Good movie
Big
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Wonderful story with some mature material.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Big was written by Scott G. Mignola
Parents need to know that this movie came out before the PG-13 rating, so it earned a PG rating. However, if this movie were released today, it would almost certainly be rated PG-13. There is some strong language and some sexual situations. A child forced to grow up too quickly is exposed to corporate life, sex, and other adult matters.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about Josh's experiences as an adult. Why does he want to be big, and why does he ultimately decide he wants to be small?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Big
What’s the Story?
Fed up with being little, 12-year-old Josh Baskin makes a wish at a fair's mechanical swami booth and wakes the following morning in a grown man's body. Mortified at what he's done, he flees across the bridge to New York City with his friend Billy to track down the fair and wish himself back to normal. In New York, Josh Tom Hanks stumbles into a computer operator job at MacMillan Toys. His insightfulness gets him promoted overnight and draws the attention of an uptight female executive Elizabeth Perkins. As their relationship develops, Josh begins to mature and settle into his adult skin. It takes Billy, and thoughts of his mother, who thinks her son has been kidnapped, to give Josh the courage to approach the mechanical Zoltar booth again and whisper, "I wish I was small.'"
Is It Any Good?
There aren't very many funny movies about people who get magically transplanted into somebody else's body. The premise is a stale one by now, having shouldered more beatings under Hollywood's bullwhip than the proverbial dead horse. Prelude to a Kiss is one exception. Another is BIG. Both do something intelligent and inventive with that premise, and both are grounded by strong, earnest performances that make the incredible seem credible. Tom Hanks, who would go on a few years later to win back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), delivers such a performance here. The scene in which he spends a night alone in a seedy New York motel, fidgeting until he breaks into tears, makes his situation gut-wrenchingly believable. He's not merely imitating the mannerisms of an awkward 12-year-old. There's a profound innocence about him -- that innocence makes him both vulnerable and irresistibly charming.
There are other fine performances here as well. David Moscow, playing the young Josh Baskin, is a terrific counterpart for Hanks. Jared Rushton adds a shake of pepper to the role of his friend Billy, and Elizabeth Perkins looks appropriately bewildered by it all as the reluctant love interest. Penny Marshall directs with an uncharacteristically subdued hand, employing no camera tricks or overblown music here. She lets the performers and the sharp script do the speaking, and gives us something larger than comedy. She gives us something to think about.
Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Penny Marshall
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/3/1988, DVD release: 10/5/1999
MPAA Rating: PG for language
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/3/1988, DVD release: 10/5/1999
MPAA Rating: PG for language
Our Members Say
See all 25 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Good movei
-
I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
not bad, not bad. haven't seen it in years so don't trust me too much.
-
I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
Hilarity laced with adult situations
Great 80's movie, but I'd forgotten about the language and sexuality. I watched this recently with my 12 and 13 year olds, and they got to watch Tom Hanks act in his geniusly hilarious way, but they also got to see Tom Hanks exploring Elizabeth Perkins' breast, as a boy, for the first time. I tried to look at the scene from their perspective- young t(w)eens who are curious about how sexuality and love are expressed, and what this scene can teach them. Not a bad message, except that the characters, as usual, immediately hop into bed. One of the biggest messages Hollywood tells our kids is that foreplay ALWAYS leads to intercourse. That's not the main message I want my daughters to receive, and I hope it wasn't. I hope what they received was an evening full of laughter, which is what was intended.
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
tom hanks you pervert!
its a good movie, but for some odd reason, a kid blurts out a f-word, and tom hanks grabs a girl's boobies... i don't know what the heck that was for, but who cares reccomend it for all ages
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
tom hanks you pervert!
its a good movie, but for some odd reason, a kid blurts out a f-word, and tom hanks grabs a girl's boobies... i don't know what the heck that was for, but who cares reccomend it for all ages
-
I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
ok
its ok its like 13 going on 30 with a guy....
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
Another amazing Hanks film
You REALLY believe that Hanks really is a kid stuck in an adult's body. The acting is superb and the laughs are very high without being graphic. Plus it's got a great message about enjoying being a kid while you can. They need to make more movies like "Big" nowadays, but sadly nothing can be funny without being R-rated.
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A little mature, but fab!
Well, I saw this movie in class (we were writing movie reviews) and everyone was 9-12. There was only 1 9 and 1 10 year old. I felt really sorry for them when the shirt came off, and also about the joke about him being "on top". Luckily, the rest of us were mature enough to watch sit through "the scene" (which is what we called it) and burst out laughing at the joke. I personally thought that this was one of the best movies I have ever seen, but be aware that children under 12 may not appreciate the whole movie.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
-
I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
I love this movie. You have Tom Hanks In one of his best roles. There is language and some sexual material but this is a family classic for sure!
-
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Good Movie
BIG is a very funny movie with a great actor. I highley recommend it for a film to watch when you have a chance.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
-
I rate this title off for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Tom Hanks: BIG
Tom Hanks was wonderful in this! It is a great family movie !
-
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
funny!
so funny! the walking on the piano part in the toy shop is the best part of a film i have ever seen! "run forest, run!" from forest Gump
-
Lives in IndianaI rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
-
Lives in PennsylvaniaI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
-
I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
A very intresting movie
Tom Hanks is very good in this movie. A friend recromended it to me and I do not regret seeing it. Very good. For: ages 11+ Peace out, i love dogs
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
PG?
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 80% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 60% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 60% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 40% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
