Top 47 Forrest Gump Movie Details

While searching the internet for Forrest Gump movie facts, I found some interesting little known details. Obscure enough that most people could miss it, I want to make you a favor by creating ordered lists with the most intriguing hidden details.

Most of them are not blatantly obvious to be observed at first sight, so take your time and read carefully. We have extensive definitions that accurately explain any behind the scene meaning or famous dialogues.

Bubba's mother and siblings are at Forrest and Jenny's wedding
Bubba's mother and siblings are at Forrest and Jenny's wedding
You can see Lieutenant Dan standing in the back row. There aren't any seats left because they expected him to be in a wheelchair due to him losing his legs while fighting in Vietnam.
You can see Lieutenant Dan standing in the back row. There aren't any seats left because they expected him to be in a wheelchair due to him losing his legs while fighting in Vietnam.

Trivia

I have collected all the famous movie trivia questions with answers from Reddit and other sources. They can be very useful in quizzes or games, or simply to learn more information. Most of the fun Forrest Gump details are suitable for kids.

  1. Tom Hanks's brother Jim Hanks doubled for him for the sequence where Forrest jogs across America. As Jim put it: "Tom had other doubles, but they couldn't do the run," he says, referring to Gump's stiff, geeky stride. "That's a stupid Hanks thing."

  2. The writing on says G(nmi)F 2/47. This stands for Gump (no middle initial) Forrest and he is in the 2/47 infantry.

  3. At Forrest and Jenny's wedding all the guests are seated except Lieutenant Dan, who just got new prosthetic legs after years in a wheelchair

Easter Eggs

Finding Easter Eggs in movies is one of my favorite hobbies. Hidden objects, characters, and their meanings are wonderful ways to discover the filmmaker's perspectives of any given movie.

  • 1 - The way Forrest looks at Bubba after he stops talking indicates that he actually was listening to his shrimp ramblings the whole time, which is probably also the reason Forrest and Bubba were punished to clean the barracks even though Gump was praised by the Drill Sergeant.
    The way Forrest looks at Bubba after he stops talking indicates that he actually was listening to his shrimp ramblings the whole time, which is probably also the reason Forrest and Bubba were punished to clean the barracks even though Gump was praised by the Drill Sergeant.
  • 1 - When Jenny is lying sick in bed and Forrest comes to talk to her, on the nightstand behind him there is a postcard that has a smiley face on it. This is after Forrest inspired the invention of the smiley face by wiping his dirty face with a yellow t-shirt.
    When Jenny is lying sick in bed and Forrest comes to talk to her, on the nightstand behind him there is a postcard that has a smiley face on it. This is after Forrest inspired the invention of the smiley face by wiping his dirty face with a yellow t-shirt.

  • Lt. Dan lectures Forrest and Bubba about the dangers of Vietnam right after their arrival in country. Just as he ends his speech to squat in the latrine, Forrest and Bubba look at each other, and the Beach Boys are heard singing "This is the worst trip I've ever been on."

  • 1 - The Moscow-Washington Hotline is depicted as a red phone in Kennedy's bathroom. It was known as the "Redline".
    The Moscow-Washington Hotline is depicted as a red phone in Kennedy's bathroom. It was known as the "Redline".

Hidden Details

1 - The name of his Regiment is a real United States Army Infantry Regiment known as the 47th and has served in WW1, WW2, Vietnam and was inactivated during the Cold War.
The name of his Regiment is a real United States Army Infantry Regiment known as the 47th and has served in WW1, WW2, Vietnam and was inactivated during the Cold War.
1 - The military jacket that Jenny's boyfriend is wearing is an East German Army parade jacket; further highlighting his radical political views
The military jacket that Jenny's boyfriend is wearing is an East German Army parade jacket; further highlighting his radical political views
1 - Forrest is told in the infirmary by a soldier to "never take your eye off the ball". In every ping-pong match after that, he never blinks and always has his eye on the ball.
Forrest is told in the infirmary by a soldier to "never take your eye off the ball". In every ping-pong match after that, he never blinks and always has his eye on the ball.
1 - When Forrest is hugging Jenny you can see the bruises from when he was hitting her boyfriend from a couple of scenes before.
When Forrest is hugging Jenny you can see the bruises from when he was hitting her boyfriend from a couple of scenes before.
1 - How they made Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) look like he didn't have legs in Forrest Gump (1994)
How they made Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) look like he didn't have legs in Forrest Gump (1994)
1 - Anytime a picture is taken of Forrest his eyes are closed.
Anytime a picture is taken of Forrest his eyes are closed.
1 - When Forrest joins the Army, all of the black men are at the back of the bus.
When Forrest joins the Army, all of the black men are at the back of the bus.

