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 mid-range 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) showcases deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Penny Marshall's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-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 Josh is a typical 12-year-old boy at home, small for his age, frustrated by the limitations of childhood and wanting to be taken seriously.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Humiliated at the carnival when he's too short for a ride in front of his crush, Josh makes a wish on the Zoltar machine to be "big" - the magical disruption that will change everything.. 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 Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At a corporate party, Josh sees Billy outside and confronts the painful reality: he's lost his childhood, his best friend, his mother, and his authentic self. The "whiff of death" of innocence lost., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Josh and Susan go to find Zoltar together. He explains the truth, she understands and lets him go. Josh makes his wish to be a kid again, saying goodbye to Susan and his adult life., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Big's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 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 Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Penny Marshall analyses, see Jumpin' Jack Flash, The Preacher's Wife and Awakenings.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Josh is a typical 12-year-old boy at home, small for his age, frustrated by the limitations of childhood and wanting to be taken seriously.
Theme
Josh's mother tells him he's "not ready" and to "enjoy being a kid" - establishing the core theme about the value of childhood versus the rush to grow up.
Worldbuilding
Josh's world as a 12-year-old: struggles at school, too short for carnival rides, humiliated in front of his crush, living in suburban New Jersey with family and best friend Billy.
Disruption
Humiliated at the carnival when he's too short for a ride in front of his crush, Josh makes a wish on the Zoltar machine to be "big" - the magical disruption that will change everything.
Resistance
Josh wakes up in an adult body, terrifies his mother who thinks he's a stranger, and must flee his home. He debates what to do with Billy, who helps him track down the Zoltar machine.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The "fun and games" of being big: Josh succeeds at MacMillan Toys with childlike enthusiasm, plays floor piano with the boss, gets promoted to vice president, enjoys his cool apartment and adult freedoms.
Opposition
Complications mount: Paul (Susan's ex) plots against Josh, the adult responsibilities become draining, Billy feels abandoned, and Josh begins to realize the cost of being "big" as the magic fades.
Collapse
At a corporate party, Josh sees Billy outside and confronts the painful reality: he's lost his childhood, his best friend, his mother, and his authentic self. The "whiff of death" of innocence lost.
Crisis
Josh's dark night: he must choose between the adult life with Susan and career success, or returning to childhood. He wrestles with what he truly wants versus what he thought he wanted.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Josh and Susan go to find Zoltar together. He explains the truth, she understands and lets him go. Josh makes his wish to be a kid again, saying goodbye to Susan and his adult life.