Should Forrest Gump Have Driven or Flown?

May 14, 2012 in Snips

We have established that Forrest’s run across the United States cost him $23,294.27 in today’s dollars. If you were considering emulating Gump’s feat then compared to other modes of transportation, such as an airplane or a car, how does running the same distance compare in economic terms?

The average cost of an airplane flight per mile is close to 42 cents. This brings the cost of Forrest’s journey by air to a mere $6,404.16. Or Forrest could drive. Since he doesn’t appear to have a car, spending most of the movie sitting at a bus stop bench, he’d have to purchase one for his 10 day, 9 hour journey. A good used car can be found for around $13,200, and gas would run about $2,632.06. He would need to buy food and assuming that he only has to consume 2,800 calories since he’s driving not running, that would be $14 a day.

Overall then travelling the distance by car today would cost $15,986 – or around $7,300 less than it cost to run. This proves one thing: Forrest Gump must have really enjoyed running. Centives can sympathize. Running provides an unrivaled feeling of serenity and freedom. To Forrest Gump this feeling was worth $23,294.27. Good thing so many people like shrimp.

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Forrest Gump’s Running Route

May 14, 2012 in Editorial, Top

He ran to the end of town, the end of the county, the end of the state, and to the end of the coast. Then he ran back a few times. But how far did Forrest Gump run? And for how long? Centives decided to find out.

We know that he began in his fictional hometown of Greenbow Alabama on October 1, 1979. The date is given away when a newscaster announces that President Carter had collapsed that day due to heat exhaustion as Forrest runs through town.

His first stop is Sa Read the rest of this entry →

What Did Forrest Gump Spend?

May 14, 2012 in Editorial

“I just felt like running.” Forrest Gump responds when questioned about the purpose of his trek across the United States. But how much would that whim really cost him if you wanted to replicate it today? Centives found out.

When he starts running Forrest is living off of a healthy fortune as a result of his entrepreneurial pursuits in the shrimp industry. Shortly before he takes off running Forrest deems himself a “gozillionaire.” When he steps off his porch on October 1, 1979 he brings nothing with him besides the clothes on his back and the baseball cap on his head. In calculating Forrest’s budget we took three factors into consideration: cl Read the rest of this entry →