According to IMDb, the actor once reflected that earning his first Academy Award nomination for “Big” changed the way he viewed his own profession. The fantasy comedy not only became a box office phenomenon, but also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Hanks’ career.
Why ‘Big’ Changed Tom Hanks’ Career Forever
Released in 1988, “Big” starred Hanks as Josh Baskin, a 13-year-old boy whose wish to become an adult suddenly comes true. Directed by Penny Marshall, the fantasy comedy paired a whimsical premise with an emotionally grounded performance that earned widespread acclaim. The film became a major commercial success, grossing more than $150 million worldwide and landing Hanks his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Source: IMDb
Looking back years later during an interview with NPR, Hanks admitted that the recognition caught him by surprise. Until then, he said he had never truly thought of himself as an actor, but rather as “a comical performer who appeared in movies.” Receiving an Academy Award nomination made him feel that others believed he actually knew what he was doing.
That experience also influenced the choices he made afterward. Hanks explained that “Big” encouraged him to pursue more dramatic material instead of limiting himself to comedy. In retrospect, he has credited that moment with shaping much of what followed during the second half of his career.
The shift proved to be a defining one. Within a few years, Hanks won back to back Academy Awards for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump,” before starring in acclaimed pictures including “Apollo 13,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Cast Away,” and “The Green Mile.” Although his filmography spans decades, Hanks has made it clear that “Big” was the project that first convinced him he belonged among Hollywood’s leading actors.
