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{{Title
 
{{Title
 
|image=title-homealone.jpg
 
|image=title-homealone.jpg
|director=[[Wikipedia:Chris Columbus|Chris Columbus]]
+
|director={{w|Chris Columbus}}
|writer=[[Wikipedia:John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]
+
|writer={{w|John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes}} {{s|(producer)}}
 
|release=November 16, 1990
 
|release=November 16, 1990
 
|runtime=1 hour, 43 minutes
 
|runtime=1 hour, 43 minutes
 
|rating=PG
 
|rating=PG
|available=VHS<br />Laserdisc<br />DVD<br />[http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMovie?id=344796733&s=143441 iTunes]<br />Blu-ray<br />[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CSX6HQ/ Amazon Instant Video]}}
+
|available=VHS<br>Laserdisc<br>DVD<br>Blu-ray<br>[http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMovie?id=344796733&s=143441 Apple TV]<br>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CSX6HQ/ Amazon Video]<br>[https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Home_Alone?id=ZbqYIE4Nvy0 Google Play]<br>Disney+}}
  +
{{Dablink|the 1990 version|the recently-announced reboot|[[Home Alone (reboot)]]}}
'''''Home Alone''''' is a 1990 feature film written and produced by [[Wikipedia:John Hughes|John Hughes]] and directed by [[Wikipedia:Chris Columbus|Chris Columbus]]. It stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who is mistakenly left behind when his family files to France for a Christmas vacation. While initially relishing his time alone, he is later threatened with two house burglars, Harry and Marv, whom he outwits by rigging the house with various booby traps.
 
  +
'''''Home Alone''''' is a 1990 feature film, directed by {{w|Chris Columbus}} and written and produced by {{w|John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes}}.
   
 
==Synopsis==
The film was followed by a sequel in 1992, ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'', the first and only sequel to have most of the original cast reprise their roles.
 
 
==Plot Synopsis==
 
{{spoiler}}
 
 
[[File:Home-alone-02.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-02.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-04.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-04.jpg|thumb|250px]]
The McCallisters prepare to spend Christmas with Peter and Frank's brother, Rob, in Paris, France, gathering at Peter and Kate's house in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the night before their flight. Eight-year-old [[Kevin McCallister|Kevin]], their youngest son and the protgonist of the film, finds himself the subject of ridicule from the other children. After getting into an argument with his oldest brother, Buzz because he ate Kevin's cheese pizza on purpose, he is sent to the third floor bedroom of the house, where he wishes that his family would disappear. The family accidentally leaves Kevin asleep in bed, as a power outage resets the time and causes them to wake up late. A neighbor boy named Mitch Murphy is mistaken for Kevin in the head count, and the family hastily departs to the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, for a flight to Paris-Orly Airport. During the flight Kate realizes that they have left Kevin behind, and once everyone is in Paris, she immediately tries to book a return flight back to Chicago. Kate manages to fly into Dallas and Scranton, but the flight from there to Chicago was out of order. However, she does manage to hitch a ride with a man named Gus Polinski and his polka band, the Kenosha Kickers, who are driving to Milwaukee after their flight was cancelled in a blizzard.
+
The McCallister family is preparing to spend Christmas with Peter and Frank's brother, Rob, in Paris, gathering at Peter and Kate's house in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the night before their flight. Eight-year-old [[Kevin McCallister|Kevin]], their youngest son and the protagonist, finds himself the subject of ridicule from his siblings and cousins. After getting into a fight with his oldest brother, Buzz, who ate his cheese pizza on purpose, he is sent to the third floor bedroom, where he wishes that his family would disappear. They accidentally leaves him asleep in bed, as a power outage resets the time and causes them to oversleep. A neighbor boy named Mitch Murphy is mistaken for him in the head count, and they hastily depart to O'Hare International Airport, for a flight to Paris-Orly Airport. During the flight Kate realizes that they have left Kevin behind, and once they arrive at Paris-Orly, she immediately tries to book a return flight back to Chicago. She manages to fly to Dallas and Scranton, but the flight from there to Chicago is out of order. However, she does manage to hitch a ride with a man named Gus Polinski and his polka band, the Kenosha Kickers, who are driving to Milwaukee after their flight was cancelled due to a blizzard.
   
 
[[File:Home-alone-08.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-08.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Meanwhile, Kevin wakes up to find the house empty and is overjoyed to find that his wish came true. He gets away with Buzz's life savings, practicing shooting with Buzz's BB gun, jumping on the bed, watching a gangster film that his uncle wouldn't let him watch the night before, and eating a large amount of junk food. However, he finds himself scared by the appearance of the Chicago Police Department called by his parents to check on him via payphone from Paris-Orly, his next door neighbor, "Old Man" Marley, who was rumored to have murdered his family many years earlier, and the appearance of the Wet Bandits, [[Marv and Harry|Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants]], who are robbing other vacant houses along the block. They are aware of which house are vacant, as Harry impersonated a police officer in the beginning of the film doing wellness checks on families before the holidays.
+
Meanwhile, Kevin wakes up to find the house empty and is overjoyed to find that his wish came true. He gets away with Buzz's life savings, practices shooting with Buzz's BB gun, jumps on the bed, watches a gangster film that his Uncle Frank wouldn't let him watch the night before, and eats a large amount of junk food. However, he finds himself scared by the appearance of the Chicago Police Department called by his parents to check on him via pay phone from Paris-Orly, his next door neighbor, "Old Man" Marley, who is rumored to have murdered his family many years earlier, and the appearance of the Wet Bandits, [[Marv and Harry|Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants]], who are robbing other vacant houses along the block. They are aware of which ones are vacant, as Harry impersonated a police officer in the beginning of the film doing wellness checks on families before they went out of town for Christmas.
   
 
[[File:Home-alone-09.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-09.jpg|thumb|250px]]
On [[Christmas Eve]], Kevin manages overhear Harry and Marv discussing plans for breaking into his house that night. After conversing with a [[Santa Claus]] impersonator and watching a local choir perform in the church in hopes to have his family return, he runs into Marley. They talk, and he realizes that Marley is in fact a very nice man and that none of the rumors about him are true. He tells Kevin he is watching the choir because his granddaughter is in it, and he never gets to see her because he and his son have not spoken in years after having had a big argument. Kevin advises him to reconcile with his son.
+
On [[Christmas Eve]], Kevin overhears Harry and Marv discussing plans for breaking into his house that night. After conversing with a [[Santa Claus]] impersonator and watching a local choir perform in the church in hopes to have his family return, he runs into Marley. They talk, and he realizes that Marley is in fact a very nice man and that none of the rumors about him are true. He tells Kevin he is watching the choir because his granddaughter is in it, and he never gets to see her because he and his son have not spoken in years after having had a big argument. Kevin advises him to reconcile with his son.
   
