Critic Reviews

Forrest Gump (1994) Rank 5 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Forrest Gump (1994) a score of 3.1553 out of 4

based on (34) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(16)

Very Good

(13)

Good

(3)

Fair

(2)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

I've never met anyone like Forrest Gump in a movie before, and for that matter I've never seen a movie quite like "Forrest Gump." Any attempt to describe him will risk making the movie ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

Jon Ridge

For all its broad scope, all its twenty years of American History, FORREST GUMP tells a simple story of two people who can never be together. Through the eyes of the title character, the film quantum leaps over a number of important events (wars, and ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Jon Ridge

Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)

"That boy sure is a runnin' fool." Citizen of Gump's hometown. FORREST GUMP is a supremely entertaining triptych of recent American history (circa 1950 through 1980), as seen through the eyes of the slow-witted title character. From racial integration ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)

ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

Ultimately, however, any gripes about Forrest Gump are minor. This is a marvelous motion picture -- a mint julep on a hot summer's afternoon. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

A great film. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)

Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)

The good-natured humor is wonderful in the film, but the thing that makes it so entertaining is how it hits all the human emotions dead-center without resorting to cheap melodrama. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)

Jacksonville Film Journal (Norman Short)

Forrest Gump is a film that appeals on many levels... ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Jacksonville Film Journal (Norman Short)

Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

A long lovely movie with Hanks playing a sort of goofy Everyman who shows that any of us can make it if we simply persist. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)

Movie Addict (John Ulmer)

Momma used to say, 'Life is like a box 'o chocolates.' This movie is as sweet as a box of chocolates - and everyone should see it. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Movie Addict (John Ulmer)

Dragan Antulov

If there is a single word that could explain success of FORREST GUMP, it is "balance". Screeenwriter Roth and director Zemeckis displayed incredible ability to strike perfect balance between comedy and drama in this film; this film is both serious and ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Dragan Antulov

DVD Clinic ("Dr. Drew")

A simple minded young man (Hanks) grows up to live an extraordinary life, complete with a decorated military career, successful business ventures and millions of dollars in wealth. He has countless brushes with greatness, only to become a household name ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at DVD Clinic ("Dr. Drew")

Movie Gazette (Gary Panton)

A marvellous, warm-hearted and funny take on American life, seen through the eyes of a character devoid of cynicism and virtually impossible to copy. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Movie Gazette (Gary Panton)

filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)

Run, Forrest, run! It sure seemed great at the time, but Gump is aging, and it's starting to show a wrinkle or too. Recently I sat down to watch the double-disc DVD release, and I still found it fresh and smile-provoking, but boy if it isn't a sickly ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)

DVDActive (Ryan Olson)

Paramount has released an outstanding special edition of this Oscar winning film! This Oscar winning film looks superior and belongs on the shelf of everyone's collection. Fans of Forrest Gump will not be disappointed. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at DVDActive (Ryan Olson)

digitallyOBSESSED.com (Kevin Clemons)

In the summer of 1994 I found myself watching a sneak preview of Forrest Gump with only thirteen other moviegoers in attendance. When I went back four weeks later the auditorium was sold out and remained that way in theaters everywhere throughout the ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (Kevin Clemons)

Filmtracks

During the post-production process of the film, Zemeckis informed Silvestri, "I won't be needing what I usually need from you," meaning that Zemeckis would be scoring many of the film's scenes with classic American rock songs, in addition to ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Filmtracks

San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)

Forrest Gump,'' directed by Robert Zemeckis (``Back to the Future,'' ``Who Framed Roger Rabbit'') and now available on home video, is a picaresque fable about a pure, good-hearted Southerner with an IQ of 75, and what happens when he's thrust into a ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)

DVDActive (Holly E. Ordway)

I found Forrest Gump to be a very entertaining movie that lives up to multiple viewings. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at DVDActive (Holly E. Ordway)

Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)

ForrestGump is one of those gloriously good-natured movies, the kind that views the world with such an open eye and optimistic attitude that you're willing to overlook how much it simplifies complex phenomena just because it makes you feel so good. The ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)

Scott Renshaw

There is little question that the craft of FORREST GUMP is a wonder to behold. The digital wizards at ILM have triumphed again with the sequences placing Forrest in footage with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, as well as George Wallace and John ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Scott Renshaw

TIME Magazine (Richard Corliss)

Like the best movie actors, Hanks is a superb reactor. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at TIME Magazine (Richard Corliss)

DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)

Forrest may be dumb, but he ain't stupid. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)

Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)

A movie heart-breaker of oddball wit and startling grace. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)

Jerry Saravia

"Forrest Gump" has all the hallmarks of a Hollywood production. It has the big emotions and entertainment value of a sprawling tale of one man's life and his spiritual need for love. But the basic problem I have is that Gump is presented as the village ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Jerry Saravia

Film Written Magazine (Andrew Howe)

There's something in the centre of Forrest Gump, and soft is one thing it definitely ain't. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Film Written Magazine (Andrew Howe)

TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

Zemeckis's film has lots of heart but little in the way of guts or brains. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

Scott Renshaw's Screening Room (Scott Renshaw)

Good but flawed. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Scott Renshaw's Screening Room (Scott Renshaw)

Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

Forrest Gump might just be the quintessential American movie of the 1990s, summing up - in a technically brilliant package - the American dream (perhaps more accurately referred to as the 'American Myth') of an everyman - and not a particularly ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Apollo Guide (Brian Webster)

Ted Prigge

"Forrest Gump" steals its idea from a Woody Allen film (a crime in the usual state, just look at "Last Action Hero" which stole from "Purple Rose of Cairo"). This one steals from "Zelig," a brilliant film about nonconformity which played as a perfect ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Ted Prigge

Parent Previews

I loved the film the first time, but after seeing it again, I question many things. Remember, I look at movies as to what they can offer families. Heed the PG-13 warning. Gump has a good deal of bad language, sex, and violence, relative to ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Parent Previews

Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

Judging by the the movie's enduring popularity, the message that stupidity is redemption is clearly what a lot of Americans want to hear. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

New York Times (Stephen Holden)

Forrest Gump has the elements of an emotionally gripping story. Yet it feels less like a romance than like a coffee-table book celebrating the magic of special effects. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at New York Times (Stephen Holden)

That Cow (Andrew Bradford)

High production values do not mean a good movie. Forrest Gump is a particularly clever movie in terms of storytelling, cinematography, and special effects. It also happens to be a somewhat reprehensible movie. Every heartstring is pulled, every ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at That Cow (Andrew Bradford)

Palo Alto Weekly (Marc Vincenti)

The press kit says Gump brings a rare clarity to what we went through in the '50s, '60s and '70s. But I only saw a pitiful stooge taking the pie of life in the face, thoughtfully licking his fingers. ...read the complete Forrest Gump movie review at Palo Alto Weekly (Marc Vincenti)