February 14, 2023 – Conversation hearts and boxes of chocolates are synonymous with Valentine’s Day, but no ordinary candy for Ripley’s sweethearts will do. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has revealed that they are now the owner of the iconic prop chocolates used by Tom Hanks in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.
The prop, signed by Hanks himself, was purchased at auction for $25,000.
The character’s iconic quote “Life [is] like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get” holds true with this prop. Believe It or Not!, the box is not filled with chocolates, but with sand! This was so Hanks could keep it on his lap properly during filming. Marked 23-ounces, the sand-filled prop actually weighs in at over four pounds.
Other pop-culture memorabilia recently acquired by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! include:
- Darth Maul’s legendary double-sided Lightsaber® used in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace™
- Beatles manager Brian Epstein’s personal hand-notated address book, featuring the addresses and phone numbers of the band and even Mick Jagger
- Prince’s signature purple coat worn during the artist’s “Purple Rain” stage performances
For more information on Ripley’s newest acquisitions — and more unbelievable Forrest Gump facts — visit: https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/forrest-gumps-chocolates/
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Media Contact
Sabrina Sieck
(407) 450-1516
sieck@ripleys.com
About Ripley Entertainment
Built on the foundation of a daily newspaper cartoon in 1918 — still in print today — Ripley Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in family entertainment, expanding to include more than 100 attractions in 10 countries around the world. Along with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, Guinness World Records Attractions, Aquariums, WaxWorks, traveling shows, and miniature golf, the world of Ripley’s continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages. Learn more about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
