How Tom Hanks Saved an Iconic Forrest Gump Scene from Being Cut

One of the most unforgettable scenes in Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump almost never made it into the movie.

The sequence where Tom Hanks’ character sets off on a spontaneous three-year run across America, now iconic, was almost cut due to budget concerns.

In an episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Hanks revealed that Paramount, the studio behind the film, refused to approve the scene.

“The studio said, ‘We can’t afford it; you’re not going to do it,’” he said. Zemeckis, however, felt the scene was essential. “Bob said, ‘It’s too important a part of the movie just to cut. We can make this work.’ And they said, ‘No, you can’t.’”

Faced with the studio’s refusal, Zemeckis turned to Hanks for help. Hanks explained, “He said, ‘Well, this run is going to cost X amount of dollars,’ and it wasn’t cheap. He said, ‘You and I are going to split that amount.’”

Hanks agreed, and the two paid for the scene themselves. In return, Paramount agreed to share a larger portion of the film’s profits with them.

The result was a seven-minute sequence that became one of the film’s most iconic moments. It begins with Gump standing up from his porch and deciding to go on a run “for no particular reason” after discovering Jenny, played by Robin Wright, has left.

His journey soon gains attention, with people joining him along the way, unaware that he is running for no cause. The scene even introduces the famous s*** happens slogan and the smiley-face T-shirt. The run concludes with Gump stopping in a road out West, telling his followers, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”

Hanks also noted that helping finance the scene gave him a larger creative role in the film. Zemeckis invited him to participate in editing, allowing Hanks to help shape Forrest’s character directly. “I was able to craft the Gump character alongside Zemeckis,” Hanks said.

Forrest Gump became a massive success. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1994, just behind The Lion King, and won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Zemeckis, and Best Actor for Hanks.

Without Hanks stepping in, one of the film’s most memorable and beloved sequences might never have been seen. His gamble helped make Forrest Gump the classic that it is today.

What do you think about Tom Hanks personally funding the run scene? Would the film have had the same magic without it? Share your thoughts in the comments.