Home Alone Movies in order
Home Alone is a 1990 slapstick comedy movie that stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, a young boy who ends up being home alone during the Christmas vacation when his family mistakenly thinks he’s been kidnapped by an unknown intruder. Once the movie was released, it didn’t seem like it would be much of a success. After all, it was just another Christmas movie with no big stars and it wasn’t based on some hot new book or superhero or anything. But lo and behold, Home Alone became one of the biggest hits of 1990 and helped set the tone for a couple more movies from the franchise.
Home Alone has received critical acclaim since its release in 1990, with many praising its humor and performances. In addition to its favorable reception from critics, Home Alone was also successful at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year and establishing financial feasibility for producing two sequels in 1992 and 1997. Let’s take a closer look at how this home alone kid genius managed to become such a big hit…
How Many Home Alone Movies Are There?
There have been 6 Home Alone movies from 1990 to 2021.
Home Alone 1990
On November 16, 1990, one of the most popular family films of all time was released in theaters. Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), an eight-year-old boy who is accidentally left home alone when his family goes on vacation to Paris.
While initially excited at the prospect of having the house to himself, Kevin quickly realizes that he’s in way over his head when two burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), attempt to break into his home on Christmas Eve.
Through a series of slapstick comedic set-pieces, Kevin manages to foil the burglars’ plan and save his home (and his family’s Christmas presents) from being stolen.
The film was an instant hit with audiences, grossing over $470 million at the box office and launching the career of its young star, Macaulay Culkin.
In the years since its release, Home Alone has become something of a holiday classic, with many people around the world quoting its most memorable lines and imitating its most iconic scenes.
Home Alone (1990) Trivia
1. The role of Kevin McCallister was originally written for a ten-year-old boy. However, after seeing Macaulay Culkin’s audition, director Chris Columbus decided to cast him in the role, as he felt that Culkin had the perfect mix of comedic timing and innocence that the character required.
2. Most of the film’s exterior shots were filmed in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois. Kevin’s house in the film is actually located at 671 Linden Street in Winnetka.
3. Home Alone was originally going to be titled “Angels with Filthy Souls”. However, the studio felt that this title would not be marketable to family audiences.
4. The film’s now-famous line “Keep the change, ya filthy animal”, was improvised by Joe Pesci on set.
5. The scene in which Kevin watches Angels with Filthy Souls was actually filmed twice. The first version featured a different actor in the role of the gangster on the screen, and the studio felt that he wasn’t convincingly scary.
6. The tarantula that Kevin uses to scare Marv was a real spider. Daniel Stern was apparently so petrified of spiders that he had to have someone else stand in for him during the filming of this scene.
7. In the scene where Kevin attacks Harry with a paint can, Joe Pesci was actually hit in the head with the can by one of the child actors on set. Pesci was reportedly so enraged by this that he started shouting and cursing at the child, and had to be calmed down by Macaulay Culkin.
8. The film’s iconic score was composed by John Williams.
9. Home Alone was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning Best Original Score.
10. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992. It featured Macaulay Culkin reprising his role as Kevin McCallister, as well as cameos from Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey.
Home Alone 2 1992
In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) accidentally flies to New York City instead of going to Florida with his family for the holidays. He eventually finds them, but gets separated from them again and has to fend for himself against two burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), who are attempting to rob his home on Christmas Eve.
When Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidentally separated from his family on their vacation to Florida, he takes the wrong plane and ends up in New York City. Now, Kevin must outwit two bungling burglars (Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern) who are trying to rob his uncle’s (Tim Curry) toy store on Christmas eve. Meanwhile, Kevin’s family is frantically searching for him in the Big Apple. Written and produced by John Hughes, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York features the all-star cast from the first film, as well as appearances by Dana Ivey, Kevin Kilner, and Brenda Fricker.
The film was directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes. It is the second film in the Home Alone franchise.
Home Alone 2 was released on November 20, 1992, and grossed $358 million worldwide. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Original Score and Best Original Song (for “Somewhere in My Memory”), winning the latter.
Home Alone 2 Trivia
– Macaulay Culkin was paid $4.5 million for his role in the film, making him the highest-paid child actor at the time.
– The film’s opening sequence, in which Kevin gets separated from his family at the airport, was added after test audiences found the original beginning, in which Kevin accidentally damages his father’s boss’s car, to be too dark.
– The film’s production designer, John Muto, also designed the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, which is featured prominently in the film.
Home Alone 3 1997
Home Alone 3 was written and produced by John Hughes. The film was directed by Raja Gosnell and starred Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, and Lainie Kazan. It is the third and final installment in the Home Alone franchise, following Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).
The film was released on December 12, 1997, and grossed $79.3 million in the United States and $164 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics but was commercially successful.
When Alex Pruitt (Elijah Wood) is home alone and bored in Chicago, he pays a visit to his neighbors across the street, the McCulloughs. Upon spying on Mrs. McCullough (Marcia Strassman) leaving for work, and Mr. McCullough (Ted Levine) and his son, Zhao (Andre Dussollier), leaving for the airport on a business trip, Alex sneaks into their house to watch TV.
