Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is a 1994 comedy movie directed by Robert Zemeckis, with a running time of 2h 22m. It stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise.
Forrest tells his life story from a bus-stop bench in Savannah, and it keeps colliding with the second half of the American century. A slow-witted Alabama boy with a good heart and fast legs runs through Vietnam, ping-pong diplomacy, a shrimp fortune and the currents of history, always circling back to Jenny, the girl he has loved since childhood. Robert Zemeckis directs Tom Hanks in the role that defined him, with Robin Wright, Gary Sinise and Sally Field. Sentiment and satire sit uneasily together, which is much of the point, and the soundtrack is a tour of an era.
Quick answers
What is Forrest Gump about?
Forrest tells his life story from a bus-stop bench in Savannah, and it keeps colliding with the second half of the American century. A slow-witted Alabama boy with a good heart and fast legs runs through Vietnam, ping-pong diplomacy, a shrimp fortune and the currents of history, always circling back to Jenny, the girl he has loved since childhood. Robert Zemeckis directs Tom Hanks in the role that defined him, with Robin Wright, Gary Sinise and Sally Field. Sentiment and satire sit uneasily together, which is much of the point, and the soundtrack is a tour of an era.
When was Forrest Gump released?
Forrest Gump was released on 23 June 1994.
How long is Forrest Gump?
Forrest Gump runs 2h 22m.
Who made Forrest Gump?
Forrest Gump was directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Where can I watch Forrest Gump?
Forrest Gump is available on Paramount Plus, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime), Kanopy, Pluto TV, Amazon and AppleTV.
Where to watch Forrest Gump
Stream: Paramount Plus, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime)
Rent: Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, FlixFling, Spectrum On Demand
Buy: Fandango at Home
Official site
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump
- Robin Wright as Jenny Curran
- Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan Taylor
- Sally Field as Mrs. Gump
- Mykelti Williamson as Bubba Blue
- Michael Conner Humphreys as Young Forrest Gump
- Hanna Hall as Young Jenny Curran
- Haley Joel Osment as Forrest Junior
- Siobhan Fallon Hogan as School Bus Driver
- Rebecca Williams as Nurse at Park Bench
- Bob Penny as Crony
- Harold G. Herthum as Doctor
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A few thoughts on Forrest Gump
For another life story told against the sweep of real history, Born a Crime has Trevor Noah growing up funny and watchful under apartheid, the personal and political braided the same way. Winston Groom's original novel is stranger and sharper than the film that softened it.
One ordinary man's life mapped against real history
Forrest Gump runs an ordinary man through the biggest events of his century, and these do the same trick. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, also written by Eric Roth, tracks one unusual life across decades, The Way We Were follows a couple from Depression-era college into the McCarthy years, Across the Universe threads the Vietnam era through its soundtrack, and Brian's Song grounds its friendship in 1960s pro football.
Coming-of-age dramedies about gentle, unlikely outsiders
Forrest's guileless honesty carries his whole story, and these films find similar warmth in their own outsiders. About a Boy pairs a reluctant adult with a lonely kid who teaches him as much as he learns, The Holdovers strands a prickly teacher with a stuck student over a quiet holiday, Danny Deckchair drifts an ordinary man away from his own life, and Ezra follows a father and his autistic son on a life-changing trip.
Big comedic memoirs about barreling through life
Forrest narrates his life with plainspoken humor, and these first-person stories share that voice. Born a Crime narrates Trevor Noah's apartheid childhood with the same dark comedy, Bossypants turns Tina Fey's odd path into showbiz into a running joke, Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe strings together one performer's wry take on being human, and Biloxi Blues follows a green recruit through basic training.