Big Movie Soundtrack
Big | |
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| Movie Soundtrack (1988) | |
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| Director | Penny Marshall |
| Studio | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date | 1988-06-03 |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Composer(s) | Howard Shore |
| Score album | Big (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
| Soundtrack album | Big (Music from the Motion Picture) |
| Record label | Varèse Sarabande |
| Available on | Disney+, Apple TV+ |
| Cast | Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin Elizabeth Perkins as Susan Lawrence Robert Loggia as MacMillan John Heard as Paul Davenport Jared Rushton as Billy Kopecki David Moscow as Young Josh Baskin ... e 2 more |
About This Soundtrack
Directed by Penny Marshall, the 1988 classic comedy-drama fantasy film Big is a beloved masterpiece starring Tom Hanks in his breakout Oscar-nominated performance. The story follows twelve-year-old Josh Baskin, who makes a wish on a Zoltar fortune teller machine to become 'big' and wakes up as a thirty-year-old man. Josh must navigate the confusing adult world in New York City, finding work at MacMillan Toy Company where his childlike joy becomes his greatest asset, all while finding romance with toy executive Susan Lawrence.
The musical backdrop of Big is highly memorable, featuring a whimsical score by Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore. Shore’s music captures the playful spirit of childhood and the bittersweet realization of adult responsibilities. Beyond the orchestral score, the film is legendary for its musical moments, most notably the iconic giant piano duet of 'Heart and Soul' and 'Chopsticks' performed by Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia at FAO Schwarz. The soundtrack also features classic 80s hits like 'Hot in the City' by Billy Idol and 'It's in His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)' by Betty Everett.
This database serves as the ultimate registry for the music played in Big. Although the tracks list is currently being compiled, it is designed to catalog every licensed song, background melody, and official score track from the film. Each entry will feature accurate artist credits, scene descriptions, and links to listen to the soundtrack on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Additional Songs
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Heart and Soul
by Hoagy Carmichael & Frank Loesser
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Chopsticks
by Euphemia Allen
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Welcome to Our World of Toys (FAO Schwarz Clock Song)
by Bobby Gosh
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The Way We Were
by Alan Bergman
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Rebel Yell
by Billy Idol
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The Shimmy Shimmy Cocoa Pop Rap (The Ice Cream Song)
by Tom Hanks, Jared Rushton
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Hot In the City
by Billy Idol
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Chattanooga Choo Choo
by Glenn Miller
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Workin' for a Livin'
by Huey Lewis & The News
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Moonlight Serenade
by Glenn Miller
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It's In Everyone of Us
by David Pomeranz
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Forget Me Nots
by Patrice Rushen
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About the Composer(s)
Howard Shore (born October 18, 1946) is an acclaimed Canadian composer and conductor notable for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably the scores for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, winning three Academy Awards. A frequent collaborator of David Cronenberg and Martin Scorsese, Shore also composed the playful, woodwind-driven score for Penny Marshall's classic fantasy comedy Big (1988), capturing both the magical transition of Josh Baskin and the bittersweet nostalgia of childhood.
Soundtrack Universe
Discover movies and shows that share the same musical DNA.
Did you know?
- The Giant Piano Duet: The most famous scene in the film, where Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) and toy company owner Mr. MacMillan (Robert Loggia) play 'Heart and Soul' and 'Chopsticks' on a giant walking synthesizer, was performed entirely by the actors themselves. A custom-made piano was constructed for the scene, and even though stunt doubles were hired, Hanks and Loggia insisted on performing the complex choreography on the keys themselves.
- Howard Shore's Playful Palette: Composer Howard Shore, known today for his dark and grand epic scores like The Lord of the Rings, created a surprisingly light, toy-like sound for Big. Using woodwinds, xylophones, and light brass, Shore crafted a score that feels like a toy box coming to life, reflecting Josh's internal state.
- During rehearsals for the movie, the crew couldn't find a good idea for how Josh would prove his identity to Billy in a quick and magical way. Tom Hanks himself suggested using this rhyme because his oldest son (Colin Hanks) had just learned the song at summer camp and taught it to him at home. Director Penny Marshall loved it and put it in the final scene.
Official Trailer
About the Movie
When a young boy, Josh Baskin, makes a wish at a carnival fortune teller machine to be 'big', he wakes up the next morning to find himself in the body of a 30-year-old man. Forced to navigate the adult world, Josh takes a job at a toy company, where his childlike enthusiasm and perspective quickly propel him up the corporate ladder. However, as he experiences the complexities of adulthood, including a romantic relationship with a coworker named Susan, Josh begins to miss his simple childhood life and his best friend Billy.
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
How many songs are in the Big soundtrack?
Who composed the score for Big?
What song is played on the giant piano in FAO Schwarz?
External Links
Editorial Integrity & Verification
At Soundtrack Wiki, we take musical accuracy seriously. Every track list, scene description, and timestamp featured on this page has been manually verified by our editorial team to ensure it reflects the actual usage in the production.
Our methodology involves cross-referencing official credits, digital fingerprints, and frame-by-frame analysis of the soundtrack in context.
