Year: 1994
Ages it's appropriate for: 12 and up (rated PG-13)
Reasons they need to see it: In what is one of Tom Hanks's most celebrated roles, the concepts of being different, finding your place in life, following your heart, and learning to play a mean game of ping-pong are present throughout this film. Exploring everything from getting bullied for being different as a kid to growing up and dealing with love, loss, and parenthood, Forrest finds a way to overcome all of his struggles. And baby Haley Joel Osment's five minutes of fame as Forrest Junior are worth every second.
What to look out for: Forrest's mom and the doctor getting together in the beginning is a bit risqué, though not shown, and the Vietnam scenes are pretty graphic and gore, and should probably either be skipped and briefly explained or kept to the eyes of tweens and teens you know can handle it.
Rent Forrest Gump on Amazon Prime Video here!
