his very public and famous announcement that he was HIV positive.

When she said she doesn't know Jonathan Demme I literally did a facepalm

I respect you for watching the movies that are hard to watch and have such an impact. Some of them you know going in are going to hit you, but others catch you by surprise, but in either case you have the courage to show your honest reactions. I love your honesty.