Home Alone

Released in 1990, Home Alone was the first 90s project of legendary 80s director John Hughes, joined by ascendant child actor Macaulay Culkin and the soon-to-be Academy Award-winning Joe Pesci.

Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy in a large family who feels put upon by his older brother and his preoccupied parents. When he’s accidentally left behind when the family decamps for a Christmas vacation in Florida, Kevin’s dream of living home alone comes true. Meanwhile, however, notorious criminal duo the ‘Wet Bandits’ seek to burgle the McCallister house, at first not realising that it’s still occupied.

Grossing $476.7 million from a budget of $18 million, Home Alone held the title of highest-grossing live-action comedy for more than two decades, dethroned by The Hangover: Part II in 2011. Despite a mixed critical reception on its release, the film’s John Williams-composed score received two Academy Award nominations and Culkin was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Since then, regular home media airings have established Home Alone as a Christmas classic, featuring as it does the wholesome fun of a young boy outwitting criminals with household objects. It was followed by a sequel – Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – which starred Culkin, Tim Curry and Donald Trump. Two further films were made without Culkin’s involvement.

In 2019, plans were announced for a reboot, with shooting beginning in early 2020.