Celebrity
Before He Became Hollywood’s Most Beloved Star, Tom Hanks Had the Role That Changed Everything
Tom Hanks’ 1988 classic ‘Big’ remains a beloved fan favorite nearly 40 years later, with his portrayal of Josh Baskin launching a legendary Hollywood career.
Long before he became one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, Tom Hanks won over moviegoers with a role that many fans still consider one of his best. Nearly 40 years after Big arrived in theaters, viewers continue to praise Hanks’ unforgettable performance as Josh Baskin, a boy who suddenly wakes up in an adult’s body.
After the movie’s June 1988 release, the performance earned Hanks his first Academy Award nomination and helped transform him from a popular comedic actor into one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
For many fans who grew up in the ’80s, Big captured a childhood fantasy: waking up as an adult while still seeing the world through the viewpoint of a child. Decades later, viewers say the movie’s humor and heart remain just as effective.
On Facebook, a fan shared, “LOVE every film Tom Hanks has ever done…but I particularly loved him in this as he really did seem like a kid in his portrayal and was SO funny and adorable.”
One fan on Reddit wrote, “Tom Hanks was the comedy actor of the 80s because he was simply the best at it. The guy has brilliant comedic timing and, best of all, he fully commits.” The same fan noted they had recently rewatched Big and declared that the “only reason this movie works…is because Hanks sells it so well.”
Another Reddit user recalled watching it for the first time, explaining it was “a surprisingly charming movie that I had no idea I wanted to see.”
Before Big, Hanks starred in the television show Bosom Buddies with Peter Scolari. He also starred in Splash and appeared in a legendary episode of Family Ties as the alcoholic brother of Elyse Keaton (Meredith Baxter).
The success of Big opened the door to a remarkable run of films that have made Hanks one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation.
Nearly four decades later, Big remains one of the films that is most closely associated with Hanks’ impressive career. For many fans, it wasn’t just the movie that launched a superstar, but it was the performance that tipped viewers off to how special he could be.