 
[[File:Home-alone-10.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-10.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-17.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-17.jpg|thumb|250px]]
His own spirits lifted by encouraging Marley, he returns home to prepare a series of various booby traps around the house. Harry and Marv, who were initially fooled by Kevin's illusions that the house is occupied, now realize that he is home alone and attempt to break in, running into the various traps. After the two spring almost every trap in the house, Kevin flees to the second floor of the house and dials 9-1-1 from a landline. Harry and Marv manage to chase Kevin out of the house; he flees to the vacant neighboring home, which was unlocked and unoccupied. They trap Kevin when he runs to the top of the stairs connecting the basement and the first floor and hang him on a coat hook on the door. They decide to do the same things that Kevin did to them and Harry decides to bite Kevin's fingers one at a time first, but Marley sneaks up behind them and knocks them out with a snow shovel before taking Kevin off the hook and take him home. Shortly after Kevin is safely returned home, Harry and Marv are arrested. Additionally, the police were aware of every house that The Wet Bandits have hit because of their habits of leaving the household's water running to leave their mark.
+
Kevin, his own spirits lifted by encouraging Marley, returns home to prepare a series of various booby traps around the house. Harry and Marv, who were initially fooled by his illusions that it is occupied, now realize that he is home alone and attempt to break in, running into the various booby traps. After they spring almost every one in the house, Kevin flees to the second floor and dials 911 from a landline. Harry and Marv manage to chase him out of the house; he flees to Marley's house, which is unlocked. They trap him when he runs to the top of the basement stairs and hang him on a coat hook on the door. They decide to do the same things that he did to them and Harry decides to bite his fingers one at a time first, but Marley sneaks up behind them and knocks them out with a snow shovel before taking Kevin off the hook and back home. Shortly after he is safely returned home, Harry and Marv are arrested. Additionally, the police were aware of every house that they have hit because of their habits of leaving the household's water running to leave their mark.
   
 
[[File:Home-alone-19.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 
[[File:Home-alone-19.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Kevin wakes up the next morning and is disappointed to see that his family is still gone. He then hears Kate enter the house, calling for him. He goes downstairs, and they meet and reconcile. Immediately after, the rest of the family, having traveled directly to Chicago from Paris, arrive. Kevin and Buzz have a moment of reconciliation. Kevin keeps silent about his encounter with Harry and Marv, but Peter finds Harry's gold tooth and wonders what it is. Kevin and Buzz have a moment of reconciliation. Kevin then goes over to the window and sees Marley greeting his son and his family and discovers that Marley took his advice. While Marley is hugging his granddaughter, he looks up to see Kevin, and waves to him (as a sign of thanking him). He waves back, grinning, and watches as Marley heads inside with his family. However, Buzz interrupts Kevin's musings by suddenly calling out, "''Kevin! What did you do to my room?!''"
+
Kevin wakes up on Christmas morning and is disappointed to see that his family is still gone. He then hears Kate get home, calling for him. He goes downstairs, and they meet and reconcile. Immediately after, the rest of the family, having flown directly from Paris to Chicago, arrives. Kevin and Buzz have a moment of reconciliation. Kevin keeps silent about his encounter with Harry and Marv, but Peter finds Harry's gold tooth and wonders what it is. Kevin then goes over to the window and sees Marley greeting his son and his family and discovers that he took his advice. While he is hugging his granddaughter, he looks up, sees Kevin, and waves to him (as a sign of thanking him). Kevin waves back, grinning, and watches as Marley heads inside with his family. However, Buzz interrupts Kevin's musings by suddenly calling out, "Kevin! What did you do to my room?!" He immediately runs off (probably to Buzz's room) before it fades to black.
   
 
==Songs==
Kevin immediately runs there off probably to Buzz's room or somewhere in the house, and the film ends.
 
 
* "[[Somewhere in My Memory]]"
{{endspoiler}}
 
  +
* "[[Star of Bethlehem]]"
  +
* "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]" - Mel Torme
  +
* "[[Please Come Home for Christmas]]" - Southside Johnny Lyon
  +
* "[[White Christmas (song)|White Christmas]]" - The Drifters
  +
* "[[Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree]]" - Brenda Lee
  +
* "[[Run Rudolph Run]] - Chuck Berry
  +
* "[[You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch]]" (from ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)|How the Grinch Stole Christmas!]]'')
  +
* "[[Santa Claus is Coming to Town (song)|Santa Claus is Coming to Town]]"
  +
* "[[Carol of the Bells]]"
  +
* "[[O Holy Night]]" ("''Cantique de Noël''")
   
 
The film's signature tune, "[[Somewhere in My Memory]]", was actually written by John Williams to "run alongside the film". It can be heard in numerous sections, either in full length or fragments, forming the backbone for the soundtrack and setting an innocent, nostalgic mood, mainly depicting Kevin's struggles and his sorrow, which is reflected in the lyrics. It has since been performed in many Christmas concerts in schools, professional orchestras, and choirs alike across the globe. A Spanish version was recorded in Spain for the closing credits; it was performed by singer Ana Belén and is entitled "Sombras de otros tiempos" ("Shadows of Other/Former Times").
==Cast==
 
*{{w|Macaulay Culkin}} as [[Kevin McCallister]]: An eight-year-old who comes from a big family and usually gets into trouble with his family. One night he wishes for his family to disappear and gets his wish, but later on learns that it is not really fun being all alone. He defends his house from two burglars by using booby traps.
 
*{{w|Joe Pesci}} as [[Marv and Harry|Harry Lyme]]: One of the burglars who tries to break into Kevin's house. He is the smarter of the two burglars.
 
*{{w|Daniel Stern}} as [[Marv and Harry|Marv Merchants]]: One of the burglars who tries to break into Kevin's house. He is the sillier of the two.
 
*{{w|Roberts Blossom}} as "Old Man" Marley: An old man and a neighbor of Kevin's who is said to have murdered his whole family, causing Kevin to run scared of him every time he sees him. Kevin finally meets him at the nearby church and learns that he is not scary nor a murderer, and is actually a recluse because of a fight he had with his son many years before. He confides to Kevin that one can be a little old for a lot of things, but is never too old to be afraid of something (which Kevin agrees with). Kevin suggests that he should try reuniting with his son for Christmas, and at the end of the film, Marley has done just that. He waves to Kevin as his way of thanking him, and Kevin waves back, smiling proudly while watching from the living room window of his house.
 
*[[Catherine O'Hara]] as Kate McCallister: Kevin's mother and that of four more children.
 
*[[Wikipedia:John Heard (actor)|John Heard]] as Peter McCallister: Kevin's father and that of four more children.
 
*{{w|Devin Ratray}} as Buzz McCallister: Kevin's older brother. He likes to play tricks on him and getting him into trouble.
 
*{{w|Hillary Wolf}} as Megan McCallister: Kevin's older sister.
 
*Angela Goethals as Linnie McCallister: Kevin's older sister.
 
