How Old Is Josh In Big

So, I was binge-watching Stranger Things the other day, and it got me thinking. You know how in the first season, Eleven is all "I'm not a monster, I'm just a girl who wants to eat waffles"? Well, that's kind of how I feel about Josh in Big. He's not just a kid stuck in an adult's body, he's a kid who just wants to play some video games and eat some candy.

But enough about my existential crisis, let's talk about the real question here: how old is Josh in Big? Now, I know what you're thinking, "Dude, it's a movie, it's not real." And you're right, but hear me out. This is a question that's been bugging me for years, and I finally decided to do some digging.

So, How Old Is Josh?

Alright, let's break it down. The movie starts with Josh wishing to be "big". The next morning, he wakes up in the body of adult Tom Hanks. Now, we know that Josh is 12 years old when he makes the wish. But how old is he when he wakes up as Tom Hanks?

Here's where it gets tricky. The movie doesn't give us a specific age for Tom Hanks' character, which is frustrating, I know. But we can make some educated guesses. Tom Hanks was 39 when Big was released. So, if we assume that Josh woke up in the body of a 39-year-old, that means he's been "big" for 27 years.

But wait, there's more! We also know that Josh was 12 when he made the wish. So, if we subtract 12 from 39, we get 27. Which means, Josh is 27 years old in the body of Tom Hanks. Mind. Blown.

Big (1988) movie analysis: Josh Baskin character

Or Is He?

Now, before you start planning Josh's 27th birthday party, let's consider another possibility. What if Josh didn't age at all while he was "big"? What if he's still technically 12, but just stuck in an adult's body? That would explain why he's so good at video games and why he loves candy so much.

This theory also explains why Josh is so naive about certain things. Remember when he didn't know what a "fling" was? Or when he thought a "one-night stand" was a dance move? If he's still 12, that would make sense. It's not that he's dumb, he's just a kid in an adult's body.

The Untold Truth Of Big

But this theory also raises some serious questions. Like, how does Josh go to the bathroom? Does he still need to use the kids' restroom? And what about school? Does he still have to go to classes? These are questions that the movie doesn't answer, and probably never will. But hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

So, What's the Verdict?

Alright, I've thrown out a couple of theories here. But the truth is, we may never know exactly how old Josh is in Big. And that's okay. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that Josh learns to appreciate the joy of being a kid, even if he's stuck in an adult's body.

So, the next time you watch Big, take a moment to appreciate the magic of being a kid. Whether Josh is 12 or 27, he reminds us that it's okay to be silly, to play, and to never lose our sense of wonder. And who knows, maybe you'll even find yourself wishing for a giant piano to dance on.