15 Heartwarming Movies Like Forrest Gump Everyone Should See

When Robert Zemeckis hit audiences with "Forrest Gump" in summer of 1994, no one was predicting the sort of overwhelming success the picture would experience with audiences and critics. 

Despite being released amidst the hostile environment of fellow instant classics like Disney's "The Lion King," James Cameron's "True Lies" and "Speed," "Gump" amassed $330 million at the domestic box office (or $740 million when adjusted for inflation) and nearly $350 million more internationally, becoming Paramount's highest-grossing film of all time. This fed into a spectacular showing at the Academy Awards where it won best picture, best director, best actor (Tom Hanks), best adapted screenplay, best visual effects, and best film editing. 

Over the years, as the public rapture has waned and the smoke has cleared, many look back at that year's Oscar and wonder: If you would give Oscars to "Gump" over "Pulp Fiction" and "The Shawshank Redemption," what does that say about your own artistic sensibilities? Perhaps no Oscar race has more clearly set lines of demarcation between sweetness and substance, art and artifice, fever-pitch and pedestrian themes. Nevertheless, few can deny the immediate heartwarming impact "Gump" had on audiences when it first hit theaters — a spell it continues to hold for those willing to give it a re-watch.

In the years since the release of "Forrest Gump," many studios have tried to replicate the formula of a simple-minded person partaking in extraordinary adventures. Which, then again, wasn't even an original idea when "Gump" — ostensibly "Zelig" meets" "Being There" — hit theaters. Some of these subsequent knockoffs have worked, others were instantly forgotten — but if you're seeking more films along the same lines, here are some decent chocolate pieces to grab out of the sampler box.

Tim Burton's minor classic — considered by many to be the last truly personal film he would make before years of remakes and re-imaginings —  followed the "Forrest Gump" template right down to its simple-minded protagonist's journey through United States history (bolstered by a solid soundtrack consisting of popular music from the various eras), but takes the concept one step further, via a hefty dose of magic. 

Burton boarded the project after Steven Spielberg bailed and demonstrates impressive restraint from his trademark style, as "Big Fish" chronicles the life of kind-hearted Edward Bloom (Albert Finney/Ewan McGregor), seen through the eyes of his resentful son Will (Billy Crudup). 

Edward's propensity for exaggerating the events of his life make for incredible stories, but also leaves him as something of a mystery to his family. Will, desperate for the truth about his father (and his own childhood), attempts to separate fact from fiction after his father is diagnosed with cancer, resulting in a whimsical tale that spans decades and culminates in a very satisfying finale.

Bolstered by strong performances from a star-studded cast that includes Jessica Lange, Steve Buscemi, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard, and Alison Lohman — as well as a wonderful score from frequent Burton collaborator Danny Elfman — "Big Fish" tugs the heart in all the right places.

Over the years, perhaps no one is guiltier of trying to reproduce the "Gum" formula than the man who starred in "Gump." But then again, if it ain't broke, why try and fix it

Spielberg's "The Terminal" was a lighthearted, somewhat underwhelming comedy/drama about a foreigner stranded for months inside New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Two-time Academy Award-winning Hanks all but carries the 128-minute production on his sturdy shoulders, delivering a fun performance that transcends Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson's by-the-numbers script.

Hanks is aided considerably by the great Stanley Tucci, who crafts a solid villain in ornery, by-the-book Acting Field Commissioner Frank Dixon, a man whose sense of humanity lingers far below a misguided quest to maintain perfection inside his airport; the colorful supporting cast also includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Diego Luna, Chi McBride, Barry Shabaka Henley and a scene-stealing Kumar Pallana. 

Still, this is the Hanks show, and as Viktor Navorski the actor crafts as kind-hearted a character as Forrest Gump. You root for Viktor to succeed because, well, he's a good guy.

As noted by film critic Roger Ebert, "There is a humanity in its humor that reminds you of sequences in Chaplin or Keaton where comedy and sadness find a fragile balance." So, while "The Terminal" may not move the needle in terms of storytelling, its overwhelmingly positive tone makes it an uplifting option.

