Big
Big

Big

1988Movie104 minEnglish

When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big—he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has grown older overnight. But he is still the same 13-year-old boy inside. Now he must learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown-ups including getting a job and having his first romantic encounter with a woman.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic73/100
Google Users89%
Director: Penny MarshallGenres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy

Plot Summary

A 12-year-old boy named Josh Baskin wishes to be big at a carnival fortune-telling machine. The next morning, he wakes up as a 30-year-old man in his childhood body. Josh navigates the adult world with his childlike wonder and naivety, finding a job and even a romantic interest, all while trying to find a way back to his own age and reconnect with his best friend.

Critical Reception

Big was a critical and commercial success, widely praised for its heartwarming story, Tom Hanks's breakout performance, and its blend of humor and sentimentality. It resonated with audiences of all ages for its exploration of childhood innocence and the challenges of adulthood.

What Reviewers Say

  • Tom Hanks delivers a charming and tour-de-force performance that anchors the film's emotional core.
  • The movie masterfully balances its fantastical premise with relatable themes of growing up and retaining childlike wonder.
  • A delightful and humorous fantasy with a surprisingly poignant message about life and maturity.

Google audience: Audiences loved the film's feel-good nature, humor, and the captivating performance of Tom Hanks. Many found it to be a nostalgic and heartwarming movie that still holds up today, praising its ability to evoke emotions and provide pure entertainment.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Actor for Tom Hanks and Best Original Screenplay), Golden Globe Awards (Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Tom Hanks).

Fun Fact

The iconic scene where Josh and Mr. Renton play 'Chopsticks' on a giant floor piano was filmed on a specially constructed set that took three weeks to build.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Oh, if only I was still young enough to wish I was older! That’s the problem facing the young “Josh” (David Moscow) who just wants to get all the school and puberty malarkey over and done with. Well a strange looking slot machine called “Zo...
Andre Gonzales

Andre Gonzales

Love this movie growing up. Everytime I went to a fair I was always hoping to find a machine like this. Still one of my favorite movies of all time.