Location 01FAO Schwarz (original location)
Manhattan, New York Outside only
Filmed here: Giant piano scene with Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia playing Heart and Soul
This is where Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia performed the entire giant piano dance themselves, playing Heart and Soul with their feet on the famous floor keyboard. The original Fifth Avenue flagship closed in 2015, and the building now forms part of General Motors. The exterior can be viewed from the sidewalk, and toy fans can find a new FAO Schwarz location in Rockefeller Center nearby, which has a replica piano visitors can play.
Location 02Rye Playland
New York, Rye Ticketed
Filmed here: Finale where Josh finds Zoltar machine at abandoned amusement park
The finale, in which Josh finds the Zoltar machine at an abandoned amusement park, was shot at this working park in Rye, New York. Unlike most filming locations, it is fully open to the public with paid admission, and its boardwalk and rides are accessible seasonally. The park has screen pedigree beyond Big as well, having appeared in Fatal Attraction. It is the one location on this list travelers can properly explore rather than just photograph.
Location 03437 Greenmount Avenue
New Jersey, Cliffside Park Outside only
Filmed here: Josh Baskin's house exterior and neighborhood scenes
The exterior of Josh Baskin's family house and the surrounding neighborhood scenes were filmed here on a quiet residential block in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. It remains a private residence, so viewing is from the street only. House interiors seen in the film were not shot here but built on a New York City soundstage costing around $250,000, partly modeled on the real home. The area has Turkish restaurants nearby for a meal stop.
Location 04440 Oakdene Avenue (School #6)
New Jersey, Cliffside Park Outside only
Filmed here: School scenes including playground and 'George Washington Junior High'
The school scenes, including the playground and the fictional George Washington Junior High, were filmed at this Cliffside Park public school. Travelers can see the exterior and yard from the street, though as a functioning school it is not open to casual visitors. Note that a wing has been added to the building since filming, so photographs from 1987 show a noticeably different silhouette than what stands there now.
Location 05Palisades Interstate Park (Ross Dock Picnic Area)
New Jersey, Fort Lee Free to see
Filmed here: Initial Zoltar machine carnival scene and Josh's search
The carnival scene where Josh first encounters the Zoltar machine, and his later search for it, were filmed at the Ross Dock Picnic Area within Palisades Interstate Park in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Entry is free and the picnic areas are public, making this an easy add-on to a New Jersey locations loop. The spot also offers scenic views over the Hudson River, rewarding even travelers with no attachment to the film.
Location 06St. James Hotel
Manhattan, New York Free to see
Filmed here: Josh stays in the sleazy hotel near Times Square
The sleazy hotel near Times Square where Josh stays after his transformation was a real property, and it is still operating today. The lobby has changed significantly since the 1980s, so do not expect the period atmosphere seen on screen. What makes this location unusual is that travelers can actually book a room and sleep where Josh slept, one of the few Big sites with that distinction.
Location 07435 Greenmount Avenue
New Jersey, Cliffside Park Outside only
Filmed here: Billy's house next door to Josh
Billy's house, home to Josh's best friend, sits directly next door to the Baskin house on the same Greenmount Avenue block in Cliffside Park. Like its neighbor it is a private home, so viewing is limited to what can be seen from the street. Visiting both houses takes no extra effort, since they are part of the same quiet residential stretch and can be covered in a single short walk.
Location 0840 West 23rd Street (former Hasbro building)
Manhattan, New York Outside only
Filmed here: MacMillan Toy Company exterior and job scenes
The MacMillan Toy Company, where Josh lands his dream job testing toys, used the exterior of this Midtown Manhattan building, then the Hasbro building. Today the ground floor operates as a Home Depot, a jarring retail swap for film fans picturing executive offices and prototype toys. The building remains easily viewable from street level at no cost, a short walk from other Midtown locations tied to the film.
Location 0983-85 Grand Street
SoHo, Manhattan, New York Outside only
Filmed here: Josh's loft apartment in SoHo
Josh's cavernous SoHo loft apartment, paid for with his toy executive salary, was based at this Grand Street building in one of Manhattan's trendiest neighborhoods. It is a private building, so the visit is exterior only. The consolation is the surrounding area, a popular shopping district packed with boutiques and cafes, which makes it one of the more pleasant stops for a day of location hunting.
Location 10Yankee Stadium (original)
New York, Bronx Outside only
Filmed here: Yankees game outing scene
The Yankees game outing scene was filmed at the original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, which has since been demolished. Travelers hoping to stand in the same spot are out of luck, but a new Yankee Stadium stands nearby and welcomes visitors for games and tours. This is the one Big location that literally no longer exists, so it earns a place on the itinerary more for completists than casual fans.
Location 11666 Anderson Avenue
New Jersey, Cliffside Park Free to see
Filmed here: Convenience store where kids hang out
The convenience store where Josh and his friends hang out was filmed at this address in Cliffside Park, and it still operates as a store today. It is the rare filming location where the on-screen function has survived unchanged for decades. The surrounding neighborhood has developed a food scene of its own, with Turkish eateries and gastropubs, making it a sensible place to pause during a tour of the town's film sites.