This Gus Van Sant flick is one of those rare movies that everyone needs to see — and somehow, everybody loves. 

Written by and starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the uplifting drama tells the tale of Will (Matt Damon), a math genius working as a janitor in the shadows of collegiate Boston. When evidence of his intellect is discovered by a university professor (Stellan Skarsgård), he is seemingly set on a course that could lead to greener pastures. Except, the young man's stubborn refusal to make something of himself halts his progress, necessitating treatment from therapist Sean Maguire (Robin Williams). The result? A profound, moving story about life, love, and the choices one must make to forget the past and attain true happiness. 

Williams won an Oscar for his soft-spoken performance, while Damon and Affleck received a trophy for their terrific screenplay. Co-starring Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck and Cole Hauser, "Good Will Hunting" still works its charms.

An all-time classic film, and still the highest-user-ranked movie on IMDb, Frank Darabont's "The Shawshank Redemption" had the unfortunate luck of opening the same year as "Pulp Fiction" and "Gump," and its labyrinthine title certainly didn't help matters.

Whether you love or hate "Gump," "Shawshank" is on a whole different level. Ultimately, audiences would discover the charms of the Stephen King adaptation via home video and seemingly nonstop airings on basic cable channels like TNT,  leading to an unprecedented following that continues to this day.

Starring Morgan Freeman (in one of his greatest performances) and Tim Robbins, "Shawshank" follows two prisoners over the course of several decades in Shawshank prison, where they rediscover the importance of friendship, the power of hope and the beauty of life. As silly as it may sound to peg a dark prison drama as a heartwarming epic along the same lines as "Gump," the final reel of "Shawshank" delivers one of the all-time great feel-good endings, one that never ceases to elicit goosebumps.

The little boy trapped in a man's body cliche has been recycled numerous times — particularly in the '80s — but don't be fooled into thinking Penny Marshall's moving 1988 comedy "Big" is just another "Vice Versa" or "18 Again." Powered by a charismatic Hanks performance, this blockbuster found unique ways to explore a tired premise, resulting in an engaging experience the whole family can enjoy.

Hanks had recently made a name for himself in Ron Howard's "Splash," and "Big" served as the actor's true coming-out party. 

As young-boy-turned-man Josh Baskin, Hanks conveys an innocence and naïveté few actors can match. He was rightfully nominated for his first Oscar, and after all these years, "Big" might still remain his most beloved performance.

A dud upon its release, Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" has since gone on to become one of the most beloved films of all time, as well as a Christmas classic. 

Featuring Jimmy Stewart in one of his best roles, the film follows the life of George Bailey, a selfless man who gives up everything in order to aid those around him. After a mishap at his family's building and loan, George finds himself in his darkest hour, contemplating the worst. An eccentric guardian angel named Clarence (Henry Travers), however, is determined to show him a world where he never existed.

A classic film that celebrates not so much a person as the many people that person's life influences for the better, "Life" still warms the soul like a hot cocoa on Christmas day.

Jim Carrey rose to fame in comedies such as "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" and "Dumb and Dumber," but attempted to branch out into more dramatic territory with "The Truman Show" — and mostly succeeded. The film was a substantial hit — but another that found its DNA in both "Gump" and a final scene cribbed directly from Hal Ashby's "Being There."  

As Truman Burbank, a man who discovers his life is actually a popular TV show viewed by millions around the world, Carrey occasionally succumbs to his comedic tendencies but still manages to deliver a striking performance leagues away from his out-and-out comedies. Thanks to sharp direction from Peter Weir, "Truman" works as both satire and whimsical dramedy. It takes a critical aim at audience desire for reality TV and entertainment in general, no matter the toll exacted on the subject(s). 

A hit upon its release, during which it accrued over $260 million at the worldwide box office, "The Truman Show" may not delve as deeply into the thought provoking waters as it should, but the film left viewers smiling as Truman discovered true love and a greater purpose to his manufactured life.