The one with the Wet Bandits ...
Leave it to John Hughes to turn a parent’s worst nightmare into one of the most beloved holiday films of all time.
Released on November 16, 1990, Home Alone made 10-year-old Macaulay Culkin a household name. Directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes, it held the record as the highest-grossing live-action comedy for two decades.
Sure, you probably know many of the movie’s famous quotes by heart. And if you’re anything like me, this film feels like the Christmas gift that just keeps on giving.
But did you know …
1. No packing list is complete without …
In 1989, Hughes was working on a packing list for an upcoming family vacation. While trying to think of everything he didn’t want to forget, he thought, “Well, I’d better not forget my kids.” But what if he did?
Hughes started brainstorming what his 10-year-old son would do if left to his own devices. It sparked the idea for a screenplay, and he eventually completed the first draft of Home Alone in just nine days.
Why the Wet Bandits, though? The film’s villains came from what Hughes imagined a real kid would be most afraid of: robbers.
2. Family ties
Have you ever noticed a resemblance between Kevin and his cousin Fuller? The infamous bedwetter is actually played by Macaulay Culkin’s little brother, Kieran.
Only 7 years old during filming, Kieran Culkin later admitted that he had no idea what the movie was about at the time. He achieved stardom decades later as an Emmy and Academy Award-winning actor best known for his role as Roman Roy in the HBO series Succession.
3. The deleted post-credits scene
You know that famous “Go Home” scene in Ferris Bueller, another John Hughes hit? Home Alone almost got its own post-credits scene featuring the fake movie-within-a-movie, Angels with Filthy Souls.
According to Chicago Magazine, “The shooting script originally ended with a short scene, after the credits, in which Harry and Marv watch Angels on TV in prison, surrounded by other offenders. They exchange looks when they recognize the movie dialogue that duped them.”
4. “He just made that up on the spot.”
John Candy only had 24 hours to film his memorable role as polka-player Gus Polinski. But he made the most of every minute, often cracking up the cast and crew with his unending improvisations.
As director Chris Columbus told The Independent, “That entire story in the van about John being locked in the funeral parlor with the corpse? He just made that up on the spot.”
5. “We want that ‘Home Alone fall.’”
The stunts in Home Alone changed the movie business forever. All the stunts were done as realistically as possible without the use of special effects. Cast and crew members claim that some of the stunts were actually quite scary to watch in real time because of their death-defying nature.
According to Freddie Hice, the film’s stunt coordinator, “Every comedy for the next 15 years, everybody would call for an interview and say, ‘We want that Home Alone fall.’”
6. Santa Chris
Comedy legend Chris Farley auditioned for the role of the Santa Claus impersonator in Home Alone. But in true Farley fashion, his wild lifestyle may have cost him the part.
Ken Hudson Campbell, who ultimately got the part, met Farley at the auditions one morning. “Apparently, he was out all night and had just been dropped off after a night of shenanigans, shall we say,” Campbell told Chicago Magazine. “Chris went first. It didn’t go very well. He walked in and walked right out.”
Fortunately for Farley, he became a breakout star on SNL after joining the cast in 1990, the same year Home Alone was released.
7. The poor angel!
It’s odd to think of a movie as iconic as Home Alone by any other name. But internationally, titles vary quite a bit from the original.
Argentina’s name is Oh, the Poor Angel, while Brazil calls it They Forgot About Me. Several other countries use Mom, I Missed the Plane as the film’s title.
8. Extreme Home Alone makeover
Many ‘90s kids dreamed of growing up in the McCallister home. However, the interior of the house today is practically unrecognizable compared to its appearance in the film.
Located in Winnetka, Illinois, the Home Alone house has been renovated in an ultra-minimalist style. It sold in January 2025 for $5.5 million.
9. Shoulda coulda woulda
It wasn’t obvious that Home Alone would become such a huge hit, which may have caused a few people to miss out on big opportunities. Before Joe Pesci was cast, Robert De Niro and Jon Lovitz both turned down the role of Harry. Describing his initial reaction to the script, Lovitz said, “I don’t want to play second fiddle to some kid. Then it became the biggest comedy of all time. Oops.”
Comedian John Mulaney, who was in a local children’s sketch comedy group at the time, was asked to audition for the role of Kevin. However, his parents turned the opportunity down.
10. Gin and Juice
What do Snoop Dogg and Home Alone have in common? Snoop’s 1994 music video for “Gin and Juice” starts off with a spoof of the film.
In the video, Snoop’s family tells him he needs to get a job, clean up the house, and act more responsibly. As soon as they leave and he’s left on his own, he puts his hands on his face and yells, “Ahhhh!” (just like Kevin in front of the mirror) as the words “Homeboy Alone” appear on the screen.
“Buzz, your girlfriend — WOOF!” Forward this to someone who can recite “Home Alone” quotes right along with you.
Editorial: Ashley
Illustration: Nick