Thanksgiving announces the beginning of the holiday season, a whole month of watching Christmas Movies of Yore
Home Alone (1990)
Culkin, a boy of 8, is cute, precocious and unexpectedly inventive in foiling a pair of clueless adult burglars.
What’s often forgotten amid the shenanigans, however, is the film’s message about the importance of family.
Defining Christmas for a generation of 1990s children, Home Alone stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister.
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Theatrical release poster
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In the tale that ensues his parents’ departure, he makes a large cheese pizza seem worthy of a king and defends his home from two thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) using his wits and cleverly designed booby traps.
Along the way, he also learns that maybe he does love his loud, sprawling family after all.
Last Scene: Xmas Day
The last scene is set on Christmas Day, with Kevin disappointed to find that his family is still gone. However, his mom arrives home, and they reconcile. The rest of the family then returns after waiting in Paris for a direct flight to Chicago.
Kevin keeps silent about his encounter with Harry and Marv, although his dad finds Harry’s knocked-out gold tooth.
Kevin then watches Marley reuniting with his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter before being yelled at by Buzz for destroying his room.
Hughes conceived Home Alone while on vacation, with Warner studio as financer and distributer. However, Warner shut down production after it exceeded its assigned budget. 20th Century Fox assumed responsibilities after secret meetings with Hughes.
Columbus and Culkin were hired soon afterwards.
The shoot took place between February and May 1990 on location across Illinois.
Home Alone was theatrically released on November 16. While the film’s reception was initially mixed, in later years reception has been more positive, with praise for its cast, humor, and music.
Home Alone grossed $476.7 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing live-action comedy until the release of The Hangover Part II (2011).
It was the year’s second-highest-grossing film, behind Ghost.
Home Alone has since been considered one of the best Christmas films.
Oscar Nominations:
The film was nominated for Best Original Score for John Williams, and Best Original Song for “Somewhere in My Memory”.
A sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992
Credits:
Directed by Chris Columbus
Produced, written by John Hughes
Cinematography Julio Macat
Edited by Raja Gosnell
Music by John Williams
Production: Hughes Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release dates: Nov 10, 1990 (Chicago); Nov 16, 1990 (US)
Running time: 103 minutes
Budget $18 million
Box office $476.7 million
