Big (1988)

After wishing to be made big, a teenage boy wakes the next morning to find himself mysteriously in the body of an adult.

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Gary Ross, Anne Spielberg

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Josh
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Susan
Robert Loggia	...	MacMillan
John Heard	...	Paul
Jared Rushton	...	Billy
David Moscow	...	Young Josh
Jon Lovitz	...	Scotty Brennen
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Mrs. Baskin
Josh Clark	...	Mr. Baskin
Kimberlee M. Davis	...	Cynthia Benson
Oliver Block	...	Freddie Benson
Erika Katz	...	Cynthia's Friend
Allan Wasserman	...	Gym Teacher
Mark Ballou	...	Derek
Gary Howard Klar	...	Ticket Taker (as Gary Klar)

Storyline

Josh Baskin would do anything to be big to hang out with his crush at the carnival. He finds a Zoltar machine, and he wishes to be big. After Zoltar tells him, "his wish is granted", Josh notices the machine is unplugged. He wakes up the next morning in an adult's body but he still has the same personality. With the help of his best friend, Billy, Josh learns how to act like a grown up. But as he gets a girlfriend and a fun job, he doesn't want to be a kid again. Will Josh stay big or become a 13 year old boy again?

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Plot Keywords:

carnival | chopsticks the song | wish | new york city | body switching | 

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Taglines:

A wonderful new comedy

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Josh is being interviewed at McMillan's Toys, a poster of the '80s game "Whack Attack" by Mattel can be seen behind the interviewer on the wall.

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Goofs

When 30 year old Josh is on his job interview, the interviewer tells him that he "seemed to have forgotten a few numbers on his social security number." Josh apparently does not know his SSN and even makes up the last few numbers, which the interviewer writes down. If his SSN was indeed incorrect, then the payroll department of McMillian Toys would have not been able to process any taxes from his paycheck, thereby he would have not received a paycheck when they were handed out.

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Quotes

Billy: I'd use the chain if I were you.

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 2 secs to remove one use of the word 'fuck' for a PG certificate. The cut was restored in the 2007 12-rated Family Fun DVD edition.

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Connections

Spoofed in Strange Days at Blake Holsey High: Lifetime (2002)

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Soundtracks

The Way We Were
Written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch

User Reviews

Growing up as a lesson of life

This movie is great. I mean, really. That's what every boy dreams of - becoming an adult overnight! It's absolutely gorgeous to see Tom Hanks' performance - that's real acting, it requires a lot to play this part as genuinely and cordial as he did. The message is so clear and so honest. The nostalgic edge is of such profound significance to the story. It's about the differences between being a kid and being an adult. It's about two very different perceptions of the same world that surrounds us. It's just us and how we make the best out of every day of our lives, and all it needs is to see the world through the eyes of a kid. A kid perceives all the things differently, with much more native and modest simplicity - the keystone to imagination and magic, the keystone to cherish the daily miracles in our lives. This movie has a deep and very pervasive message. It has so much charm and vitality mingled with nostalgia and witchcraft. One of those movies I enjoyed watching when I was a kid. Recommended.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big

Filming Locations:

Garden State News, 666 Anderson Ave, Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,216,190, 5 June 1988

Gross USA:

$115,227,281

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$151,927,281

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Entertainment Partners II L.P., Gracie Films, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min 130 min (extended edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1