Tom Hanks' Classic Vietnam War Movie Becomes a Free Streaming Hit

Oscars conversation is starting to simmer following the start of festival season, and many are already predicting what next year's Best Picture lineup might look like. Christopher Nolan's ambitious adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, the epic historical La Bola Negra, and Martin McDonagh's Wild Horse Nine are the current favorites to earn a Best Picture nomination, but will next year's lineup come close to the jaw-dropping selection in 1995?

After an incredible year of film in 1994, it was nigh-on impossible to pick just five Best Picture nominees come Oscars night in 1995, with the likes of The Lion King, Chungking Express, True Lies, and Ed Wood missing out. The least likely challengers to the title were the Hugh Grant-led rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral and Robert Redford's biopic Quiz Show. Then there were the big three contenders for the prize, including the Palme d'Or winner Pulp Fiction and the utterly moving critics' favorite The Shawshank Redemption.

Who won on the night? The Tom Hanks-led Forrest Gump, the 1994 period drama based on the novel by Winston Groom. The film won six awards on the night, including Best Director, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay, Hanks' win for Best Lead Actor, and, of course, Best Picture. Written by Eric Roth and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film also stars Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Robin Wright, Rebecca Williams, and Sam Anderson. Over three decades later, Forrest Gump is still as popular as ever. At the time of writing, the film is one of the ten most-watched titles on the free streamer Tubi in the U.S.

How Much Did 'Forrest Gump' Make at the Box Office?

Forrest Gump was a huge critical success, but how did it perform commercially? Against a reported $55 million budget, the film has made almost $700 million worldwide to date, an eye-watering 12.4 times that initial investment. By the end of 1994, the film was the second-highest-grossing theatrical release worldwide, with The Lion King leaving all others in the dust as it came close to hitting the billion-dollar mark.