*[[Wikipedia:Mike Maronna|Michael C. Maronna]] as Jeff McCallister: Kevin's older brother.
 
*{{w|Gerry Bamman}} as Frank McCallister: Kevin's uncle and brother of Peter and Rob McCallister. He is married to Leslie and the father of five children. He tends to have a strong dislike for his nephew Kevin.
 
*Terrie Snell as Leslie McCallister: Kevin aunt and sister-in-law to Peter and Rob McCallister. She is married to Frank and the mother of five children.
 
*Jedidiah Cohen as Rod McCallister: Kevin's cousin.
 
*{{w|Senta Moses}} as Tracy McCallister: One of Kevin's cousins.
 
*Daiana Campeanu as Sondra McCallister: One of Kevin's cousins.
 
*{{w|Anna Slotky}} as Brooke McCallister: One of Kevin's cousins.
 
*{{w|Kieran Culkin}} as Fuller McCallister: One of Kevin's cousins and the son of Frank and Leslie McCallister. He wears glasses, likes to drink soda (such as Pepsi or Coke), and is famous for wetting the bed.
 
*{{w|Kristin Minter}} as Heather McCallister: Kevin's cousin and daughter of Rob McCallister.
 
*{{w|John Candy}} as Gus Polinski: A member of a band who misses his flight to Milwaukee when it is cancelled so he and his band have to catch a ride in a van and he offers to give Kate a ride to Chicago, since it is on the way to Milwaukee, to which she accepts. He admits to her that he accidentally left his son at a funeral parlor home once. Candy played the role for free without payment.
 
 
==Production==
 
[[File:Home_Alone_poster.jpg|thumb|250px|The poster for the film's theatrical release]]
 
As with most of Hughes' films, the film was set—and most of it was shot—in the greater [[Wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] area. Any other shots, such as those of Paris, are either stock footage or film trickery. The scene where Kevin wades through Marley's flooded basement when trying to outsmart the burglars was actually shot in the swimming pool of [[Wikipedia:New Trier High School|New Trier High School]]. A mock-up of the [[Wikipedia:McDonnell Douglas DC-10|McDonnell Douglas DC10]] business class was also put together there, on the basketball courts. [[Wikipedia:20th Century Fox|20th Century Fox]] picked up the project after [[Wikipedia:Warner Bros.|Warner Bros.]]'s rejection when the budget escalated from $14 million to $17 million.
 
 
The ''Home Alone'' house, or more precisely 671 Lincoln Avenue, is a three-story single family home detached ones used for shooting most of the scenes in ''Home Alone'' and the first four of the sequel, ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]''. The kitchen in the film was actually shot in the house, along with the main staircase, basement, and most of the first floor landing. However, the house's dining room, and all of the rooms downstairs (excluding the kitchen) were built on a soundstage. It is located in the village of Winnetka, Oak Park, which is a suburb of Chicago, located about 19 miles (30 km) north of the city in New Trier Township. It was built in 1920 and features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a fully converted attic, a fireplace, a detached double garage, and a greenhouse. "Kevin's tree house" in the backyard was demolished, since it was built specifically for the film. The residence is listed as a Chicago-area tourist destination, as well as being cited as an example of "How to Get Your Home in the Movies."
 
 
==Releases==
 
Following its original theatrical release, [[Wikipedia:20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|Fox Video]] made the film available on VHS and Laserdisc in 1991.
 
 
The film made its DVD debut on October 5, 1999. This DVD release, which contained a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer version of it, was later repackaged in a ''Christmas Classics'' box set with those of ''[[A Christmas Carol (1984)|A Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Jingle All the Way (1996)|Jingle All the Way]]'' and ''[[Miracle on 34th Street (1994)|Miracle on 34th Street]]'', on November 7, 2006. It was repackaged again, this time with the DVDs of the first three ''Home Alone'' sequels, in another box set released on October 14, 2008.
 
 
A new DVD release with a higher-quality anamorphic widescreen transfer and several bonus features, labeled as the Family Fun Edition, was released on November 21, 2006. A Blu-ray edition of it was later released on December 2, 2008, and later included in a 2-pack with the Blu-ray release of ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' in 2010. The Family Fun Edition Blu-ray was released again in 2011 as a combo pack that also contained the DVD and a Digital Copy. A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD and Blu-ray were released on October 6, 2015, both individually and in a "Collector's Edition" collection with Blu-rays and DVDs of the four sequels.
 
 
<gallery widths="200" captionalign="center" bordercolor="transparent" position="center" spacing="small" hideaddbutton="true">
 
HomeAlone_VHS_1991.jpg|{{Gallery note|VHS}}Fox Video<br>August 22, 1991
 
HomeAlone Laserdisc.jpg|{{Gallery note|Laserdisc}}Fox Video<br>August 22, 1991
 
HomeAlone_DVD_1999.jpg|{{Gallery note|DVD}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 5, 1999
 
HomeAlone_DVD_2006.jpg|{{Gallery note|Family Fun Edition DVD}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>November 21, 2006
 
HomeAlone_Bluray_2008.jpg|{{Gallery note|Family Fun Edition Blu-ray}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>December 2, 2008
 
HomeAlone_Bluray_2011.jpg|{{Gallery note|Family Fun Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 11, 2011
 
HomeAlone_25thAnniversary_DVD.jpg|{{Gallery note|25th Anniversary Edition DVD}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 6, 2015
 
HomeAlone_25thAnniversary_Bluray.jpg|{{Gallery note|25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack}}20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 6, 2015
 
</gallery>
 
 
==Music==
 
===''Home Alone: Official Soundtrack''===
 
{{Album|image=HomeAloneOST.jpg|soundtrack=''Home Alone''|composer={{W|John Williams}}|length=|date=1990|label=Sony Music Entertainment|catalogue=}}
 
Released by Sony Music Entertainment in 1990, the soundtrack contained 19 tracks consisting of the original score composed by John Williams and other Christmas songs used in the film.
 
   
  +
===Soundtrack album===
#"''Home Alone'' Main Titles" (4:53)
 
 
{{Album|image=HomeAloneOST.jpg|soundtrack=''Home Alone''|composer={{W|John Williams}}|date=November 1990|label=CBS Records}}
 
Released by CBS Records in November 1990, the soundtrack contained 19 tracks consisting of the original score, composed by Williams, and other Christmas songs used in the film.
 
#"Main Titles" (4:53)
 
#"Holiday Flight" (0:59)
 
#"Holiday Flight" (0:59)
 
#"The House" (2:27)
 
#"The House" (2:27)
Line 104: Line 67:
 
#"[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]/End Title" (4:15)
 
#"[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]/End Title" (4:15)
   
 
==Cast==
==="Somewhere in My Memory"===
 
  +
{|class=wikitable
The film's signature tune, "[[Somewhere in My Memory]]", was actually written by Williams to "run alongside the film". It can be heard in numerous sections, either in full length or fragments, forming the backbone for the soundtrack and setting an innocent, nostalgic mood, mainly depicting Kevin's struggles and his sorrow, which is reflected in the lyrics.
 
