Big Budget
FantasyDramaComedy1h 44mUpdated
Synopsis
"Big" (1988) is a heartwarming fantasy-comedy that follows the story of a young boy named Josh Baskin, played by Tom Hanks. After a frustrating experience at a carnival, Josh makes a wish to be "big" and wakes up the next morning in the body of an adult. As he navigates the complexities of adulthood, he lands a job at a toy company, where his childlike enthusiasm and creativity lead to unexpected success. However, the joys of being an adult come with their own challenges, including romantic entanglements and the struggle to maintain his true identity. Ultimately, Josh learns valuable lessons about growing up, responsibility, and the importance of staying true to oneself. The film blends humor and nostalgia, making it a beloved classic that resonates with audiences of all ages.
What is the budget of Big?
"Big," a fantasy released in 1988, was directed by Penny Marshall and stars Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins. The production budget was $18,000,000, placing it in the low-budget range for fantasy productions of the 1980s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a fantasy production like this include:
- Visual Effects & Creature Design: Fantasy productions require extensive VFX for magical elements, mythical creatures, and fantastical battle sequences.
- Costumes, Prosthetic Makeup & Production Design: Period-inspired or wholly original costumes, elaborate prosthetic and makeup applications, and richly detailed set construction are hallmarks of fantasy filmmaking.
- Music Score & Sound Design: Fantasy epics typically commission full orchestral scores recorded with 80 to 100 piece ensembles, plus extensive sound design for magical effects, creature vocalizations, and immersive world audio.
- Production: The Italian film Da grande (1987) has been said to be the inspiration for Big.
What were the major cost factors in Big?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Big."
- Visual Effects: Visual Effects & Creature Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
- Costumes: Costumes, Prosthetic Makeup & Production Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
- Music Score: Music Score & Sound Design is one of the primary cost drivers in fantasy productions of this scale.
How Does Big's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $18,000,000, Big sits in the low-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 127 Hours (2010): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $35,700,000
- A Dog's Way Home (2019): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,643,857
- Amadeus (1984): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $90,007,557
- And So It Goes (2014): Budget $18,000,000, Worldwide Gross $25,312,387
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004): Budget $18,000,000 , Gross $65,070,412
The median budget for wide-release fantasy films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Big Box Office Performance
"Big" earned $115,227,281 domestically and $151,927,281 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $18,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Big," that break-even threshold was roughly $36,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $151,927,281, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $18,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $151,927,281
- Net Return: $133,927,281
- ROI: approximately 744%
At 744%, "Big" earned roughly $8.44 for every $1 invested in production.
Big Production History
In 1996, the film was adapted into a Broadway musical. It featured music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr., and a book by John Weidman. Directed by Mike Ockrent, and choreographed by Susan Stroman, it opened on April 28, 1996, and closed on October 13, 1996, after 193 performances.
Awards and Recognition
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 11 wins & 14 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Saturn Award for Best Writing: Anne Spielberg (16th Saturn Awards)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Big (1988)?
The production budget was $18,000,000, covering principal photography, visual effects, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $9,000,000 - $14,400,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $27,000,000 - $32,400,000.
How much did Big (1988) earn at the box office?
Big grossed $115,227,281 domestic, $36,700,000 international, totaling $151,927,281 worldwide.
Was Big (1988) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $18,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$45,000,000, the film earned $151,927,281 theatrically - a 744% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Big?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia); VFX creature work, elaborate costume and prosthetic design, and orchestral scoring.
How does Big's budget compare to similar fantasy films?
At $18,000,000, Big is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release fantasy films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 127 Hours (2010, $18,000,000); A Dog's Way Home (2019, $18,000,000); Amadeus (1984, $18,000,000).
Did Big (1988) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for Big?
The theatrical ROI was 744.0%, calculated as ($151,927,281 − $18,000,000) ÷ $18,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Big (1988) win?
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 11 wins & 14 nominations total.
Who directed Big and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Penny Marshall, written by Anne Spielberg, Gary Ross, shot by Barry Sonnenfeld, with music by Howard Shore, edited by Barry Malkin.
Where was Big filmed?
Big was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Big
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