If you loved
Big
Penny Marshall · Film · 1988
What hooked you in Big was the way the jarring divide between childhood innocence and adult responsibility creates universal comedy.
Books on the same thread
The Talisman
Stephen King, Peter Straub · Book · 1984
If Big captured your imagination with a boy thrust into a world beyond his years, you will appreciate how this story forces a young protagonist into an overwhelming quest.
The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena
R. L. Stine · Book · 2003
Much like the carnival wish that transforms the lead in Big, this story centers on the unintended, chaotic consequences of a simple desire for a major life change.
The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 5)
Jeff Kinney · Book · 2010
Big resonates because of the awkward friction of growing up, a theme mirrored here as a young boy confronts the daunting, often confusing pressures of entering adulthood.
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl · Book · 1961
If you enjoyed the fish-out-of-water spirit of Big, you will find a similar sense of wonder and displacement as a young boy navigates an entirely new reality.
Series on the same thread
Boy Meets World
Michael Jacobs · Series · 1993
Big succeeds by grounding its fantasy in the relatable milestones of maturing, which is exactly the journey of self-discovery and life-lessons explored throughout this long-running series.
Steven Universe
Rebecca Sugar · Series · 2013
Just as the protagonist of Big must suddenly master a world he does not understand, this story follows a boy forced to embrace adult-level responsibilities and hidden powers.
The Wonder Years
Neal Marlens · Series · 1988
Big taps into the bittersweet nature of childhood’s end, a feeling this series echoes through its nostalgic, character-driven look at the trials of growing up during simpler times.
The Rookie
Alexi Hawley · Series · 2018
If the corporate culture shock in Big fascinated you, you will appreciate this look at an outsider struggling to prove his worth in a rigid, established professional environment.
Podcasts on the same thread
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Big examines the isolation of being an adult; similarly, this podcast explores the professional intimacy and social disconnect that often plague those working in high-pressure adult industries.
The Indicator from Planet Money
NPR · Podcast · 2026
The corporate world can feel as alien to an outsider as it did to the boy in Big, and this show offers the necessary insight to navigate that complex landscape.