  +
!Actor/actress !! Character(s)
  +
|-
  +
|{{w|Macaulay Culkin}} || [[Kevin McCallister]]
  +
|-
  +
|{{w|Joe Pesci}} || [[Marv and Harry|Harry]]
  +
|-
  +
|{{w|Daniel Stern}} || [[Marv and Harry|Marv]]
  +
|-
  +
|John Heard || Peter McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Roberts Blossom || "Old Man" Marley
  +
|-
  +
|Catherine O'Hara || Kate McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Angela Goethals || Linnie
  +
|-
  +
|Devin Ratray || Buzz McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Gerry Bamman || Frank McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Hillary Wolf || Megan
  +
|-
  +
|{{w|John Candy}} || Gus Polinski
  +
|-
  +
|Larry Hankin || Officer Balzak
  +
|-
  +
|Michael C. Maronna || Jeff
  +
|-
  +
|Kristin Minter || Heather
  +
|-
  +
|Daiana Campeanu || Sondra
  +
|-
 
|Jedidiah Cohen || Rod McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Kieran Culkin || Fuller
  +
|-
  +
|Senta Moses || Tracy
  +
|-
  +
|Anna Slotky || Brooke
  +
|-
  +
|Terrie Snell || Leslie
  +
|-
  +
|Jeffrey Wiseman || Mitch Murphy
  +
|-
  +
|Virginia Smith || Georgette
  +
|-
  +
|Matt Doherty || Steffan
  +
|-valign=top
  +
|Ralph Foody<br>Michael Guido || Gangsters
  +
|-
  +
|Ray Toler || Rob McCallister
  +
|-
  +
|Billie Bird || Woman in airport
  +
|-
  +
|Bill Erwin || Man in airport
  +
|-valign=top
  +
|Gerry Becker<br>Victor Cole || Police officers
  +
|-valign=top
  +
|Porscha Radcliffe<br>Brittany Radcliffe || Cousins
  +
|-
  +
|Clarke Devereux || Officer Devereux
  +
|-
  +
|Dan Charles Zukoski || Pizza boy
  +
|-
  +
|Lynn Mansbach || French woman
  +
|-
  +
|Peter Siragusa || Lineman
  +
|-
  +
|Alan Wilder || Scranton ticket agent
  +
|-
  +
|Hope Davis || French ticket agent
  +
|-
  +
|Dianne B. Shaw || Airline counter person
  +
|-
  +
|Tracy Connor || Check out girl
  +
|-
  +
|Jim Ryan || Stock boy
  +
|-
  +
|Kenneth Hudson Campbell || [[Santa Claus]] impersonator
  +
|-
  +
|Sandra Macat || Santa's elf
  +
|-
  +
|Mark Beltzman || Stosh
  +
|-
  +
|Ann Whitney || Drugstore clerk
  +
|-
  +
|Richard J. Firfer || Store manager
  +
|-
  +
|Jim Ortlieb || Herb
  +
|-
  +
|Kate Johnson || Police operator
  +
|-valign=top
  +
|Michael Hansen<br>Peter Pantaleo || Airport van drivers
  +
|-
  +
|Jean-Claude Sciore || French gate agent
  +
|-
  +
|Monica Devereux || Flight attendant #1
  +
|-valign=top
  +
|Edward Bruzan<br>Frank R. Cernugel<br>John Hardy<br>Eddie Korosa<br>Robert Okrzesik<br>Leo Perion<br>Vince Waidzulis || Polka band members
  +
|-
  +
!colspan=2|Uncredited actors
  +
|-
  +
|Irene Columbus || Woman with baby on flight to Paris
  +
|-
  +
|Quinn Culkin || Girl at airport
  +
|-
  +
|Raja Gosnell || Murphy's answering machine voice
  +
|-
  +
| James Huffman || Kid at airport
  +
|-
  +
| Earl Hundt || Airport patron
  +
|-
  +
|Larry Nazimek || Airline pilot
  +
|-
  +
|Paula Newsome || Shopper
  +
|-
  +
|Paul Ruffino || Polka van driver
  +
|-
  +
|Yuri Rutman || Sailor at airport
  +
|-
  +
|Luciano Saber || Airport traveler
  +
|-
  +
|Linda Wylie || Flight Attendant #2
  +
|}
   
 
==Production==
''Somewhere in My Memory'', today, is performed in many Christmas concerts in schools or professional orchestras and choirs alike across the globe. A Spanish version was recorded in Spain for the closing credits; it was performed by singer Ana Belén and is entitled "Sombras de otros tiempos" ("Shadows of Other/Former Times").
 
 
[[File:Home Alone poster.jpg|thumb|250px|The poster for the film's theatrical release]]
 
As with most of Hughes' films, the film was set—and most of it was shot—in the greater Chicago area. Any other shots, such as those of Paris, are either stock footage or film trickery. The scene where Kevin wades through Marley's flooded basement when trying to outsmart Harry and Marv was actually shot in the swimming pool of New Trier High School. A mock-up of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 business class was also put together there, on the basketball courts. 21st Century Fox picked up the project after Warner Bros.'s rejection when the budget escalated from $14 million to $17 million.
   
 
The ''Home Alone'' house, or more precisely 671 Lincoln Avenue, is a three-story single family home detached ones used for shooting most of the scenes in the film and the first few scenes of the sequel, ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]''. The kitchen was actually shot in the house, along with the main staircase, basement, and most of the first floor landing. However, the dining room, and all of the rooms downstairs (excluding the kitchen) were built on a soundstage. It is located in the village of Winnetka, Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, located about 19 miles (30 km) north of the city in New Trier Township. It was built in 1920 and features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a fully converted attic, a fireplace, a detached double garage, and a greenhouse. "Kevin's tree house" in the backyard was demolished, since it was built specifically for the film. It is listed as a Chicago-area tourist destination, as well as being cited as an example of "How to Get Your Home in the Movies".
==Novelization and deleted scenes==
 
A children's novelization of the film was published several months prior to its initial November 1990 opening. This adaption features chapters and pictures that showcase several large scenes that were filmed but deleted from the final film. One of the many notable cut scenes features Harry impersonating a police officer. This particular scene takes place directly after Kevin's family leaves for their vacation in Paris. The novelization also includes the burglars' surnames. Joe Pesci's character, Harry Lyme, is a reference to Orson Welles' character in the 1940s film ''[[Wikipedia:The Third Man|The Third Man]]''.
 
