When it comes to a classic American film, Forrest Gump is at the top of the list. Starring Tom Hanks in one of his earlier roles, the film came out 30 years ago and yet, it’s still one of the most memorable films of all time. Forrest Gump didn’t just produce unforgettable quotes and kooky scenes, it even spawned a restaurant in Bubba Gump Shrimp.
As we look back on the past 30 years, it’s impossible to imagine a world without Forrest Gump. It was the second-highest grossing film of 1994 behind The Lion King and won six Academy Awards — Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), Best Picture, Best Actor (Tom Hanks), Best Adapted Screenplay (based on the book by Winston Groom), Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. In 2011, it was even selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry, proving its significance to American culture. So we’ve rounded up the six most iconic Forrest Gump moments we’ll never forget.
Forrest Gump is basically synonymous with its most famous quotes — “My mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.’” In a way, this is the thesis of Forrest Gump while simultaneously describing all of our lives. Throughout the film, Forrest somehow ends up at every major American political event, which is truly unthinkable. “You never know what you’re gonna get!”
Forrest Gump is the box of chocolates, with each event representing a different chocolate. The other side of this quote is that a box of chocolates is almost never bad. Every so often, there may be a piece we don’t like, but at the end of the day, life is pretty great and unexpected, which is one of the many great lessons of Forrest Gump.
As we see Forrest grow up, we know that he’s not like the other kids in his class. He has some trouble socializing, but when he joins the army, not knowing what else to do, he befriends the hilarious and outspoken Bubba. Forrest quickly puts together his weapon, and as the Drill Sergeant yells at him, Bubba just starts talking about all the different ways to cook shrimp, which is far more interesting than anything happening in the armed forces. The hilarity and randomness of the moment even inspired Forrest to continue Bubba’s legacy by making his own shrimping business!
After Bubba dies in combat, Forrest somehow develops an expertise in playing ping-pong. He plays at the highest most competitive level to forge diplomatic relations with the Chinese. One of the big ideas of Forrest Gump is that this seemingly nothing “stupid” guy impacts all of these great historical events. One such event is the ping-pong diplomacy of the 1970s, a real event that helped the People’s Republic of China and the United States get along unexpectedly.
Forrest is so excited to see Lieutenant Dan that he jumps off the boat and the boat crashes. There’s no better way to show one’s excitement and prove your love for someone than literally crashing your boat. His relationship with Dan throughout the film is one of the more complicated ones, as he saves Dan’s life, but Dan lives most of his life without legs because of his war injuries sustained.
But their paths are almost always destined to cross — Dan eventually warms to Forrest when he joins him in the shrimping company, which makes millions after a hurricane destroys all the competitors. Forrest and Dan invest in Apple, Inc., becoming even richer and honoring their buddy, Bubba.
Of course, no relationship is as central to Forrest Gump as his relationship with Jenny. Although they grew up together, they took completely different paths. Despite his low IQ, Forrest eventually impacts the world’s biggest events, while Jenny goes on a path to find herself. She becomes a hippie and finds herself in a world of drugs and sex work. She always wished she could fly, and by her big moment, “Free Bird” plays in the background while she contemplates suicide.
Not everything in Forrest Gump is funny and cute — there are also deeply emotional moments such as this one in which we realize that sometimes, ignorance really is bliss. Jenny might have always been a “smart” girl, but she’s always seeking some greater power or meaning in life. She doesn’t find it here, but she does turn her life around and pave the way to an eventual marriage with Forrest.
But of course, there’s nothing more memorable or quotable than Forrest’s three-year running streak. Jenny leaves him in the night after they first have sex, afraid that she could be taking advantage of Forrest. To deal with his emotions, Forrest just runs, which is something we can all relate to. It comes full circle from when he was a kid with a physical walking disability. Now, he’s a famous marathon runner, building up love from all over the world.
Just by being himself and managing his emotions the only way he knows how — letting loose, running wild and free. We could all learn something from Forrest Gump, whether it’s to let our sincerity reign or to enjoy life’s little moments just to see where it takes us. Regardless, almost every iconic moment in Forrest Gump is unforgettable.
You can watch Forrest Gump on Paramount+.
