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Big (1988)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8/10
Reviews Counted: 55
Fresh: 53 | Rotten: 2

Refreshingly sweet and undeniably funny, Big is a showcase for Tom Hanks, who dives into his role and infuses it with charm and surprising poignancy.

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

Refreshingly sweet and undeniably funny, Big is a showcase for Tom Hanks, who dives into his role and infuses it with charm and surprising poignancy.

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Movie Info

More than anything else, 13-year old New Jerseyite Josh (David Moscow) wants to be "big". That's the wish he makes at an odd-looking amusement pier fortunetelling machine. The next morning, Josh wakes up-only to discover that he's grown to manhood overnight! (At this point, the part is taken over by Tom Hanks). Still a 13-year-old mentally and emotionally, Josh decides to hide out in New York City until he can figure out what to do next. He lucks into a job with a major toy company run by

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Penny Marshall

Written By: Gary Ross, Anne Spielberg

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1988 Wide

On DVD: Dec 18, 2001

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Big Trailer & Photos

Cast

Tom Hanks
Josh Baskin
Elizabeth Perkins
Susan Lawrence
John Heard
Paul Davenport
Jared Rushton
Billy Kopeche
Robert Loggia
"Mac" MacMillan
David Moscow
Young Josh
Mercedes Ruehl
Mrs. Baskin
Jon Lovitz
Scotty Brennen
Mark Ballou
Derek
Oliver Block
Freddie Benson
Vinnie Capone
Photon Laser Gunfighter
Josh Clark
Mr. Baskin
Kimberlee M. Davis
Cynthia Benson
James Eckhouse
Supervisor
Nancy Giles
Administrative Woman
Paul Herman
Schizo
Lela Ivey
Bank Teller
Bruce Jarchow
Photographer
Dana Kaminski
Personnel Receptionist
Erika Katz
Cynthia's Friend
Gary Howard Klar
Ticket Taker
Samantha Larkin
Girl Friend of Cynthia
Paul L.Q. Lee
4th Executive
George J. Manos
Limousine Driver
Peter McRobbie
Executive #3
Kevin Meaney
2nd Executive
Dolores Messina
Real Estate Agent
Keith Reddin
Payroll Clerk
Rockets Redglare
Motel Clerk
Tracy Reiner
Test Market Researcher
John Rothman
Phil
Debra Jo Rupp
Miss Patterson
Jaime Tirelli
Spanish Voice
Judd Trichter
Adam
Allan Wasserman
Gym Teacher
Max Raven
Carnival Strongman
Jon Levita
Chris Dowden
2nd Brother
Linda Gillen
Woman In Red Dress
Gordon Press
Moving Man
Pasquale Pugliese
Tenor/Dough man
Vaughn Sandman
Boy on Baseball Field
Edward Schick
Piano Player
Jordan Thaler
Administrative Clerk
Mildred R. Vandever
Receptionist
Alec Von Sommer
1st Brother
Susan Wilder
Karen
Harvey Miller
Personnel Director

Critic Reviews for Big

All Critics (55) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (2) | DVD (26)

As far as the movie's message is considered -- if only grown-ups could be more like kids -- Jerry Lewis did an infinitely better job of plugging it in the 50s.

April 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comments (19)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Unspools with enjoyable genuineness and ingenuity.

April 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

For any other full-grown actors who try their hands at fidgeting, squirming, throwing water balloons and wolfing down food in a huge variety of comically disgusting ways, this really is the performance to beat.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

What's great about it is that it shows how wonderfully full of toys the world of adults can be. And though this may fall under the heading of tiny, perhaps even fatuous, revelations, it does send you out of the theater with a lighter step.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

The film is funny, sweet, and even a little edgy. It's also emotionally honest and almost never crass.

January 1, 1988 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

One of the best comedies about body-switching, Big is charming and occasioally witty with a splendid, star-making performance by Tom Hanks.

August 6, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Wonderful story with some mature material.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Scott G. Mignola

Common Sense Media

One of Hollywood's all-time most appealing magic realist fantasies. [Blu-ray]

May 20, 2009 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

| Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

The best of the spate of body-switching films in the late 80s.

April 1, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Once in a blue moon, there are moments of perfect casting that virtually ensure a movie is going to be a piece of class. And that's what you've got here.

April 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Watching Big again confirms what a genius Hanks can be.

July 28, 2007 Comment

James Plath

Reel.com

Marshall's film is gold.

June 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Slant Magazine

The consummate '80s film about kid-dom and growing old too fast.

June 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Slant Magazine

Hanks so convincingly played a grown-up with a 12-year-old mind that he transformed instantly in the public eye from a run-of-the-mill comedy star to a respected actor with limitless potential.

June 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment

Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

It touched me

May 18, 2007 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

The picture still stands proud as a comedy easy chair of sorts, but even more vividly as Tom Hanks's finest hour as an actor.

May 7, 2007 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

DVDTalk.com

Marshall, Hanks, and his co-stars seldom put a foot wrong.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

It is...one of those films that simply cannot be touched, no matter how one pokes and prods at its lapses in logic.

January 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Big

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After many years, this formula works wonders. Every turn it takes, it's entertaining. Not much more then that. Tom Hanks was fantastic.

January 19, 2012

Albert Kim

Super Reviewer

Big is unbelievably charming and the performance by Hanks is totally sweet and believable. The Oscar should have went to Hanks in this uniquely amazing comedy

September 20, 2011

Directors Cat

Super Reviewer

Big Quotes

View All

1. Josh Baskin: If he is scared of me.. then why he beat me up!
– Submitted by Rajeev G (37 days ago)
1. Josh Baskin: You mean sleep over? Okay, but I get to be on top!
– Submitted by sean b (5 months ago)
1. Josh Baskin: I wish I was big.
– Submitted by Daniel R (7 months ago)

Submit a Quote from 'Big'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.