July 6: Forrest Gump (1994)

Milestone Years

• 30th Anniversary: July 6, 2024
• 35th Anniversary: July 6, 2029
• 50th Anniversary: July 6, 2044

Inspiration Behind the Movie

Forrest Gump was adapted from Winston Groom’s 1986 novel. Screenwriter Eric Roth made several changes, emphasizing emotional depth and historical context. The story draws loosely on real events and cultural milestones, blending fact with fiction to craft Forrest’s extraordinary life journey. The character himself was inspired by Groom’s observations of people with unique perspectives on life.

You Might Not Know

• Tom Hanks accepted the role after just 1.5 hours of reading the script and agreed to not be paid upfront, instead opting for a percentage of profits.
• The famous line “Life is like a box of chocolates” was ranked among the greatest movie quotes of all time by the American Film Institute.
• Many of Forrest’s running scenes were doubled by Tom Hanks’ brother, Jim Hanks, due to the physical demands of the role.
• The visual effects team digitally inserted Forrest into historical footage with U.S. presidents, a groundbreaking feat in 1994.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a restaurant chain inspired by the film, opened in 1996 and remains popular in multiple countries.

Food Ideas

• Shrimp cocktail or shrimp po’boys, honoring Bubba’s seafood dreams
• Southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy
• Chocolate truffles or assorted boxed chocolates
• Peach cobbler, a nod to Southern comfort food
• Sweet iced tea served in mason jars

Ways to Celebrate

• Host a Forrest Gump movie night with themed snacks and Southern décor
• Do a “Run, Forrest, Run!” fun run or jog with friends
• Create trivia games based on Forrest’s quotes and life events
• Dress in costume as Forrest, Jenny, or Lieutenant Dan
• Serve shrimp dishes and box-of-chocolate party favors

Filming Locations

Forrest Gump was filmed across multiple U.S. locations. Key scenes took place in Savannah, Georgia—most famously the bench scene in Chippewa Square. The Vietnam sequences were shot on Fripp Island in South Carolina. The running scenes spanned iconic American landscapes, including Monument Valley in Utah and the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.