In the 1984 film Splash, Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah deliver breakout performances that redefined the romantic comedy genre. Directed by Ron Howard, the movie was the first released under Disney’s Touchstone Pictures banner, which was created to produce more mature content for adult audiences.
At the time, Hanks was best known for TV comedy (Bosom Buddies), but Splash became his first major film hit as a leading man. Allen Bauer, a lonely New York businessman who falls in love with a mysterious woman he once met as a child. He blends boyish charm, vulnerability, and physical comedy, especially in fish-out-of-water scenes. The film proved Hanks could carry a movie, launching him toward roles like Big (1988) and eventually his dramatic career in the 1990s. His natural sincerity made the fantasy believable and emotionally grounded.
Hannah became an instant icon with her role as Madison. A mermaid who comes to land in human form after rescuing Allen years earlier. She spent hours underwater, often holding her breath for long takes, wearing a custom mermaid tail that limited movement. She brought an ethereal, innocent quality—curious about the human world yet emotionally expressive. Madison became one of the most memorable fantasy heroines of the decade, blending fairy-tale romance with modern comedy.
The film ends with Allen choosing to leave his life on land to live in the ocean with Madison, a rare “happily ever after” where the human hero adapts to the magical world rather than the other way around.
Splash was critically and commercially successful, earning over $69 million on an $11 million budget, making it the tenth-highest-grossing film of 1984, and received praise for the acting, humor, and chemistry between Hanks and Hannah.
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