In the holiday classic, Home Alone released in 1990, eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, portrayed by Macaulay Culkin, finds himself in an unexpected adventure when his misbehavior the night before a family trip to Paris leads to him being banished to the attic by his mother, played by Catherine O’Hara. In the chaos of getting ready for the airport, the McCallisters unknowingly leave for Paris without Kevin. When Kevin wakes up to an empty house, he initially revels in the freedom, believing his wish for a family-free existence has come true.
However, Kevin’s joy turns to apprehension when he discovers that two burglars, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, have targeted the McCallister home for robbery. Realizing he’s the only one who can thwart their plans, Kevin embarks on a series of ingenious and hilarious traps to protect his family’s home from the would-be thieves. As the burglars face one comedic setback after another, Kevin learns the true value of family and the importance of home during the holiday season.
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10 Fun Facts About Home Alone
(1) Joe Pesci intentionally avoided interacting with Macaulay Culkin on set to maintain a mean image for his character.
(2) Macaulay Culkin still affectionately refers to Catherine O’Hara as “Mom,” as revealed by O’Hara in 2014.
(3) Joe Pesci, accustomed to adding profanity to scripts, substituted curses with the word “fridge” to keep the movie family-friendly. His mutterings were a creative way to avoid using explicit language.
(4) John Candy’s dialogue was mostly improvised, showcasing his comedic talent. This improvisation was a signature style of writer and producer John Hughes.
(5) Daniel Stern improvised iconic lines like “Why the hell are you dressed like a chicken?” and “Maybe he committed suicide?” during his scenes.
(6) “Home Alone” entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Highest Box-Office Gross – Comedy,” earning $477 million worldwide.
(7) The scream in the tarantula scene was genuine and live, as Daniel Stern trusted the animal handlers that tarantulas do not have ears.
(8) In Poland, “Home Alone” has become a Christmas tradition, airing every year during the holiday season.
(9) Hillary Wolf, who played Meagan, quit acting after “Home Alone” and later joined the U.S. Olympic Judo team.
(10) The wax-and-plastic snow used in the movie found a new home at the Lyric Opera of Chicago for opera productions.