   
==Video games==
+
==Releases==
 
Following its original theatrical release, {{w|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|FoxVideo}} made the film available on VHS and Laserdisc in 1991.
The first ''Home Alone'' game was released in 1991. ''Home Alone'' video games were released for the {{w|Nintendo Entertainment System}}, the {{w|Sega Mega Drive|Sega Genesis}}, the {{w|Super Nintendo Entertainment System}}, the {{w|Sega Game Gear}}, the {{w|Game Boy}}, the {{w|Sega Master System}}, the {{w|Amiga}}, and personal computers in 1991. The one on the SNES system used still images and character's voices from the film in its gameplay. It also features the characters from the film as well as new enemies created for the game, including a fat gangster, ghosts, large rats, and very large tarantulas.
 
   
 
The film made its DVD debut on October 5, 1999. This, which contained a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer version of it, was later repackaged in a ''Christmas Classics'' box set with those of ''[[A Christmas Carol (1984)|A Christmas Carol]]'', ''[[Jingle All the Way (1996)|Jingle All the Way]]'' and ''[[Miracle on 34th Street (1994)|Miracle on 34th Street]]'', on November 7, 2006. It was repackaged again, this time with the DVDs of the first three ''Home Alone'' sequels, in another box set released on October 14, 2008.
Another video game titled ''Home Alone'' was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. It was not released in the United States.
 
   
 
A new DVD release with a higher-quality anamorphic widescreen transfer and several bonus features, labeled as the Family Fun Edition, was released on November 21, 2006. A Blu-ray edition of it was later released on December 2, 2008, and later included in a 2-pack with the Blu-ray release of ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' in 2010. The Family Fun Edition Blu-ray was released again in 2011 as a combo pack that also contained the DVD and a Digital Copy. A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD and Blu-ray were released on October 6, 2015, both individually and in a "Collector's Edition" collection with Blu-rays and DVDs of the four sequels.
In 2007, the NES version was reviewed by [[Wikipedia:The Angry Video Game Nerd|the Angry Video Game Nerd]] as part of his crossover with Captain S.
 
  +
  +
<gallery widths=200 bordersize=none spacing=small>
 
HomeAlone VHS 1991.jpg|{{GNH|VHS|FoxVideo<br>August 22, 1991}}
 
HomeAlone Laserdisc.jpg|{{GNH|Laserdisc|FoxVideo<br>August 22, 1991}}
  +
HomeAlone VHS 1991.jpg|{{GNH|VHS|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>Holiday 1997}}
 
HomeAlone DVD 1999.jpg|{{GNH|DVD|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 5, 1999}}
 
HomeAlone DVD 2006.jpg|{{GNH|Family Fun Edition DVD|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>November 21, 2006}}
 
HomeAlone Bluray 2008.jpg|{{GNH|Family Fun Edition Blu-ray|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>December 2, 2008}}
 
HomeAlone Bluray 2011.jpg|{{GNH|Family Fun Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 11, 2011}}
 
HomeAlone 25thAnniversary DVD.jpg|{{GNH|25th Anniversary Edition DVD|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 6, 2015}}
 
HomeAlone 25thAnniversary Bluray.jpg|{{GNH|25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack|20th Century Fox Home Entertainment<br>October 6, 2015}}
 
</gallery>
  +
 
==Novelization and deleted scenes==
 
A children's novelization of the film was published several months prior to its initial November 1990 opening. It features chapters and pictures that showcase several large scenes that were filmed but deleted from the final film. One of the many notable cut scenes features Harry impersonating a police officer. This particular scene takes place directly after the McCallisters leaves for the airport. It also includes the burglars' surnames. Joe Pesci's character, Harry Lyme, is a reference to Orson Welles' character in the 1940s film ''{{w|The Third Man}}''.
   
 
==Reception==
 
==Reception==
Line 124: Line 227:
 
By the time it had run its course in theaters, the film was the third highest grossing film of all time, according to the home video box. In total, its cinema run grossed $477,561,243 worldwide.
 
By the time it had run its course in theaters, the film was the third highest grossing film of all time, according to the home video box. In total, its cinema run grossed $477,561,243 worldwide.
   
Though it was a great success in theaters, critical reception to the film has been mixed. {{w|Roger Ebert}} of the ''{{w|Chicago Sun-Times}}'' felt that the plot was too implausible and the entire film too contrived. Modern day review aggregator {{w|Rotten Tomatoes}} gave it a "Rotten" score of 47%. Reviewers cited that slapstick comedy has little appeal. The user section, however, on the site was positive with a "Fresh" score of 85% and a 63 out of 100 rating, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", at {{w|Metacritic}}. It received an {{w|Academy Award for Best Original Score}} nomination written by John Williams.
+
Though the film was a great success in theaters, critical reception to it has been mixed. {{w|Roger Ebert}} of the ''{{w|Chicago Sun-Times}}'' felt that the plot was too implausible and the entire film too contrived. Modern day review aggregator {{w|Rotten Tomatoes}} gave it a "Rotten" score of 47%. Reviewers cited that slapstick comedy has little appeal. The user section, however, on the site was positive with a "Fresh" score of 85% and a 63 out of 100 rating, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", at {{w|Metacritic}}. It received an {{w|Academy Award for Best Original Score}} nomination written by John Williams.
  +
  +
===Accolades===
  +
The film won two 1991 Young Artist Awards for Most Entertaining Comedy Movie and Best Actor {{w|Macaulay Culkin}}, portraying his lead role as Kevin. It also won the 1991 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie. It was also nominated for two 1991 Oscars for Best Score and Best Original Song.
   
 
==Sequels==
 
==Sequels==
 
The film was followed by a commercially successful sequel, ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'', which was the only ''Home Alone'' follow-up to bring back the original cast from the first film.
The film was followed by a commercially successful sequel, ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'', which brings back the original cast from the first film. ''{{W|Home Alone 3}}'', released in 1997, had completely different actors and a completely different storyline. It is also the only film in the series to not be set on or around Christmas--it is set in January. A fourth film, ''[[Home Alone 4]]'', followed in 2002. This film features some of the same characters featured in the first two films, but with a new cast and storyline that does not fall into the same continuity. It was the first film in the series to be made for television instead of theatrical release. A fifth film with another unrelated storyline, ''[[Home Alone: The Holiday Heist]]'', followed in 2012 and was also made-for-TV.
 
  +
  +
''{{w|Home Alone 3}}'', released in 1997, had completely different actors and a completely different storyline. It was also the only film in the series to not be set on or around Christmas--it is set in January. For that reason, it is not covered on this wiki.
  +
  +
A fourth film, ''[[Home Alone 4]]'', followed in 2002. IT features some of the same characters featured in the first two films, but with a new cast and storyline that does not fall into the same continuity. It was the first film in the series to be made-for-TV instead of theatrical release.
  +
  +
A fifth film with another unrelated storyline, ''[[Home Alone: The Holiday Heist]]'', followed in 2012 and was also made-for-TV.
  +
  +
Almost immediately following [[the Walt Disney Company]]'s acquisition of 21st Century Fox, a ''Home Alone'' [[Home Alone (reboot)|reboot]] was announced.
   
