On July 6, 1994, the world was formally introduced to Forrest Gump, now one of the most famous (and quoted!) movie characters of all time. Seemingly every moviegoer can recite a famous line from the beloved drama, whether it's "Stupid is as stupid does" or "Life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get" or the endlessly parodied "Run, Forrest! Run!"
Now the Robert Zemeckis-directed comedy—starring Tom Hanks as the eponymous small-town Alabama man who stumbles upon moment after memorable moment of American history from the 1950s to the present—is turning 40 years old today, Saturday, July 6. And you can celebrate by watching the Oscar-winning classic on TV all weekend long.
Based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom, Forrest Gump has been an endearing and enduring classic thanks to both its heart and humor. The movie's official synopsis reads: "Slow-witted Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) has never thought of himself as disadvantaged, and thanks to his supportive mother (Sally Field), he leads anything but a restricted life. Whether dominating on the gridiron as a college football star, fighting in Vietnam or captaining a shrimp boat, Forrest inspires people with his childlike optimism. But one person Forrest cares about most may be the most difficult to save—his childhood love, the sweet but troubled Jenny (Robin Wright)."
Joining Hanks, Wright and Field in the cast are Gary Sinise and Mykelti Williamson as Lieutenant Dan Taylor and Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue, respectively, two men that Forrest meets while serving with the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War.
Both a commercial and critical success, Forrest Gump was the second highest-grossing film of 1994, behind Disney's The Lion King. And it raked in six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Zemeckis and Best Actor for Hanks.
And you can follow along with all of Forrest's adventures—whether as a ping pong-playing sports celebrity or as a mysterious cross-country marathon runner—with celebratory airings of the 1994 film this weekend. CMT will screen Forrest Gump at 5pm Eastern Time today, July 6, as well as at noon on Sunday, July 7. CMT is included in most cable packages; if you're a cord cutter, it is also carried as part of the channel lineup on multiple live TV streaming services, including FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV and YouTube TV. And if you miss this weekend's airings, you can revisit the film by streaming on Hulu or Paramount Plus.
