Is there really an F-word in a PG movie?

Yes. Back in 1988, the MPAA was much more lenient with a single 'non-sexual' use of the word. Billy says it quite clearly during a basketball scene. If you're sensitive to that, keep the remote handy around the 25-minute mark.

How sexual does the romance get?

It's very '80s movie' sexual—meaning there's a scene where they wake up in bed together, but nothing leading up to it is shown. It's more about the emotional confusion for Josh than anything graphic.

Will my kid find the 80s pacing boring?

The first 15 minutes are a bit slow, but once Tom Hanks shows up, the energy spikes. The 'toy testing' scenes usually keep modern kids engaged because the concept of a kid running a toy company is timeless.

What's the 'Zoltar' machine?

It's a fortune-telling machine that grants Josh's wish. It's a bit creepy-looking, which might be a 'watch-out' for very young kids who are afraid of animatronics or carnival vibes.

Big – WISE Score & Parent Review

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

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Screenwise Verdict

Big is the definitive 'body swap' movie for a reason. It avoids the preachy 'listen to your parents' tropes of the era and instead focuses on the genuine magic and terror of growing up too fast. Tom Hanks is the engine here; without his believable performance as a kid in a suit, the whole thing would fall apart.

For a 2026 audience, the 80s tech (floppy disks!) and the slightly spicy PG rating are the main hurdles. It’s a great movie to watch together because it forces adults to remember what it was like to actually care about a toy’s 'fun factor' rather than its market share.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9 and up. Younger kids might get bored by the office politics and the romantic subplots, but 4th and 5th graders will vibrate with the wish-fulfillment of having their own apartment and buying whatever toys they want.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

75

It captures the pure, unadulterated joy of being a kid—specifically through play and toy design. While the central romance is a bit awkward by modern standards, the heart of the movie is about the value of innocence.

Imaginative

88

The 'Zoltar' wish-fulfillment premise is an all-time great. The scenes where Josh redesigns a skyscraper-sized toy company based on what's actually fun are peak imaginative fuel.

Safe

72

It's an 80s PG, which means it has one 'f-bomb,' some smoking, and a romantic subplot where an adult woman spends the night with the protagonist (who looks 30 but is 13). Nothing explicit is shown, but the implication is there.

Enriching

82

It offers a great perspective on why we shouldn't rush to grow up and how 'adult' metrics of success (money, status) often miss the point of what makes life worth living.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tom Hanks gives an absolute masterclass in physical comedy, perfectly mimicking the fidgety, wide-eyed energy of a middle-schooler.
The giant floor piano scene at FAO Schwarz is one of the most iconic moments in cinema history and still makes kids want to find a oversized keyboard.
It's a rare look at the corporate world through a child's eyes, making fun of how 'serious' adults take themselves.
The bond between Josh and his best friend Billy is a genuine depiction of childhood loyalty and secret-keeping.

⚠

What to Watch For

There is a single use of the F-word shouted during a basketball argument—very 80s, very sudden.
The romance with Susan (an adult woman) is the main friction point for parents today. While Josh is physically an adult, the power dynamic is weird if you overthink it.
The scene where Josh's mom thinks he's a kidnapper in her own house is surprisingly intense and might be upsetting for younger or sensitive kids.
Josh spends his first night as an adult in a seedy Times Square hotel (the 1980s version), which features some scary-looking characters and shouting.

Conversation Starters

"If you could wake up as a 30-year-old tomorrow, what's the first thing you'd do?"
"Why do you think Josh eventually wanted to go back to being a kid even though he had a cool job and lots of money?"
"How did Josh's 'kid brain' actually help him do a better job at the toy company than the adults?"
"What did you think about the way Josh's mom reacted to him being missing?"

Deep Dive

The Toy Company Dream

If your kid is into building, inventing, or just obsessed with how things work, the middle act of Big is basically their dream journal. Josh Baskin (the adult version) becomes a VP of Product Development simply because he’s the only person in the room willing to say a toy is boring. It’s a great lesson in trusting your own taste over what experts say you should like.

That Awkward Romance

We have to talk about Susan. In the 80s, this was seen as a 'coming of age' moment. In 2026, it’s a 'wait, this is a 13-year-old' moment. The movie handles it with as much grace as possible—Josh is clearly overwhelmed and Susan is the one pursuing—but it’s the part of the movie that has aged the most. If you're watching with a kid, they'll likely just think it’s 'gross' and move on, but be ready for the 'did they...?' questions.

The Mom Factor

As a parent, rewatching this is a totally different experience. The scenes where Josh’s mom is grieving her 'missing' son are genuinely gut-wrenching. It adds a layer of weight to the movie that kids won't feel, but it makes the ending—where Josh finally chooses home over the 'big' life—feel much more earned. It’s a reminder that childhood is a one-way street, and there’s no need to sprint to the end of it.