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Forrest Gump (1994): Film vs Book
Film · 1994 · Directed by Robert Zemeckis · Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright
About the film
A kind but simple man stumbles through decades of American history and meets famous figures along the way.
How close is it to the book?
Loosely based on the bookThe film is warmer and more sentimental than the sharper, more satirical book, and leaves out many of its odd episodes.
Read or watch first?
The novel offers a much funnier and more sarcastic look at the same ideas.
What the book gives you
Forrest Gump by Winston Groom
A warm, humorous ride through decades of history with a hero who wins your heart.
Who will like it: Readers who want a funny, touching story of an unlikely hero.