 
==''Angels with Filthy Souls''==
 
==''Angels with Filthy Souls''==
''Angels with Filthy Souls'' is a fictional gangster film that appears within ''Home Alone'' and was made specifically for the film. When the pizza delivery guy comes to deliver Kevin his cheese pizza, Kevin plays the movie and fast towards through Snakes' parts to make the pizza guy believe that Johnny lives in the house and run off when Johnny fires at Snakes. To thwart the antagonists, Kevin later plays it to trick them into thinking there are armed, dangerous adults in his house and uses fireworks to make things more believable. The title is likely a reference to the 1938 film ''{{W|Angels with Dirty Faces}}''. There is also a sequel to it, ''Angels with Even Filthier Souls'', in ''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]'', which aids Kevin as well.
+
''Angels with Filthy Souls'' is a fictional gangster film that appears within ''Home Alone'' and was made specifically for it. When the pizza delivery boy comes to deliver Kevin his cheese pizza, he plays it and fast forwards through Snakes' parts to make the pizza boy believe that Johnny lives in the house and run off when he fires at Snakes. To thwart Harry and Marv, Kevin later plays it to trick them into thinking there are armed, dangerous adults in the house and uses fireworks to make things more believable. The title is likely a reference to the 1938 film ''{{W|Angels with Dirty Faces}}''. ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' shows that there is a sequel, ''Angels with Even Filthier Souls'', which aids Kevin as well. The original clip was also used in the 2019 film ''{{W|Pokémon: Detective Pikachu}}''.
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[[w:c:homealone:Home Alone (film)|Home Alone Wiki: Home Alone]]
+
* {{Interwiki|homealone|Home Alone Wiki}}
*{{Imdb title|0099785}}
+
* {{Imdb title|0099785}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes|home_alone}}
+
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|home_alone}}
   
 
{{Wikipedia|Home Alone}}
 
{{Wikipedia|Home Alone}}
{{20th Century Fox}}
+
{{20th Century Studios}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Alone 1}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Alone 1}}
 
[[Category:Movies]]
 
[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox]]
+
[[Category:20th Century Studios]]
 
[[Category:Theatrical releases]]
 
[[Category:Theatrical releases]]
 
[[Category:1990 releases]]
 
[[Category:1990 releases]]
  +
[[Category:Comedy Movies]]
  +
[[Category:Award winners]]

Revision as of 17:27, 4 June 2020

This article is about the 1990 version. For the recently-announced reboot, see Home Alone (reboot).

Home Alone is a 1990 feature film, directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes.

Synopsis

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The McCallister family is preparing to spend Christmas with Peter and Frank's brother, Rob, in Paris, gathering at Peter and Kate's house in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, the night before their flight. Eight-year-old Kevin, their youngest son and the protagonist, finds himself the subject of ridicule from his siblings and cousins. After getting into a fight with his oldest brother, Buzz, who ate his cheese pizza on purpose, he is sent to the third floor bedroom, where he wishes that his family would disappear. They accidentally leaves him asleep in bed, as a power outage resets the time and causes them to oversleep. A neighbor boy named Mitch Murphy is mistaken for him in the head count, and they hastily depart to O'Hare International Airport, for a flight to Paris-Orly Airport. During the flight Kate realizes that they have left Kevin behind, and once they arrive at Paris-Orly, she immediately tries to book a return flight back to Chicago. She manages to fly to Dallas and Scranton, but the flight from there to Chicago is out of order. However, she does manage to hitch a ride with a man named Gus Polinski and his polka band, the Kenosha Kickers, who are driving to Milwaukee after their flight was cancelled due to a blizzard.

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Meanwhile, Kevin wakes up to find the house empty and is overjoyed to find that his wish came true. He gets away with Buzz's life savings, practices shooting with Buzz's BB gun, jumps on the bed, watches a gangster film that his Uncle Frank wouldn't let him watch the night before, and eats a large amount of junk food. However, he finds himself scared by the appearance of the Chicago Police Department called by his parents to check on him via pay phone from Paris-Orly, his next door neighbor, "Old Man" Marley, who is rumored to have murdered his family many years earlier, and the appearance of the Wet Bandits, Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants, who are robbing other vacant houses along the block. They are aware of which ones are vacant, as Harry impersonated a police officer in the beginning of the film doing wellness checks on families before they went out of town for Christmas.

Home-alone-09

On Christmas Eve, Kevin overhears Harry and Marv discussing plans for breaking into his house that night. After conversing with a Santa Claus impersonator and watching a local choir perform in the church in hopes to have his family return, he runs into Marley. They talk, and he realizes that Marley is in fact a very nice man and that none of the rumors about him are true. He tells Kevin he is watching the choir because his granddaughter is in it, and he never gets to see her because he and his son have not spoken in years after having had a big argument. Kevin advises him to reconcile with his son.

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Kevin, his own spirits lifted by encouraging Marley, returns home to prepare a series of various booby traps around the house. Harry and Marv, who were initially fooled by his illusions that it is occupied, now realize that he is home alone and attempt to break in, running into the various booby traps. After they spring almost every one in the house, Kevin flees to the second floor and dials 911 from a landline. Harry and Marv manage to chase him out of the house; he flees to Marley's house, which is unlocked. They trap him when he runs to the top of the basement stairs and hang him on a coat hook on the door. They decide to do the same things that he did to them and Harry decides to bite his fingers one at a time first, but Marley sneaks up behind them and knocks them out with a snow shovel before taking Kevin off the hook and back home. Shortly after he is safely returned home, Harry and Marv are arrested. Additionally, the police were aware of every house that they have hit because of their habits of leaving the household's water running to leave their mark.

Home-alone-19

Kevin wakes up on Christmas morning and is disappointed to see that his family is still gone. He then hears Kate get home, calling for him. He goes downstairs, and they meet and reconcile. Immediately after, the rest of the family, having flown directly from Paris to Chicago, arrives. Kevin and Buzz have a moment of reconciliation. Kevin keeps silent about his encounter with Harry and Marv, but Peter finds Harry's gold tooth and wonders what it is. Kevin then goes over to the window and sees Marley greeting his son and his family and discovers that he took his advice. While he is hugging his granddaughter, he looks up, sees Kevin, and waves to him (as a sign of thanking him). Kevin waves back, grinning, and watches as Marley heads inside with his family. However, Buzz interrupts Kevin's musings by suddenly calling out, "Kevin! What did you do to my room?!" He immediately runs off (probably to Buzz's room) before it fades to black.

Songs

The film's signature tune, "Somewhere in My Memory", was actually written by John Williams to "run alongside the film". It can be heard in numerous sections, either in full length or fragments, forming the backbone for the soundtrack and setting an innocent, nostalgic mood, mainly depicting Kevin's struggles and his sorrow, which is reflected in the lyrics. It has since been performed in many Christmas concerts in schools, professional orchestras, and choirs alike across the globe. A Spanish version was recorded in Spain for the closing credits; it was performed by singer Ana Belén and is entitled "Sombras de otros tiempos" ("Shadows of Other/Former Times").

