Home Alone is a 1990 American holiday comedy film directed by Chris Columbus, with the screenplay written and produced by John Hughes. As the first installment in the Home Alone series, the film features Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O’Hara in key roles. Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, a young boy who must protect his suburban home in Chicago from two burglars after his family inadvertently leaves him behind during their Christmas trip to Paris.
Hughes came up with the idea for Home Alone while vacationing, and the movie was initially set to be funded and distributed by Warner Bros. However, when production went over budget, Warner Bros. halted it, leading to 20th Century Fox stepping in to take over the project, following secret negotiations with Hughes. Columbus and Culkin soon joined the team, and filming occurred between February and May 1990, with various locations across Illinois serving as the backdrop.
The film debuted in Chicago on November 10, 1990, and was released in U.S. theaters on November 16. Although early reviews were mixed, the film’s reputation has grown over time, earning praise for its performances, comedic elements, and music. Home Alone earned $476.7 million globally, holding the record for the highest-earning live-action comedy until The Hangover Part II came out in 2011, and it catapulted Culkin to fame.
It was also the second-highest-grossing film of 1990, following Ghost. The movie received nominations for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Culkin, as well as Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score by John Williams and Best Original Song for “Somewhere in My Memory.” Over time, Home Alone has come to be regarded as one of the top Christmas films ever made. A follow-up, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992.
