12 Interesting Facts About "What"s Eating Gilbert Grape"

There are certain movies that you’ll see throughout your life that just tend to stick with you for some reason. They aren’t your favorite movies, and you’ve probably only seen them a few times, but for some reason memories of random scenes and quotes are always popping into your mind everywhere you go. For me, movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is one of those movies. I saw it for the first time when I was just a kid, and ever since then it’s been one of my quiet obsessions. 

Here are a few commonly unknown facts about the film. 

1. It was Darlene Cates’ first and only movie.

Not a bad performance either!

2. Cates’ character’s name is actually Bonnie.

However, she is credited simply as “Momma” because the only people she talks to in the film are her kids. 

3. Similar to her character in the movie, Cates hadn’t left her home in five years when the film was released.

Cates admitted that many of her character’s problems in the film were quite similar to her own.