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:

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

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Taglines:

A wonderful new comedy

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Quisiera ser grande

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$114,968,774

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$151,668,774

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 (Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the party scene, Josh tries caviar, which he hates. He spits it out and wipes his tongue with a napkin. In You've Got Mail (1998), Tom Hanks ironically responds to Meg Ryan's comment "that caviar is a garnish!" by scooping up all the remaining caviar for himself.

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Goofs

When Josh and MacMillan are on the giant piano, the crowd behind them changes a lot between shots, e.g. a young girl in the background is seen to sit on her dad's lap twice. Also, the boy in the sweater disappears, then reappears in time to applaud at the end of the song.

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Quotes

Josh: [looking around St. James hotel room] I can't sleep here.
Billy: Maybe it's better if you don't

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Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Old vs New - Manhunter and Red Dragon (2012)

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Soundtracks

Forget Me Nots
Written by Patrice Rushen and Freddie Washington
Performed by Patrice Rushen (as Patricia Rushen)
Courtesy of Elektra/Asylum Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

might enter the "classic" category

Saw this movie again recently and found that it stands up well to repeat viewings. Tom Hanks meets a difficult challenge here - to convincingly show us how a twelve-year old boy would act if he were trapped in an adult's body and had to "pass" in a grownup world. He meets the challenge in spades, aided by a script that is by turns witty, clever, insightful, and touching, and by Penny Marshall's able direction. Much is added by Robert Loggia's sympathetic portrayal of Tom/Josh's boss, and by Jared Rushton as his friend Billy. The movie is much more than an exercise in slapstick or farce: it is really a disquisition on the wonder of childhood. In the end it is quite touching, if not moving, reminding us all of the innocence of youth and the aching sadness of recalling its loss. Too early to tell, but the film might very well be destined to become a classic.