Tom Hanks' 'best performance of his career' now ready to watch on BBC iPlayer

Tom Hanks delivers "one of the best performances of his career" in a "relentlessly intense" thriller now available on BBC iPlayer.

From Big and Castaway to Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks is a Hollywood icon with a career spanning over four decades.

However, it was in October 2013 that Hanks made a triumphant return to the silver screen in the action-packed thriller Captain Phillips.

READ MORE: BBC drama leaves viewers 'destroyed' as they watch all 5 episodes at once

READ MORE: Netflix viewers demand second season of series that 'blew me away'

Based on true events, Captain Phillips tells the story of the 2009 hijacking of the US cargo ship Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates, with Hanks portraying the eponymous captain.

Now, 12 years after its initial release, the Tom Hanks thriller can be watched for free.

Captain Phillips was added to BBC iPlayer on Saturday, July 26, allowing fans to enjoy the film at their leisure without needing a subscription.

All that's needed to access the streaming service's content is a registered email address.

The biographical drama received numerous award nominations, and actor Barkhad Abdi clinched the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Captain Phillips also resonated with audiences, earning an impressive 93% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Fans haven't been able to help themselves from praising for the gripping drama in the comments section.

One viewer wrote: "A truly incredible suspense movie that'll have you on the edge of your seat.

"From the moment the pirates arrive, it's tension filled until the very end. Tom Hanks' performance here is stellar."

Another viewer concurred: "Captain Phillips is a movie of relentless tension but it's that final scene that makes it a great movie.

"Tom Hanks delivers an outstanding performance throughout the running time but it's the finale that catapults him into a new acting league."

Meanwhile, a third simply declared: "Tom Hanks puts on one of the best performances of his career in Captain Phillips.."

Captain Phillips can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.