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My Giant

My Giant

A comedy of incredible proportions.

1998103 minPGMidcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Director
Michael Lehmann
Starring
Billy Crystal, Gheorghe Muresan, Kathleen Quinlan, Joanna Pacula

Sammy, an agitated agent lost in the forest of the modern world, happens upon a gentle giant with a tall talent for friendship named Max.

Where to watch

Where can I watch My Giant?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists My Giant streaming on The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free).

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Highlights

What stands out about My Giant?

My Giant earns 2 badges, led by Overhyped and Feel-good.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is My Giant worth watching?

My Giant's Midcredits score is the 13th percentile of all films, from 11K ratings across 4 sources. 21% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

13th percentile

Better received than 13% of films

12th percentile among Comedy14th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)19th
Approval (how many liked it)10th

51 /100

19th percentile of all films

19th percentile among Comedy20th percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

Approval

How many liked it

21% liked it

10th percentile of all films

8th percentile among Comedy10th percentile among 1990s
21% rated it 7–1079% rated it 1–6

Critics 22% · Audience 25%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Reach

How many have seen it

78th percentile

11K ratings across platforms

75th percentile among Comedy71st percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$3.1M
Domestic gross$8.1M
Worldwide gross$8.1M

70th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's a predictable, sentimental comedy-drama that isn't very funny but has a likeable gentle giant at its center.

Fans praised

  • Muresan's warmth and innocence as the gentle giant
  • heartwarming friendship between Crystal and the giant
  • bittersweet mix of humor and emotional depth

Detractors panned

  • not funny, billed as a comedy but rarely laughs
  • predictable, boring, and pointless plot
  • Muresan can't act and is hard to understand

What stands out

Emotional impactDivisive60

heartwarming friendship, but forced and cloying for others

CharactersDivisive50

Giant's innocence and vulnerability wins sympathy; agent's arc often seen as underdeveloped

OriginalityDivisive50

unusual premise of a real-life giant as actor, but story falls into formula

ActingDivisive45

Muresan often praised for warmth despite amateur delivery; Crystal seen as going through motions or miscast

Dialogue40

Crystal delivers some amusing lines but script mostly flat

Pacing35

drags in second half, overly sentimental and bloated

Plot and story30

predictable and meandering, with a weak ending

HumorDivisive25

few genuine laughs; most agree comedy falls flat

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is My Giant like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something warm that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle and funny, takes its time and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
WarmHopeful
Heaviest: middle
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its unlikely friendship with genuine affection, playing the comedy warmly rather than satirically.
The rideThe film maintains a consistently warm and upbeat tone, with emotional stakes rising during the journey's challenges.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward linear sequence from Romania to Las Vegas to Gallup, following a standard three-act structure.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

The answer rests on this: Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with a warm uplift, celebrating kindness and the rewards of selflessness.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Quest
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% (this title) · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Journey home: The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story follows a washed-up agent and a gentle giant on a cross-country journey driven by the giant's wish to reconnect with his past, fitting a quest with a journey-home structure.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsPurpose · 9% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe story centers on an unlikely friendship that transforms a cynical agent into someone who values connection over ambition.
StanceThe film celebrates the transformative power of an unlikely friendship.

The world

ContemporaryRuralUrbanSmall townRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Marc Shaiman
SettingA cross-continental journey from rural Romania to Las Vegas and a small New Mexico town.
MusicMarc Shaiman's score underscores the comedy with a light, warm orchestral touch.

Content guide

Is My Giant okay for kids?

PG

My Giant is rated PG: “Rated PG for language, mild violence and brief crude humor” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at mild (27/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Germany12
Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (18 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does My Giant have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in My Giant?

Cast

Billy Crystal
as Sammy
Gheorghe Muresan
as Max
Kathleen Quinlan
as Serena
Joanna Pacula
as Lillianna
Jere Burns
as Weller
Harold Gould
as Milt
Dan Castellaneta
as Partlow
Raymond O'Connor
as Eddie
Rider Strong
as Justin
Doris Roberts
as Rose

Crew

More like this

What are movies like My Giant?

Movies like My Giant include Here Today (2021), Airheads (1994) and Bolt (2008). Of the 8 closest matches, two are journey-home stories, and most are stories about unlikely alliances.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with My Giant?

2.5K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: road movie. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.