Happy Anniversary! Iconic Movie ‘Forrest Gump’ Turns 20

Just about everyone has seen or at least heard of the movie Forrest Gump. Some people can even recall how old they were, or where they were when they were struck by the phenomenon that was and remains to this day, Forrest Gump.

After Tom Hanks starred in the lead role as Forrest, in the movie directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film quickly started racking up accolades and awards alike. This iconic film would go on to capture not only the hearts and minds of the people who viewed it, but it also would win the following awards: Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects and Best Film Editing. It also won Best Actor for lead Tom Hanks (as Forrest Gump) and Best Director for Robert Zemeckis.

No small feat in and of itself, Forrest Gump bested other movies nominated in it’s same category to include a little movie by the name of Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption.

But before it became a movie, Forrest Gump was a book written by Winston Groom, who is a resident of Mobile, Alabama. It all began when Warner Bros. purchased the rights to create a movie based on the novel. And the rest, they say, is history.

Indeed, 20 years ago yesterday, Forrest Gump took the world by storm. JRN News reports that the movie grossed over $677 million worldwide, making it one of the highest grossing box office hits at the time.

Several entertainment news programs saw fit to pay tribute to Forrest Gump throughout the past week. Entertainment Tonight aired a tribute segment for the film, which you can view here if you missed it:

Entertainment Weekly would also pay tribute with a countdown of their favorite Forrest Gump moments.

Arguably, one of the things that is so endearing about the film are all the catch phrases that quickly became part of our every day lives. Who could forget the scenes when Forrest said, “Life is like a box of chocolates,” or “I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is”? The movie tells an amazing story of a simple man from Alabama just trying to do his best with everything he’s got.

Another thing that really brings Forrest Gump to life is the cast of characters. Starring alongside Tom Hanks is Gary Sinise in the role of Lieutenant Dan, Sally Field as Forrest’s mama, Mrs. Gump, Robin Wright as Jenny, and Mykelti Williamson as Bubba Blue. Even the characters with minor walk-on roles were spot on in this film.

This is the type of Hollywood magic that causes movies like Forrest Gump to endure all these years later. JRN News also reports that for the die-hard fan, an anniversary edition of the book and a special re-release of the movie is in the works, with rumor that the re-release will come out with an IMAX edition. For those who want to take a walk down memory lane a little sooner, the complete movie is currently available on Netflix streaming.

Could this mean round two of Forrest Gump fever? Check back with The Inquisitr to find out more details as they become available!