Forrest Gump is a 1994 American comedy-drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, a simple Alabama man who travels across the world, sometimes meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing firsthand historic events of the late 20th century.
The film differs substantially from Winston Groom's novel on which it was based. Filming took place in late 1993, mainly in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Extensive visual effects were used to incorporate the protagonist into archived footage and to develop other scenes. An extensive soundtrack was featured in the film, and its commercial release made it one of the top selling albums of all time.
Released in the United States on July 6, 1994, Forrest Gump was well received by critics and became a commercial success as the top grossing film in North America released that year. The film earned over $677 million worldwide during its theatrical run. The film garnered multiple awards and nominations, including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, People's Choice Awards, and Young Artist Awards, among others. Since the film's release, varying interpretations have been made of the film's protagonist and its political symbolism. In 1996, a themed restaurant opened based on the film, and has since expanded to multiple locations worldwide. The scene of Gump running across the country is often referred to when real life people attempt the feat.
Plot
A feather falls to the feet of Forrest Gump who is sitting at a bus stop in Savannah, Georgia in 1981. He shares his life story with other people waiting for the bus. On his first day of school, he meets a girl named Jenny Curran, whose life is followed in parallel to Gump's at times. Despite his below level intelligence quotient (IQ), his ability to run at lightning speed gets him into college on a football scholarship. He ultimately becomes an All American and meets President John F. Kennedy. While attending college Forrest witnesses George Wallace attempt to prevent integration at the University of Alabama.
After graduation, he enlists in the army. He makes friends with Benjamin Buford Blue, nicknamed Bubba, who convinces him to enter the shrimping business with him when the Vietnam War is over. He also meets Jenny again, when he finds her and discovers that she is a stripper. In 1967, Forrest and Bubba are sent to Vietnam, and after several months of patrolling with the 9th Infantry Division their platoon is ambushed. Though Forrest rescues many of the men in his unit, Bubba is fatally wounded and dies in Forrest's arms. Lt. Dan Taylor, the platoon's commanding officer, is also seriously wounded and loses both legs. For Forrest's actions, he is awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson. While in Washington, he becomes swept up in an anti-war rally where he again meets Jenny. They spend the evening walking around Washington, but when the morning comes she leaves with her abusive boyfriend.
While in recovery, Forrest discovers an uncanny ability for ping pong. He starts playing for the U.S. Army team, eventually competing against Chinese teams on a goodwill tour. He goes to the White House for a third time to meet President Richard Nixon who provides him a room at the Watergate hotel, where he witnesses a burglary and calls security. Forrest also goes on the Dick Cavett Show in New York City where he meets Lt. Dan, now an embittered drunk living on welfare.
Forrest is discharged, and uses money from an endorsement for ping pong paddles to buy a shrimping boat, fulfilling his wartime promise to Bubba. Lt. Dan joins him as first mate. Initially they meet little success, but after Hurricane Carmen hits the Gulf states, their boat is the only one to survive resulting in easy success. He buys an entire fleet of shrimp boats, and "Bubba Gump" shrimp becomes a household name. Lt. Dan, having had an epiphany while riding out the hurricane, forgives Forrest and thanks him for saving his life. Forrest returns home when his mother falls ill and she dies soon afterward.
In 1976, Jenny returns to visit Forrest, and after some time he proposes marriage to her. Although she declines she tells him she does love him and they sleep together, but she leaves the next day. On a whim, Forrest elects to go for a run and simply decides not to stop. Over the next three and a half years, he runs coast to coast across the country several times, gathering a small following. Realizing that he had been running to try and make sense of his feelings for Jenny, and the deaths of his mother and Bubba, he abruptly stops and returns home.
While finishing his story, Forrest reveals that he is waiting at the bus stop because he received a letter from Jenny who asked him to visit her. Once he is reunited with Jenny, Forrest discovers she has a young son, also named Forrest. Jenny tells Forrest she is suffering and dying from an unknown virus, possibly HIV/AIDS. Jenny proposes to Forrest and he accepts. The three move back to Greenbow where Forrest and Jenny are married but Jenny dies soon afterward. On his son's first day of school, Forrest sits with him at the school bus stop. As the bus picks him up and drives him away, Forrest sits on the same tree stump his mother did, watching a feather float into the air.