When Forrest first learns to play ping-pong in the infirmary, he is told the trick is to "keep his eye on the ball" by another soldier. After that moment, whenever he is shown playing ping-pong, he never blinks.

The security officer who answers Forrest's phone call introduces himself as Frank Wills. Frank Wills was the nightwatchman who foiled the break-in at the Watergate Complex in 1972, which ultimately led to Nixon's resignation.

1 - From his Bubba Gump Shrimp Fortune cover to his All American ping pong cardboard cut out... his eyes are closed in every picture.
From his Bubba Gump Shrimp Fortune cover to his All American ping pong cardboard cut out... his eyes are closed in every picture.
1 - Lt. Dan orders Forrest and Bubba to "take care of their feet" and promotes "a good pair of socks". He later ends up having his legs amputated.
Lt. Dan orders Forrest and Bubba to "take care of their feet" and promotes "a good pair of socks". He later ends up having his legs amputated.
1 - Forrest says "My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes". In the scene Forrest's shoes are dirty showing all that he has been through in his life.
Forrest says "My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes". In the scene Forrest's shoes are dirty showing all that he has been through in his life.
1 - Forrest wears a blue plaid shirt in the first scene of each age transition. His son also wears a similarly patterned shirt at the end of the film.
Forrest wears a blue plaid shirt in the first scene of each age transition. His son also wears a similarly patterned shirt at the end of the film.
1 - When Forrest goes to the White House bathroom, there is a signed picture of Marilyn Monroe that reads "To Jack with love, Marilyn". JFK & Monroe are rumoured to have had an affair.
When Forrest goes to the White House bathroom, there is a signed picture of Marilyn Monroe that reads "To Jack with love, Marilyn". JFK & Monroe are rumoured to have had an affair.
1 - Forest says that Jenny died on a Saturday morning but on her tombstone is the date March 22, 1982 which was actually a Monday
Forest says that Jenny died on a Saturday morning but on her tombstone is the date March 22, 1982 which was actually a Monday
1 - Forrest receives a letter from Apple to thank him for his investment, dated September 23, 1975. Apple wasn't founded until April 1, 1976.
Forrest receives a letter from Apple to thank him for his investment, dated September 23, 1975. Apple wasn't founded until April 1, 1976.

When they are in Vietnam and Lt. Dan says to be quiet as the squad is walking, Forrest starts to whisper his voiceover.

When Forrest gives Jenny his Medal of Honor you can see his knuckles are bruised from the fight at the Black Panther party the night before.

1 - When Forrest sits with his son for the first time they tilt their head the same way
When Forrest sits with his son for the first time they tilt their head the same way
1 - In the movie Forrest Gump, Forest Gump doesn't close his eyes while playing table tennis because he was told to "keep his eyes on the ball"
In the movie Forrest Gump, Forest Gump doesn't close his eyes while playing table tennis because he was told to "keep his eyes on the ball"
1 - When Lt. Dan and Forrest almost get hit by a taxi, Lt. Dan screams: "I'm walking here!" This references the fact that he is in a wheelchair, but also the famous scene from Midnight Cowboy (1969).
When Lt. Dan and Forrest almost get hit by a taxi, Lt. Dan screams: "I'm walking here!" This references the fact that he is in a wheelchair, but also the famous scene from Midnight Cowboy (1969).

