Big
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?
Despite a moderate budget of $18.0M, Big became a commercial juggernaut, earning $151.9M worldwide—a remarkable 744% return.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 11 wins & 14 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Big (1988) demonstrates strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Penny Marshall's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Josh Baskin
Susan Lawrence
Billy Kopecki
Paul Davenport
Mrs. Baskin
Mr. MacMillan
Main Cast & Characters
Josh Baskin
Played by Tom Hanks
A 12-year-old boy who makes a wish to be big and wakes up in an adult body, navigating the corporate world while maintaining his childlike wonder.
Susan Lawrence
Played by Elizabeth Perkins
A sophisticated marketing executive who falls for Josh's genuine enthusiasm and fresh perspective on life.
Billy Kopecki
Played by Jared Rushton
Josh's best friend and confidant, the only person who knows his secret and helps him navigate adult life.
Paul Davenport
Played by John Heard
A competitive corporate executive at MacMillan Toys who feels threatened by Josh's rapid rise in the company.
Mrs. Baskin
Played by Mercedes Ruehl
Josh's worried mother who believes her son has been kidnapped when he disappears overnight.
Mr. MacMillan
Played by Robert Loggia
The eccentric and demanding owner of MacMillan Toy Company who recognizes Josh's natural understanding of what kids want.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Twelve-year-old Josh Baskin at the carnival with his family, humiliated when he's too short to ride the Super Loops with his crush Cynthia Benson. Establishes his ordinary suburban childhood and desperate desire to be bigger.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Josh wakes up transformed into a 30-year-old man. His mother doesn't recognize him and chases him out of the house with a knife, believing he's an intruder who has done something to her son. His childhood is literally ripped away overnight.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Josh lands a data entry job at MacMillan Toys. Rather than just hiding and waiting, he actively commits to living as an adult. He chooses to engage with the adult world, crossing from survival mode into genuine participation in grown-up life., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat At FAO Schwarz, Josh and Mr. MacMillan spontaneously play "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul" on the giant floor piano. MacMillan is charmed by Josh's uninhibited joy and promotes him to Vice President. False victory: Josh has "made it" in the adult world, but this success will pull him further from his true self., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Billy confronts Josh, showing him what he's become: a "grown-up" who's forgotten who he really is. Billy has found the Zoltar machine, but Josh hesitates—he doesn't want to give up Susan and his success. The death of his childhood identity is nearly complete., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Josh makes the mature decision to return to childhood. He tells Susan the truth about who he really is. She doesn't fully believe him but understands he must go. Josh chooses authenticity over the seductive comfort of his successful adult life—the most grown-up decision he could make., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Big's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Big against these established plot points, we can identify how Penny Marshall utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Big within the comedy genre.
Penny Marshall's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Penny Marshall films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Big takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Penny Marshall filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Penny Marshall analyses, see Renaissance Man, A League of Their Own and Riding in Cars with Boys.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Twelve-year-old Josh Baskin at the carnival with his family, humiliated when he's too short to ride the Super Loops with his crush Cynthia Benson. Establishes his ordinary suburban childhood and desperate desire to be bigger.
Theme
Josh discovers the mysterious Zoltar Speaks fortune-telling machine and makes his fateful wish: "I wish I were big." The machine grants his wish, setting up the central question of what being "big" truly means.
Worldbuilding
Josh's world is established: suburban New Jersey home, loving but busy mother, annoying little sister, best friend Billy Kopecki, schoolyard dynamics, and the awkwardness of being twelve. His childhood frustrations and innocence are on full display.
Disruption
Josh wakes up transformed into a 30-year-old man. His mother doesn't recognize him and chases him out of the house with a knife, believing he's an intruder who has done something to her son. His childhood is literally ripped away overnight.
Resistance
Josh and Billy attempt to find the Zoltar machine to reverse the wish. They discover it's been moved. Josh hides out in a seedy Times Square hotel while Billy works to track down the machine. Josh must survive as an adult with a child's understanding of the world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Josh lands a data entry job at MacMillan Toys. Rather than just hiding and waiting, he actively commits to living as an adult. He chooses to engage with the adult world, crossing from survival mode into genuine participation in grown-up life.
Mirror World
Susan Lawrence, a driven executive at MacMillan Toys, notices Josh at a company event. She's intrigued by his unusual enthusiasm and authenticity. Their connection begins, representing the romantic subplot that will test Josh's desire to remain in the adult world.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Josh's adult life unfold: his childlike enthusiasm and genuine love of toys make him invaluable at MacMillan. He transforms his loft apartment into a playground, impresses Mr. MacMillan with honest toy critiques, and begins a relationship with Susan while maintaining his pure joy in play.
Midpoint
At FAO Schwarz, Josh and Mr. MacMillan spontaneously play "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul" on the giant floor piano. MacMillan is charmed by Josh's uninhibited joy and promotes him to Vice President. False victory: Josh has "made it" in the adult world, but this success will pull him further from his true self.
Opposition
Josh's success breeds complications. Rival executive Paul Davenport schemes against him. Susan falls deeper in love while Josh struggles with adult intimacy. His relationship with Billy deteriorates as Josh becomes increasingly absorbed in corporate life. The innocent child within begins to fade as he learns to play adult games.
Collapse
Billy confronts Josh, showing him what he's become: a "grown-up" who's forgotten who he really is. Billy has found the Zoltar machine, but Josh hesitates—he doesn't want to give up Susan and his success. The death of his childhood identity is nearly complete.
Crisis
Josh grapples with his impossible situation. He truly loves Susan but cannot be honest with her about who he really is. He misses his mother and his real life. The cost of "being big" becomes unbearable as he realizes he's trapped between two worlds, belonging fully to neither.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Josh makes the mature decision to return to childhood. He tells Susan the truth about who he really is. She doesn't fully believe him but understands he must go. Josh chooses authenticity over the seductive comfort of his successful adult life—the most grown-up decision he could make.
Synthesis
Josh says his goodbyes. Susan drives him to the Zoltar machine in a bittersweet farewell. She offers to wish herself young to be with him, but Josh refuses—she must live her own life. He makes his wish to be a kid again, demonstrating that he's learned the value of natural growth.
Transformation
Josh, now twelve again, walks home in his oversized suit. He reunites with his mother in an emotional embrace. The final image mirrors the opening but Josh is transformed within—he's gained wisdom about what truly matters. He'll grow up naturally now, cherishing the childhood he almost lost.