Home Alone is an American comedy film released in 1990. Starring Macaulay Culkin and featuring a soundtrack composed by John Williams, the film is notable both for its huge box office success and for becoming a Christmas classic over time.

Plot Summary

The McCallister family leaves home to go to France for Christmas vacation, accidentally leaving their young son Kevin behind. At first Kevin is pleased to find himself alone; he has the whole house to himself. However, it soon turns out that two thieves named Harry and Marv are planning to rob Kevin's house. Kevin sets various traps to protect his home.

^{Kevin McCalister (IMDb)}

Cast

Macaulay Culkin — Kevin McCallister

Joe Pesci — Harry

Daniel Stern — Marv

Catherine O’Hara — Kate McCallister

John Heard — Peter McCallister

Roberts Blossom — Marley

Kieran Culkin — Fuller McCallister

John Candy — Gus Polinski

Budget and Box Office Performance

Budget: $18 million (estimated)

Box Office Performance: $477 million (estimated)

Criticism and Reviews

Home Alone (1990) has a 66% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film stands out particularly for Macaulay Culkin's performance and John Williams' music. User reviews on IMDb state that the film is entertaining, nostalgic, and fits the New Year's theme. The film, considered a classic in the comedy genre, is criticized for its limited depth but still offers viewers an enjoyable experience.

^{Kate McCallister and Kevin McCallister (IMDb)}

Awards and Honors

Home Alone (1990) received two nominations at the 62nd Academy Awards. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Original Song and Best Original Score. The film, with music composed by John Williams, did not win awards in these categories. The film also received two nominations at the 1991 Golden Globe Awards: “Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical” and “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture”.

Cultural Impact

Home Alone (1990) was a commercial success upon its release and reached a wide audience. Often mentioned among Christmas-themed comedy films, it is particularly known for the character of Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin. With its music, story, and comedic elements, it has appealed to an audience of all ages and has paved the way for sequels and various adaptations. The film stood out with its cast and script among family films of its era.

About the Film

• Joe Pesci, who portrayed Harry, deliberately avoided speaking to Macaulay Culkin on set in an effort to make Culkin perceive him as a “bad” person. This method was used to influence Culkin's performance.
• The child actor playing Kevin's cousin Fuller is Macaulay Culkin's brother, Kieran Culkin, and this film was his first professional acting experience.
• Catherine O'Hara stated in a 2014 interview that Macaulay Culkin still calls her “Mom.”

^{Home Alone Trailer (YouTube)}