20 Things You Didn't Know About Forrest Gump

20. Tom Hanks Took Profit Participation Instead Of A Salary (And Made $70 Million)

Forrest Gump Tom Hanks
Paramount Pictures

Despite being a major Hollywood commodity by 1994, Tom Hanks wasn't paid the usual mega-star salary to play the title role, instead making the riskier decision to take a cut of the film's theatrical profits instead.

This of course ended up paying off magnificently for Hanks, given that Forrest Gump ended up grossing a stonking $678.2 million worldwide, and it remains director Robert Zemeckis' highest-grossing film to date.

As a result, Hanks ended up netting an estimated $70 million from Forrest Gump's theatrical release alone, to say nothing of residuals from home video sales, making it by far the most profitable role of his career.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.