Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. The film follows several decades in the life of a slow-witted and kindhearted Alabama man named Forrest Gump (Hanks) and his experiences in the 20th-century United States.
Forrest Gump is a simple man with a low IQ who gets involved in some of the most significant events in American history, including the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, and the civil rights movement. Despite his limitations, he inspires people with his childlike optimism and becomes an accidental hero. Throughout the film, Forrest is reunited with his childhood love, Jenny, who is troubled and elusive.
The film is known for its sweetness and charm, but it also deals with serious topics like abuse, drugs, and war. It contains strong language, violence, and sexual content, so parents may want to preview the movie before showing it to young teens. Despite its differences from the original novel, Forrest Gump became a major commercial success, earning over $678.2 million worldwide and becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1994.