Big (1988)
Kernel Score: 85% · 3,950 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Fantasy, Drama, Comedy
Released: 1988-06-03
Runtime: 104 minutes
Is Big worth watching?
Must-watch. A boy wishes to be big and wakes up in an adult's body in New York. Tom Hanks is wonderful, and the film is funny and touching, and it still holds up well.
Watch it if you
- like warm fantasy comedies
- enjoy Tom Hanks at his most charming
- want a film the family can share
Skip it if you
- dislike dated 80s humour
- want a modern, edgy comedy
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Big
- Stream: Disney+
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big—he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has grown older overnight. But he is still the same 13-year-old boy inside. Now he must learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown-ups including getting a job and having his first romantic encounter with a woman.
Big parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Big is a family fantasy-comedy about a boy magically turned into an adult, including a mild romantic subplot.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Includes a romantic relationship between the boy-in-a-man's-body and an adult woman.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Big
If you liked Big, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) — 86%: Imaginative fantasy comedy about childhood wonder
- A League of Their Own (1992) — 81%: Warm 1980s-90s comedy from the same director
- Pleasantville (1998) — 82%: Fantasy comedy about growing up and change
- Stranger Than Fiction (2006) — 81%: Gentle high-concept comedy with real heart
- Big Fish (2003) — 87%: Fanciful story full of warmth and imagination
- Awakenings (1990) — 88%: Heart-warming drama with a gentle central performance
Director
Cast
- Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin
- Elizabeth Perkins as Susan
- Robert Loggia as MacMillan
- John Heard as Paul
- Jared Rushton as Billy
- David Moscow as Young Josh
- Jon Lovitz as Scotty Brennen
- Mercedes Ruehl as Mrs. Baskin
- Josh Clark as Mr. Baskin
- Kimberlee M. Davis as Cynthia Benson
Big FAQ
Is Big worth watching?
Must-watch. A boy wishes to be big and wakes up in an adult's body in New York. Tom Hanks is wonderful, and the film is funny and touching, and it still holds up well.
Where can I watch Big?
In the US you can stream Big on Disney+ and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Big OK for kids?
Big is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Big is a family fantasy-comedy about a boy magically turned into an adult, including a mild romantic subplot.
What movies are like Big?
If you liked Big, try Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, A League of Their Own, Pleasantville and Stranger Than Fiction.