What is the movie Forrest Gump about?

Forrest Gump , released in 1994, tells the story of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a man with an IQ of 75, as he narrates his life story to strangers while sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia. The movie follows Forrest through 30 years of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s, as he experiences many historical events. Growing up with his single mother (Sally Field) in Greenbow, Alabama, Forrest's life takes him from being a football star to fighting in Vietnam with his friend Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson) and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise). After the war, Forrest becomes a table tennis champion and starts a successful shrimping business. He falls in love with Jenny (Robin Wright), and later in life, he meets his son (Haley Joel Osment).

Who is the main character in Forrest Gump?

Forrest Gump , released in 1994, tells the story of Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks , an intellectually disabled man who experiences 30 years of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Throughout his life, Forrest meets several strangers while sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia, and narrates his life story to them. As a child, Forrest lives with his single mother, Mrs. Gump (Sally Field), in Greenbow, Alabama. Despite an IQ of 75, Forrest's mother teaches him that he is no different from anyone else.

What are some important events or moments shown in Forrest Gump's life in the movie?

Forrest Gump , released in 1994, follows the life of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), an intellectually disabled man, through three decades of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Key moments in Forrest's life include overcoming leg braces as a child and becoming a football star, serving in the Vietnam War where he saves Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise), becoming a ping pong champion, starting the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., investing in Apple, running across the country for years, and eventually marrying Jenny (Robin Wright). Throughout the film, Forrest interacts with numerous historical events and figures.

How does Forrest Gump influence or take part in historical events in the film?

In Forrest Gump , Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, participates in and influences numerous historical events from the 1950s through the early 1980s. Through computer-generated effects, Forrest is inserted into historical scenes, meeting presidents and celebrities. He inspires Elvis Presley with his dance moves, inadvertently exposes the Watergate scandal , and learns to play table tennis well enough to defeat Chinese champions, which fosters a period of détente with China. After being discharged from the army, Forrest finds himself at an antiwar rally.

What is the message or theme of Forrest Gump, and why is it considered a famous movie?

Forrest Gump , released in 1994, follows the life of Forrest Gump, a man with an intellectual disability, through three decades of American history. The film suggests that anyone, regardless of their intellectual capabilities, can lead a meaningful life and leave a lasting impact on the world. The film is considered famous and earned critical praise for its warm, comic spirit, and innovative use of computer-generated effects to insert Forrest into historical events. It was a box office success, and won six Academy Awards.

Forrest Gump

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Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump stands on a boat deck at sunset, gazing out over the water, with coiled ropes and orange sky in the background.

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Awards And Honors:: Academy Award (1995)

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Forrest Gump

Q: Who directed Forrest Gump, and when was it released?

Forrest Gump , the American film released in 1994, was directed by Robert Zemeckis . The film chronicles 30 years of the life of Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, an intellectually disabled man who finds himself involved in numerous important events in American history from the 1950s through the early 1980s. Zemeckis used computer-generated effects to insert Forrest into historical scenes. The film earned critical praise, large audiences, and six Academy Awards.

film by Zemeckis [1994]

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Patricia Bauer

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Last updated

Oct. 9, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is the movie Forrest Gump about?
Forrest Gump, released in 1994, tells the story of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a man with an IQ of 75, as he narrates his life story to strangers while sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia. The movie follows Forrest through 30 years of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s, as he experiences many historical events.

Growing up with his single mother (Sally Field) in Greenbow, Alabama, Forrest's life takes him from being a football star to fighting in Vietnam with his friend Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson) and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise). After the war, Forrest becomes a table tennis champion and starts a successful shrimping business. He falls in love with Jenny (Robin Wright), and later in life, he meets his son (Haley Joel Osment).
1 Britannica Source
1. Forrest Gump
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who is the main character in Forrest Gump?
Forrest Gump, released in 1994, tells the story of Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, an intellectually disabled man who experiences 30 years of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Throughout his life, Forrest meets several strangers while sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia, and narrates his life story to them. As a child, Forrest lives with his single mother, Mrs. Gump (Sally Field), in Greenbow, Alabama. Despite an IQ of 75, Forrest's mother teaches him that he is no different from anyone else.
1 Britannica Source
1. Forrest Gump
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who directed Forrest Gump, and when was it released?
Forrest Gump, the American film released in 1994, was directed by Robert Zemeckis. The film chronicles 30 years of the life of Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, an intellectually disabled man who finds himself involved in numerous important events in American history from the 1950s through the early 1980s. Zemeckis used computer-generated effects to insert Forrest into historical scenes. The film earned critical praise, large audiences, and six Academy Awards.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Forrest Gump
2. Robert Zemeckis
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some important events or moments shown in Forrest Gump's life in the movie?
Forrest Gump, released in 1994, follows the life of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), an intellectually disabled man, through three decades of American history, from the 1950s to the early 1980s.

