What if growing up was the worst wish you ever made?
One wish. One Zoltar machine. One of the most iconic ‘80s movies ever made.
Big is the kind of film that sneaks up on you. It starts as a playful body-swap comedy as they so often do, then hits you with themes about identity, loneliness, and the loss of innocence. It made Tom Hanks a star, turned a toy store piano into cinema history, and gave every kid a new fear: be careful what you wish for.
If you haven’t revisited Big in a while, it deserves a place on your Friday night movies list. And if you’ve never seen it, you’re in for something special.
Quick Facts
- Director: Penny Marshall
- Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia
- Release Date: June 3, 1988
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Oscar Nominations: Best Actor (Tom Hanks), Best Original Screenplay
Plot: Childhood wish meets adult reality
Josh Baskin is twelve years old, too short to ride the carnival rollercoaster and too impatient to wait for life to catch up. So he makes a wish on a creepy old fortune machine called Zoltar: “I want to be big.” The next morning, he wakes up in the body of a fully grown man.
With no plan, no ID, and no idea what to do, Josh flees to New York City with his best friend Billy. He lands a job at a toy company, scoring a role in product development thanks to his childlike instincts and brutal honesty.
At first, it’s a dream — a cool loft, free toys, arcade games, and zero bedtime. But the grown-up world brings complications: bills, office politics, a confusing relationship with his co-worker Susan (guess we are meant to ignore the part that Susan is dating a technically 12 year old boy — it’s the 80s though), and a creeping homesickness he can’t shake.
Tom Hanks in his breakout role
This was the film that launched Tom Hanks from TV comedy guy to up and coming movie star. His performance as adult Josh is pitch-perfect.
Hanks doesn’t just act like a kid. He inhabits the mindset — the body language, the impulsiveness, the wide-eyed wonder. He makes the ridiculous premise feel real, and turns what could’ve been a gimmick into something unforgettable.
The role earned him his first Oscar nomination, and it’s easy to see why. Without Hanks, Big doesn’t work. With him, it becomes pure 80s magic, which still holds up to this day.
Scene stealers: Piano duets and silly string warfare
Big gave us one of the most iconic movie moments of the 1980s.
Hanks and Robert Loggia playing “Chopsticks” on the floor piano at FAO Schwarz. It wasn’t a stunt double. They learned the routine and nailed it in one take. That moment alone cemented the film in pop culture history.
Then there’s the trampoline in the apartment. The silly string battle. The bunk beds and toys that turn a sterile city loft into a child’s dream clubhouse.
These aren’t just fun scenes — they’re reminders of a time when joy didn’t need to be justified.
Cast chemistry that clicks
Elizabeth Perkins plays Susan, the ambitious executive who falls for Josh without realising he’s still a kid inside. What could have been awkward or even creepy is handled with surprising care. Their relationship is less about romance and more about emotional honesty — she’s drawn to Josh’s lack of guile, his openness, his joy.
Robert Loggia is brilliant as Mr. MacMillan, the toy company boss who bonds with Josh not because of his resume, but because he remembers what it was like to be young.
The supporting cast never overshadows Hanks, but they elevate every scene they’re in.
Critics and fans still love it
Big was a box office smash, grossing over $150 million on an $18 million budget. More importantly, it was a critical darling — something rare for a high-concept comedy.
It holds a 98% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 82% audience score. IMDb users have logged more than 230,000 reviews, averaging a solid 7.3 out of 10. And Penny Marshall made history as the first woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million.
Those numbers don’t just speak to success — they speak to staying power.
Why it still works in 2025
In a world of multiverses, reboots, and endless franchise fatigue, Big feels like a breath of fresh, retro air. It’s simple but smart, sentimental without being saccharine, and surprisingly thoughtful about the pressures of adulthood.
It’s also weirdly relatable. Watching it now, as an adult, you catch things you didn’t notice as a kid — like the isolation Josh feels, or the emotional labour Susan carries. It’s not just about growing up. It’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.