Soundtrack album

Released by CBS Records in November 1990, the soundtrack contained 19 tracks consisting of the original score, composed by Williams, and other Christmas songs used in the film.

  1. "Main Titles" (4:53)
  2. "Holiday Flight" (0:59)
  3. "The House" (2:27)
  4. "Star of Bethlehem (Orchestral Version)" (2:51)
  5. "Man of the House" (4:33)
  6. "White Christmas" (2:40)
  7. "Scammed by a Kindergartner" (3:55)
  8. "Please Come Home For Christmas" (Southside Johnny) (2:41)
  9. "Follow That Kid!" (2:03)
  10. "Making the Plane" (0:52)
  11. "O Holy Night" (2:48)
  12. "Carol of the Bells" (1:25)
  13. "Star of Bethlehem" (2:59)
  14. "Setting the Trap" (2:16)
  15. "Somewhere in My Memory" (1:04)
  16. "The Attack on the House" (6:53)
  17. "Mom Returns and Finale" (4:19)
  18. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Mel Tormé) (3:05)
  19. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas/End Title" (4:15)

Cast

Actor/actress Character(s)
Macaulay Culkin Kevin McCallister
Joe Pesci Harry
Daniel Stern Marv
John Heard Peter McCallister
Roberts Blossom "Old Man" Marley
Catherine O'Hara Kate McCallister
Angela Goethals Linnie
Devin Ratray Buzz McCallister
Gerry Bamman Frank McCallister
Hillary Wolf Megan
John Candy Gus Polinski
Larry Hankin Officer Balzak
Michael C. Maronna Jeff
Kristin Minter Heather
Daiana Campeanu Sondra
Jedidiah Cohen Rod McCallister
Kieran Culkin Fuller
Senta Moses Tracy
Anna Slotky Brooke
Terrie Snell Leslie
Jeffrey Wiseman Mitch Murphy
Virginia Smith Georgette
Matt Doherty Steffan
Ralph Foody
Michael Guido
Gangsters
Ray Toler Rob McCallister
Billie Bird Woman in airport
Bill Erwin Man in airport
Gerry Becker
Victor Cole
Police officers
Porscha Radcliffe
Brittany Radcliffe
Cousins
Clarke Devereux Officer Devereux
Dan Charles Zukoski Pizza boy
Lynn Mansbach French woman
Peter Siragusa Lineman
Alan Wilder Scranton ticket agent
Hope Davis French ticket agent
Dianne B. Shaw Airline counter person
Tracy Connor Check out girl
Jim Ryan Stock boy
Kenneth Hudson Campbell Santa Claus impersonator
Sandra Macat Santa's elf
Mark Beltzman Stosh
Ann Whitney Drugstore clerk
Richard J. Firfer Store manager
Jim Ortlieb Herb
Kate Johnson Police operator
Michael Hansen
Peter Pantaleo
Airport van drivers
Jean-Claude Sciore French gate agent
Monica Devereux Flight attendant #1
Edward Bruzan
Frank R. Cernugel
John Hardy
Eddie Korosa
Robert Okrzesik
Leo Perion
Vince Waidzulis
Polka band members
Uncredited actors
Irene Columbus Woman with baby on flight to Paris
Quinn Culkin Girl at airport
Raja Gosnell Murphy's answering machine voice
James Huffman Kid at airport
Earl Hundt Airport patron
Larry Nazimek Airline pilot
Paula Newsome Shopper
Paul Ruffino Polka van driver
Yuri Rutman Sailor at airport
Luciano Saber Airport traveler
Linda Wylie Flight Attendant #2

Production

Home Alone poster

The poster for the film's theatrical release

As with most of Hughes' films, the film was set—and most of it was shot—in the greater Chicago area. Any other shots, such as those of Paris, are either stock footage or film trickery. The scene where Kevin wades through Marley's flooded basement when trying to outsmart Harry and Marv was actually shot in the swimming pool of New Trier High School. A mock-up of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 business class was also put together there, on the basketball courts. 21st Century Fox picked up the project after Warner Bros.'s rejection when the budget escalated from $14 million to $17 million.

The Home Alone house, or more precisely 671 Lincoln Avenue, is a three-story single family home detached ones used for shooting most of the scenes in the film and the first few scenes of the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The kitchen was actually shot in the house, along with the main staircase, basement, and most of the first floor landing. However, the dining room, and all of the rooms downstairs (excluding the kitchen) were built on a soundstage. It is located in the village of Winnetka, Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, located about 19 miles (30 km) north of the city in New Trier Township. It was built in 1920 and features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a fully converted attic, a fireplace, a detached double garage, and a greenhouse. "Kevin's tree house" in the backyard was demolished, since it was built specifically for the film. It is listed as a Chicago-area tourist destination, as well as being cited as an example of "How to Get Your Home in the Movies".

Releases

Following its original theatrical release, FoxVideo made the film available on VHS and Laserdisc in 1991.

The film made its DVD debut on October 5, 1999. This, which contained a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer version of it, was later repackaged in a Christmas Classics box set with those of A Christmas Carol, Jingle All the Way and Miracle on 34th Street, on November 7, 2006. It was repackaged again, this time with the DVDs of the first three Home Alone sequels, in another box set released on October 14, 2008.

A new DVD release with a higher-quality anamorphic widescreen transfer and several bonus features, labeled as the Family Fun Edition, was released on November 21, 2006. A Blu-ray edition of it was later released on December 2, 2008, and later included in a 2-pack with the Blu-ray release of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 2010. The Family Fun Edition Blu-ray was released again in 2011 as a combo pack that also contained the DVD and a Digital Copy. A 25th Anniversary Edition DVD and Blu-ray were released on October 6, 2015, both individually and in a "Collector's Edition" collection with Blu-rays and DVDs of the four sequels.

Novelization and deleted scenes

A children's novelization of the film was published several months prior to its initial November 1990 opening. It features chapters and pictures that showcase several large scenes that were filmed but deleted from the final film. One of the many notable cut scenes features Harry impersonating a police officer. This particular scene takes place directly after the McCallisters leaves for the airport. It also includes the burglars' surnames. Joe Pesci's character, Harry Lyme, is a reference to Orson Welles' character in the 1940s film The Third Man.

Reception

In its opening weekend, the film grossed $17 million in 1,202 theaters, averaging $14,211 per site and just 6% of the final total. It proved so popular that it stayed in theaters well past the Christmas season. It was the #1 film at the box office for 12 straight weeks, from its release weekend of November 16–18, 1990 through the weekend of February 1–3, 1991. It remained a top 10 draw at the box office until the weekend of April 26 that year, which was well past Easter weekend. It made two more appearances in the top 10 (the weekend of May 31-June 2 and the weekend of June 14–16) before finally falling out of the top 10. It ended up making a final gross of $285,761,243, the top grossing film of its year in North America. It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest grossing live-action comedy ever.