While there, he discovers that the McCulloughs are in possession of a top-secret chip containing the blueprints for a cold fusion reactor. When Chinese spies, led by Alice (Rya Kihlstedt), discover that the chip is missing, they believe that Alex has it. Alice and her henchmen kidnap Alex and search his house, but he manages to evade them and hide the chip in his mother’s (Leslie Mann) house.
The spies find out where Alex is hiding and chase him through the city. Alex loses them by stowing away on a plane bound for Los Angeles. However, the spies catch up to him and crash the plane. With the chip in hand, Alice and her men head back to Chicago, but not before Alex’s mom and the McColloughs foil their plans and recapture the chip.
Home Alone 4 2002
Home Alone 4, also known as Home Alone: Taking Back the House, is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Rod Daniel and written by Matt Selman. It is the fourth and final installment in the Home Alone franchise and stars Tim Curry, Lindsey Greenough, and Brenda Fricker.
The film follows Kevin McCallister (Curry), who is now an adult and works for a French businessman (Selman). When his boss is indicted on federal charges, Kevin returns to his childhood home in Chicago to take care of his elderly, ailing aunt (Fricker). However, two criminals (Greenough and Kevin Zegers) have followed Kevin and are planning to rob the house on Christmas Eve.
Home Alone 4 was released directly to video on November 4, 2002. The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, grossing just $6 million against its $30 million budget.
Kevin McCallister (Tim Curry) is now an adult and works as a lawyer for a French businessman, Pierre George (Matt Selman). When Pierre is indicted on federal charges, Kevin returns to his childhood home in Chicago to take care of his elderly, ailing aunt (Brenda Fricker). However, two criminals, Hope’s daughter (Lindsey Greenough) and her boyfriend Tyson (Kevin Zegers), have followed Kevin and are planning to rob the house on Christmas Eve.
As Kevin tries to stop the criminals, he discovers that his old home is now a museum. He eventually traps the criminals in the basement and calls the police. The criminals are apprehended and Kevin spends Christmas with his aunt.
Home Alone 4 2002 Trivia
* Home Alone 4 was released direct-to-video because the studio believed that the franchise had run its course and that a fourth installment would not be profitable.
* The film was shot in Los Angeles, due to budget constraints.
* Matt Selman, the writer of the film, also appears in the film as Kevin’s boss, Pierre George.
Home Alone The Holiday Heist 2012
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist is the latest installment in the popular franchise and it finds young Finn Baxter (played by Christian Martyn) and his family moving from California to Maine. While exploring his new home, Finn discovers a hidden room that turns out to be a staircase to the attic. And it’s in the attic where he finds an old board game called ‘The Halloween Game.’
Finn soon learns that the game has the power to transport him into the Halloween world and he must use all of his cunning and wits to beat the evil Pumpkin King and save the day. But with the help of some new friends, Finn may be able to do it.
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist is a fun, family-friendly movie that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. So curl up with a warm blanket, and some hot cocoa, and enjoy the show!
Home Sweet Home Alone 2021
Home Sweet Home Alone 2021 is a heartwarming family comedy about a young boy who learns the true meaning of home after he’s accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation. Starring newcomer Aidan Owner, the film is directed by Peter Hedges (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Ben is Back) and also stars Vera Farmiga, Luke Wilson, and lee pace.
Eight-year-old Finn (Aidan’s Owner) is excited about his family’s annual Christmas vacation, but his parents accidentally leave him behind when they head to the airport. Finn is initially upset, but he soon discovers that being home alone can be pretty fun. He starts a snowball fight with the neighborhood kids, builds an epic fort, and has a wild night out with his best friend, Daisy (Drew Barrymore). But when a blizzard hits and Finn’s family is stranded on their vacation, he has to put his newfound independence to the test and find a way to get them home.
Home Sweet Home Alone 2021 Trivia:
-Home Sweet Home Alone is a 2021 American family comedy film directed by Peter Hedges and written by Hedges and Ned Benson.
-The film stars Aidan Owner, Vera Farmiga, Luke Wilson, and Lee Pace.
-The film was released on December 25, 2021, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture.
-The film is a sequel to the holiday classic Home Alone (1990) and the second film in the Home Alone franchise.
-The film was originally titled Home Alone 2: Alone in New York, but the title was later changed to Home Sweet Home Alone.
-The film was shot in Toronto and New York City.
-Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) is the only other Home Alone film to be set outside of the Chicago area.
-The film grossed $28.8 million on its opening day and $156.9 million over the five-day holiday weekend.
Conclusion
The Home Alone franchise has been a beloved part of pop culture for the past three decades. It has been a source of joy and entertainment for generations of viewers, and will likely continue to be for many more. Although the storylines of the films were mostly comedic, they touched on themes of family, love, friendship, and courage that still resonate today. Home Alone will be remembered for many years to come and will remain a classic in the hearts of many.
