Synopsis
After a disastrous trip to Romania, struggling Hollywood talent agent Sammy Kamin discovers Max, a gentle seven-foot-seven man with dreams of becoming an actor. Seeing a chance to revive his career, Sammy brings Max to America and pursues movie roles for him. Their unusual partnership gradually becomes a genuine friendship, forcing Sammy to reconsider his ambitions and priorities.
Factoids & Trivia
- Billy Crystal developed the story after working with Andre the Giant on The Princess Bride (1987). A conversation between the two reportedly inspired Max's observation that animals do not stare at him because of his size.
- Gheorghe Muresan, who played professional basketball for the Washington Bullets and later the New Jersey Nets, made his film debut as Max. At 7 feet 7 inches, he was one of the tallest players in NBA history.
- The production used locations in the Czech Republic, while the story's Romanian setting was represented through location work and additional production material.
- The film was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment and Face Productions and released theatrically in the United States on April 10, 1998, through Columbia Pictures.
- My Giant earned about $8.1 million in the United States against a reported $20 million production budget, making it a commercial disappointment.
- American Humane monitored the animal performers under its "No Animals Were Harmed" program. The film includes horses, sheep, a donkey, dogs, and chickens in its Romanian countryside sequences.