who wrote forrest gump
20 things you may not know about 'Forrest Gump' as the movie celebrates 20 years. Forrest Gump, which ran onto the big screen on July 6, 1994, was based on the book written by Mobile native Winston Groom. Like many movies based on books, the screenplay doesn't follow the book. Writer Eric Roth made the love story primary and Forrest Gump's adventures secondary. Roth also added Gump needing braces as a child and his run across the United States. However, in talking with Groom, he doesn't appear miffed at the liberties.