Key moments in Forrest's life include overcoming leg braces as a child and becoming a football star, serving in the Vietnam War where he saves Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise), becoming a ping pong champion, starting the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., investing in Apple, running across the country for years, and eventually marrying Jenny (Robin Wright). Throughout the film, Forrest interacts with numerous historical events and figures.
1 Britannica Source
1. Forrest Gump
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How does Forrest Gump influence or take part in historical events in the film?
In Forrest Gump, Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, participates in and influences numerous historical events from the 1950s through the early 1980s. Through computer-generated effects, Forrest is inserted into historical scenes, meeting presidents and celebrities. He inspires Elvis Presley with his dance moves, inadvertently exposes the Watergate scandal, and learns to play table tennis well enough to defeat Chinese champions, which fosters a period of détente with China. After being discharged from the army, Forrest finds himself at an antiwar rally.
1 Britannica Source
1. Forrest Gump
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is the message or theme of Forrest Gump, and why is it considered a famous movie?
Forrest Gump, released in 1994, follows the life of Forrest Gump, a man with an intellectual disability, through three decades of American history. The film suggests that anyone, regardless of their intellectual capabilities, can lead a meaningful life and leave a lasting impact on the world.

The film is considered famous and earned critical praise for its warm, comic spirit, and innovative use of computer-generated effects to insert Forrest into historical events. It was a box office success, and won six Academy Awards.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Forrest Gump
2. list of movies: 1994
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Forrest Gump, American film, released in 1994, that chronicled 30 years (from the 1950s through the early 1980s) of the life of a intellectually disabled man (played by Tom Hanks) in an unlikely fable that earned critical praise, large audiences, and six Academy Awards, including best picture.

(Read Martin Scorsese’s Britannica essay on film preservation.)

The film opens with Forrest Gump (Hanks) sitting on a bench in Savannah, Georgia, and narrating his life story to various strangers who sit next to him. The plot unfolds in a series of flashbacks. As a child, Forrest (played by Michael Conner Humphreys) lives with his single mother (Sally Field) in Greenbow, Alabama. He has an IQ of 75 and wears braces on his legs, but his mother has raised him to believe that he is no different from anyone else. On his first day on the school bus, a little girl named Jenny (Hanna Hall) is the only child who will allow Gump to sit next to her. One day when he is being chased by bullies, his braces fall off, and he discovers that he can run swiftly. This ability gets him onto the football team in high school and earns him a scholarship to the University of Alabama in the sport. He grows up to be a simple and guileless man. Gump joins the U.S. Army and is sent to Vietnam. He becomes close to fellow recruit Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson), who persuades Gump that they will operate a shrimp boat together when they have been released from the service, and to his commanding officer, Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise). However, Bubba is killed, and Gump saves Lieutenant Dan in a battle in which Dan loses his legs and Gump is wounded. Gump is awarded the Medal of Honor. While he is recuperating, he learns to play table tennis well enough to defeat Chinese table tennis champions and become famous for his skills. After his discharge, Gump finds himself at an antiwar rally, where he encounters a bitter and alcoholic Lieutenant Dan and his beloved Jenny (Robin Wright), who is following a hippie lifestyle. Gump later returns to Alabama and buys a shrimping boat. Lieutenant Dan joins him in creating the wildly successful Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Lieutenant Dan invests the profits in Apple Computer, and both men become wealthy. After Jenny declines his proposal of marriage, Gump spends the next three and a half years running back and forth across the country before returning home. Jenny then introduces Gump to their son (Haley Joel Osment). Gump and Jenny are married shortly before Jenny dies from what may be hepatitis C. Throughout the film, Gump becomes involved in numerous important events in American history that occur in that time period.

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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Oscar-Worthy Movie Trivia

Forrest Gump was based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. Director Robert Zemeckis used computer-generated effects to insert Forrest into historical scenes, including meetings with presidents and celebrities, and used a “greatest hits” sound track to evoke a sense of time and place. The movie’s warm, comic spirit made it a favorite of many viewers, though others decried it as cliché-riddled. Hanks won a rare second consecutive best-actor Oscar for his portrayal of Gump. The film marked Osment’s film debut and made Sinise, previously best known for his stage work, a movie star. In 2003 Sinise created the Lt. Dan Band, a cover band that performed at USO shows and at benefits for disabled veterans. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. chain of casual seafood restaurants, founded in 1996, was named after the fictional shrimping enterprise in the film.

Production notes and credits

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Winston Groom (novel) and Eric Roth (screenplay)
Music: Alan Silvestri

Cast

Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump)
Sally Field (Mrs. Gump)
Robin Wright (Jenny)
Mykelti Williamson (Bubba Blue)
Gary Sinise (Lieutenant Dan)
Haley Joel Osment (Forrest Gump, Jr.)

Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)

Picture*
Lead actor* (Tom Hanks)
Supporting actor (Gary Sinise)
Art direction
Cinematography
Directing*
Editing*
Makeup
Music
Sound
Sound effects editing
Visual effects*
Writing*

Patricia Bauer

Forrest Gump

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Production notes and credits

Cast

Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)