By the time it had run its course in theaters, the film was the third highest grossing film of all time, according to the home video box. In total, its cinema run grossed $477,561,243 worldwide.

Though the film was a great success in theaters, critical reception to it has been mixed. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times felt that the plot was too implausible and the entire film too contrived. Modern day review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave it a "Rotten" score of 47%. Reviewers cited that slapstick comedy has little appeal. The user section, however, on the site was positive with a "Fresh" score of 85% and a 63 out of 100 rating, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", at Metacritic. It received an Academy Award for Best Original Score nomination written by John Williams.

Accolades

The film won two 1991 Young Artist Awards for Most Entertaining Comedy Movie and Best Actor Macaulay Culkin, portraying his lead role as Kevin. It also won the 1991 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie. It was also nominated for two 1991 Oscars for Best Score and Best Original Song.

Sequels

The film was followed by a commercially successful sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which was the only Home Alone follow-up to bring back the original cast from the first film.

Home Alone 3, released in 1997, had completely different actors and a completely different storyline. It was also the only film in the series to not be set on or around Christmas--it is set in January. For that reason, it is not covered on this wiki.

A fourth film, Home Alone 4, followed in 2002. IT features some of the same characters featured in the first two films, but with a new cast and storyline that does not fall into the same continuity. It was the first film in the series to be made-for-TV instead of theatrical release.

A fifth film with another unrelated storyline, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist, followed in 2012 and was also made-for-TV.

Almost immediately following the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, a Home Alone reboot was announced.

Angels with Filthy Souls

Angels with Filthy Souls is a fictional gangster film that appears within Home Alone and was made specifically for it. When the pizza delivery boy comes to deliver Kevin his cheese pizza, he plays it and fast forwards through Snakes' parts to make the pizza boy believe that Johnny lives in the house and run off when he fires at Snakes. To thwart Harry and Marv, Kevin later plays it to trick them into thinking there are armed, dangerous adults in the house and uses fireworks to make things more believable. The title is likely a reference to the 1938 film Angels with Dirty Faces. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York shows that there is a sequel, Angels with Even Filthier Souls, which aids Kevin as well. The original clip was also used in the 2019 film Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.

External links

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20th Century
Movies
Miracle on 34th Street (1955 remake) (1973 remake) (1994 remake) • Die HardDie Hard 2Home AloneHome Alone 2: Lost in New YorkGeorge Balanchine's The NutcrackerTrapped in ParadiseJingle All the WayHome Alone 4The Family StoneDeck the Halls12 Men of ChristmasHome Alone: The Holiday HeistJingle All the Way 2Home Sweet Home Alone
Television episodes and specials
20th Television
M*A*S*H "Dear Dad" • "Dear Sis" • "Death Takes a Holiday" • "All About Christmas Eve"
Tracey Ullman "Santa Baby" • "Kay's Gift" • "Merry Catnip"
The X Files "Christmas Carol" • "Emily" • "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas"
Malcolm in the Middle "Christmas" • "Christmas Trees" • "Pearl Harbor" • "Hal's Christmas Gift
Bones "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" • "The Santa in the Slush" • "The Goop on the Girl"
How I Met Your Mother "How Lily Stole Christmas" • "Little Minnesota" • "False Positive" • "Symphony of Illumination" • "The Over-Correction" • "The Final Page, Part 1" • "The Final Page, Part 2"
Glee "A Very Glee Christmas" • "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" • "Glee, Actually" • "Previously Unaired Christmas"
New Girl "The 23rd" • "Santa" • "LAXmas" • "Christmas Eve Eve"
The Mindy Project "Josh and Mindy's Christmas Party" • "Christmas Party Sex Trap" • "Christmas" • "When Mindy Met Danny"
Last Man Standing "Last Christmas Standing" • "Putting a Hit on Christmas" • "Elfie" • "Wedding Planning" • "Gift of the Wise Man"
Other shows "Christmas Story" • "The Worst Noel" • "Haus Arrest" • "Amends" • "Blue Christmas" • "A Christmas Story" • "Cookies for Santa" • "In God We Trust" • "Road to Tradition" • "Afternoon Delight" • "Christmas" • "The Glitch That Stole Christmas" • "Secret Santa"
20th Television Animation
The Simpsons "Simpson Christmas" • "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" • "Marge Be Not Proud" • "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace" • "Grift of the Magi" • "Skinner's Sense of Snow" • "She of Little Faith" • "'Tis the Fifteenth Season" • "Simpson Christmas Stories" • "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II" • "The Fight Before Christmas" • "Holidays of Future Passed" • "White Christmas Blues" • "I Won't Be Home for Christmas • "The Nightmare After Krustmas" • "'Tis the 30th Season" • "Bobby, It's Cold Outside" • "The Way of The Dog" • "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas" • "Manger Things" • Feliz Navidad
King of the Hill "The Unbearable Blindness of Laying" • "Pretty, Pretty Dresses" • "Hillennium" • "'Twas the Nut Before Christmas" • "The Father, the Son, and J.C." • "Livin' on Reds, Vitamin C and Propane" • "Ms. Wakefield"
Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" • "The Best Christmas Story Never" • "The Most Adequate Christmas Ever" • "Rapture's Delight" • "A Cleveland Brown Christmas" • "Road to the North Pole" • "For Whom the Sleigh Bell Tolls" • "Murray Christmas" • "Season's Beatings" • "Die Semi-Hard" • "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" • "'Tis the Cleveland To Be Sorry" • "Minstrel Krampus" • "Christmas Guy" • "Dreaming of a White Porsche Christmas" • "The 2000-Year-Old Virgin" • "How the Griffin Stole Christmas" • "Ninety North, Zero West" • "Gifted Me Liberty" • "Don't Be a Dickens At Christmas" • "Santa, Schmanta" • "Christmas is Coming" • "Yule. Tide. Repeat." • "The First No L" • "Christmas Crime" • "The Return of the King (of Queens)"
Futurama "Xmas Story" • "A Tale of Two Santas" • "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" • "I Know What You Did Next Xmas"
Bob's Burgers "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins" • "Christmas in the Car" • "Father of the Bob" • "Nice-Capades" • "The Last Gingerbread House on the Left" • "The Bleakening" • "Better Off Sled" • "Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas" • "Yachty or Nice" • "Gene's Christmas Break" • "The Plight Before Christmas" • "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas"
Other cartoons "Hook's Christmas" • "A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman" • Olive, the Other ReindeerIce Age: A Mammoth Christmas • "The War on Grafelnik" • "Miracle on Culpepper Slims Boulevard" • "A Very Solar Holiday Opposites Special" • "Dip the Halls Adventure" • "Xmas with The Skanks Adventure"