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.
Acting
Hanks' physical comedy is genuinely childlike, never mocking.
Direction
Penny Marshall brings warmth without saccharine.
Writing
The FAO Schwarz scene became cinematic shorthand for joy.
Director
Penny Marshall
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hanks and Loggia improvised the 'Chopsticks' and 'Heart and Soul' duet on the giant piano—no rehearsal, pure joy captured.
The film launched Penny Marshall as the first woman to direct a movie grossing over $100 million; she made 'adulting' look like the real horror.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
