Home Alone, the classic Christmas movie from 1990 directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes, still delights audiences young and old every holiday season with its perfect blend of heartwarming moments and slapstick humor. Starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, the young boy left alone during the holidays, Home Alone has become synonymous with Christmas nostalgia. While viewers celebrate every holiday season by watching the film, many may not know the behind-the-scenes stories and trivia left out of the spotlight.
John Hughes, the mastermind behind iconic '80s films like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, wrote the first draft of Home Alone remarkably fast, crafting the story in just over nine days. The inspiration for the script came from Hughes's own fears of leaving his children behind during family vacations. "I was going away on vacation and making a list of everything I didn’t want to forget...What if I left my 10-year-old son at home? What would he do?" he shared with Time magazine.
Interestingly, much of the late John Candy’s performance was improvised. Candy, who plays Gus Polinski, the polka band member who helps Kevin’s mother, was on set for only one day, yet his contributions became legendary. Columbus recounted, "None of [John Candy's] stuff was in the script... We could barely keep a straight face on set just listening to John," according to Business Insider in 2020. This unplanned comedy became one of the film’s highlights.
Despite being a comedy titan, Candy received surprisingly little compensation for his memorable role, reportedly earning less than the actor hired for the pizza delivery boy role. His appearance was more of a favor to Hughes than of any financial motivation; he accepted the most minimal pay rate offered by the studio. Meanwhile, the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score remains contentious to its fans, standing at just 66% on the critics' meter, leading many to question the judgment of reviewers who miss the film's charm.
Another compelling trivia point is the backstory of the McCallister family’s wealth. During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Columbus revealed, "Back then, John [Hughes] and I had a conversation about it...we decided on what the jobs were." According to Columbus, Kate McCallister (played by Catherine O'Hara) was portrayed as a successful fashion designer, which explains the family’s lavish home. For Peter McCallister, played by John Heard, the specifics remain ambiguous, but Columbus hinted he might have been involved in advertising.
Another iconic moment from the film involves Kevin’s scream, perfectly captured when he puts on aftershave and reacts dramatically. Reportedly, this was not how Columbus envisioned it initially. He advised Culkin to scream after pulling his hands away, but the young actor held his hands on his cheeks through the initial take, making it one of the most punctuated moments audiences cherish.
Interesting details extend to the film’s technical aspects as well. An example includes animation exaggeration where, during Marv’s entry through the pet door, Columbus confirmed they hired someone to hand-paint the BB bullet for six frames of the film. Also, the classic black-and-white movie Kevin watches is not real; it’s titled Angels with Filthy Souls, created solely for Home Alone, showcasing the production team's ingenuity.
Fast forward thirty years, Columbus has continued making holiday films, directing The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two for Netflix, starring Kurt Russell, returning to his holiday roots. Meanwhile, the legacy of Home Alone lives on through the children of its stars. Macaulay Culkin's son has already attempted practices reminiscent of Kevin, exclaiming, "He thinks he's Kevin," leaving behind the movie's spirit for the next generation. On the flip side, Kieran Culkin’s children still have yet to experience the film, primarily due to some of its scarier elements.
At the end of the day, as families gather around during the holiday season, Home Alone remains not just cinematic entertainment, but also cherished nostalgia, maintaining its place as a beloved classic across generations.