The Beach Boys' Sloop John B plays as Lt.Dan warns Forrest and Bubba "Don't do anything stupid, like getting killed" The last line of the song is also Bubba's last line as he dies, "I wanna go home"

1 - When Forrest is at Jenny's bedside, there is the smiley face he gave the idea for on a piece of furniture at the left.
When Forrest is at Jenny's bedside, there is the smiley face he gave the idea for on a piece of furniture at the left.

When he recieves his Medal of Honor citation, the ping pong table set up has a small tape square on it where he is hitting the balls on. This shows how great he got at ping pong.

1 - The news anchor's trail graphic marker is currently at the Mississippi River. The cutover to the reported is then on location, at the Mississippi River
The news anchor's trail graphic marker is currently at the Mississippi River. The cutover to the reported is then on location, at the Mississippi River
1 - Lieutenant Dan shows to Forrest's wedding walking with his "new legs" followed by his wife, a vietnamese woman. This shows he finally came to terms with his past in Vietnam and losing his legs during the war.
Lieutenant Dan shows to Forrest's wedding walking with his "new legs" followed by his wife, a vietnamese woman. This shows he finally came to terms with his past in Vietnam and losing his legs during the war.

The famous line, "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.", is a response to what Jenny said last time he told her he loved her years before.

During the "shit happens" scene, the joggers behind Forrest all run around the poop after Forrest runs into it

1 - Jenny sings "Blowin' In The Wind" by Bob Dylan, a song about how we don't have the answers to all life's questions. The feather also represents this idea: life is full of uncontrollable events, life can be a result of luck, and we can never know what is over the next horizon
Jenny sings "Blowin' In The Wind" by Bob Dylan, a song about how we don't have the answers to all life's questions. The feather also represents this idea: life is full of uncontrollable events, life can be a result of luck, and we can never know what is over the next horizon

Jenny performs at a topless bar under the pseudonym Bobbie Dylan. The song she sings is "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan

1 - When Forrest is saving Lieutenant Dan in Vietnam but gets shot by a Vietnamese Lieutenant Dan shoots back with his 1911. After a shot you can hear a ricochet from the bullet hitting the ground at an angle even tho you can't see the bullet.
When Forrest is saving Lieutenant Dan in Vietnam but gets shot by a Vietnamese Lieutenant Dan shoots back with his 1911. After a shot you can hear a ricochet from the bullet hitting the ground at an angle even tho you can't see the bullet.
1 - During the The Dick Cavett Show scene, John Lennon responds to Forrest's statements about China with "no possessions?", "no religion too?", and then to Dick with "it's easy if you try, Dick". These are all lyrics from John Lennon - Imagine.
During the The Dick Cavett Show scene, John Lennon responds to Forrest's statements about China with "no possessions?", "no religion too?", and then to Dick with "it's easy if you try, Dick". These are all lyrics from John Lennon - Imagine.
1 - Is in Vietnam, he keeps his toothbrush in his helmet. You can see how dirty it's gotten by the black bristles.
Is in Vietnam, he keeps his toothbrush in his helmet. You can see how dirty it's gotten by the black bristles.
1 - Lazy special effects in Forrest Gump crowd scene at Lincoln Memorial.
Lazy special effects in Forrest Gump crowd scene at Lincoln Memorial.

Every famous quote & friendship is about Destiny

Forrest Gump poster
Forrest Gump poster

Forrest Gump Plot: The presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the events of Vietnam, Watergate and other historical events unfold through the perspective of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.

I am pretty sure that you've watched Forrest Gump, maybe in a theater near you or on the small screen, but probably not many of the small details have taken your attention. Most of the previous facts are hidden for some reason, but still, there is plenty of randomly forgetten stuff that makes the movie unique and interesting. The more you know, the more fascinated you'll be about Forrest Gump and will watch it online, download or stream it again and again.

Genre Drama, Romance
Director Robert Zemeckis
Main Actors Tom Hanks, Rebecca Williams, Sally Field, Michael Conner Humphreys
IMDB score 8.8

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