Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern

A young boy learns to fend for himself after his family accidentally leaves him at home while they go off on their vacation in France for Christmas.

Flixster Users

74% liked it

944,921 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

30 critics

PG, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Release Date: November 16, 1990

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DVD Release Date: October 5, 1999

Stats: 47,015 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (47,015)


  • September 22, 2009
    I have nothing but hate for this movie!
  • August 22, 2009
    Totally cute.
  • August 8, 2009
    Home Alone' has succeeded in establishing itself as a Christmas tradition, spawning off three sequels (including a made-for-television flop), and a whole franchise in and of it.

    Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, the average American child. He has an attitude almost expect...( read more)ed of a Chris Columbus film from the eighties. He lives with a large family, which, right now, being around Christmas time, is about quadrupled, flooded by relatives' children, all of whom pick on poor, poor Kevin (sympathy long lost later into the film).

    One day Kevin wakes up from his sleep to find his wish has come true: his parents (John Heard and Catherine O'Hara) have disappeared. Enthralled by this, he proceeds to do everything and anything he was not allowed to do before, including eating ice cream in the morning, watching violent gangster films, jumping on the bed, wrecking his brother's room, and having some fun with a BB gun. Unfortunately for Kevin, his parents have not just disappeared - they have accidentally left him at home before going to Paris!

    Trouble really starts when two pesky burglars, Harry Lime (Joe Pesci) and Marv Merchants (Daniel Stern), decide that their next burglary will be at the McCallister residence. Little do they know Kevin is more than prepared, arming the house with an array of booby-traps that would impress top spies in the American government.

    John Hughes, writer/director/producer of my favorite comedy, 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' wrote this film, and it is no wonder. It is just like Hughes' humor. It mixes emotion, belly laughs and a warm-hearted ending all into one little bundle called a movie. John Hughes' films, in my experience, are usually very good, mainly because he approaches films at a very classic level. He doesn't resort to crude, kid jokes, like 'The Master of Disguise' or 'The Tuxedo,' to name a few recent flops. He almost always levels everything out perfectly in his scripts, and nothing is different here. Also, he places Kevin and co. in a large brick home in a large neighborhood in Chicago; a home that very much resembles those in 'Planes.' and 'Uncle Buck' (I would not be surprised if it is the same home).

    As for the acting.

    Macaulay Culkin is not at his best here. His best performance would have to be in an earlier John Hughes film named 'Uncle Buck,' where he had more of a cute charm than an acting charm. Here, he could barely act his way out of a plastic bag. Fortunately, with great performances by John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, Pesci and Stern, his bad acting is long forgotten by the time we become absorbed into the film.

    John Heard and Catherine O'Hara bring Kevin's parents to life. They seem almost complete opposites. Kevin's father, Peter (Heard), is very calm and laidback. His mother, Kate (O'Hara) is extremely nervous almost all the time, fretting throughout the film. She is aggravated very easily and, like all mothers, her instinctive nature to care for her child is what drives her to the point she goes to in the film.

    And then there's Pesci and Stern. My favorite lot of the film. They perfectly blend humor, pain and aggravation to the film.

    Pesci's character Harry is very strict, easily agitated and picks on Marv for a great many things. Marv, the stereotypical 'tall, stupid one,' is completely stupid. He does things that would make a hamster blush. Yet he is the character I have found many like the most, mainly because he is so stupid you have to feel sorry for him. Stern brings a great trait to the character of Marv, and I am very pleased he got the part. It's a hard choice to decide which baddie is better, so I just say I like them both the same.

    All in all, 'Home Alone' is probably the best Christmas movie to rise out of the film industry in the last twenty years. It seamlessly blends humor, pain, emotion, human instinct and some great booby-traps all into one little bundle. This film has stood the test of time greatly.
  • May 23, 2009
    One of my least favourite movies ever.
  • March 19, 2009
    Classic slapstick. I really enjoy Joe Pesci in this movie. At some points, I was rooting for him over Macauley Culkin.
  • November 20, 2009
    You laugh, and then laugh some more.
  • November 19, 2009
    Its a very interesting movies!!!
    You can't get tired with this!
  • November 18, 2009
    One of my favorite childhood movies
  • November 13, 2009
    A good family comedy.
  • November 13, 2009
    Such a good holiday movie. I watch it year-round. Marv screaming at the spider still makes me laugh after about 25 times.

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • junixaakalittleangle
    December 25, 2008
    i love it made me lol it a funist movie that i every see on christmas
  • nrvanagrl
    December 20, 2008
    This movie is classic. It has stood the test of time. As a fun holiday card you can insert yourself into a scene as Marv and e-mail it to your friends... give it a try :) http://www.mymoviemoment.com/
  • jesuslovesu777
    March 29, 2008
    this movie is great. love it.
  • sportboy
    February 14, 2008
    This was a fabulous film.Macaulay Culkin did well in it when he played Kevin and it was a very funny movie the funny part was when he made a plan map for when the burgulars came and then he put all ice and water on the floor and steam on the doors to stop the burgulars coming in I just couldn't stop laughing when I was seeing all the things that was happening to the burgulars
  • snowy032
    February 7, 2008
    An entertaining movie to enjoy for generation to generation. Also filled with lots of humor, and unforgettable scenes like the dip in the toilet bowl.
  • porcelainmachine
    September 5, 2007
    Used think it was just a kids movie I'd seen a lot.. then saw it again and couldn't tear myself away.. love the creepy xmass music too
  • francis1k
    August 25, 2007
    I LOVE THIS FILM lol
  • princessrachelanndiaz
    June 13, 2007
    home alone is a great movie... :)
  • JesusFreakinc18
    May 14, 2007
    This is the best out of the home alone movies.
  • loveronehotsexy
    November 23, 2006
    i love that movie is so funny

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Home Alone Trivia


  • In Home Alone, what does Kevin steal from the store?  Answer »
  • In Home Alone, what gets loose when Kevin breaks the shelves in Buzz's room?  Answer »
  • In Home Alone, what did the fake Santa give Kevin when he asked for his family back?  Answer »
  • In Home Alone, what does Marv do at every house that he and Harry rob?  Answer »

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