November 16, 1990
Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes. The first film in the Home Alone franchise, the film stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara. Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, a boy who defends his suburban Chicago home from a home invasion by a pair of robbers after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their Christmas vacation to Paris.
Hughes conceived Home Alone while on vacation, with Warner Bros. being originally intended to finance and distribute the film. However, Warner Bros. shut down production after it exceeded its assigned budget. 20th Century Fox assumed responsibilities following secret meetings with Hughes. Columbus and Culkin were hired soon afterwards. Filming took place between February and May 1990 on location across Illinois.
Home Alone premiered in Chicago on November 10, 1990, and was theatrically released in the United States on November 16. While the film's reception was initially mixed, in later years reception has been generally 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), and made Culkin a child star. Moreover, it was the second-highest-grossing film of 1990, behind Ghost. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Culkin, and for the Academy Award for Best Original Score for John Williams, and Best Original Song for "Somewhere in My Memory". Home Alone has since been considered one of the best Christmas films. A sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992.
In 2023, Home Alone was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Storyline[]
Also See[]
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
- Home Alone 3 (1997)
- Home Alone 4 (2002)
- Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012)
- Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)
Movie Trailer[]
- Home Alone (1990) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used[]
- Hollywoodedge, Gusts Heavy Cold Wind PE031601/Hollywoodedge, Whistling Wind Stead PE033301 (Heard once in a low volume.)
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Crashes Variou TE022801 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Mch Gun Mlt Rapid Fire PE707401
- Hollywoodedge, Police Wailer Siren PE080801
- Hollywoodedge, Rapid Midrange Beeps PE190101
- Hollywoodedge, Rope Snap Swish 1 SS011001
- Hollywoodedge, Single Sword Hit 3 Hig PE102701 (Debut; heard once at the beginning when Jeff and Fuller are sword fighting together.)
- Hollywoodedge, Screen Door Creak Woo TE023501 (Debut: heard once when Kevin tries to climb Buzz's shelf, then he breaks it and falls onto the wooden floor.)
- Hollywoodedge, Swish 18 Multiple Swi PE117701 (Heard when the iron goes down the chute towards Marv.)
- Hollywoodedge, Telephone Rg Dual Ton PE170301
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Crash Large PE113501
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door 3 Open SlamM PE180301 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OCKnob PE180101 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OCKnob Ratt PE180201 (Debut)
- SKYWALKER METAL DROPPING SOUND (Debut)
- SKYWALKER METAL KNOCKING SOUND (Debut; heard once in a low pitch.)
- SoundDogs, Impacts & Crashes-Metal, Crashes & Creaks - Mousetrap Bear Trap Dino - Home Alone Various Home Alone Various Dino (Debut)
- Sound Ideas, AIRPLANE, JET - PASSES BY, LOW OVERHEAD 01
- Sound Ideas, CARTOON, HIT - SWISH AND BIG SOCK (Heard when Marv and Harry get hit by a paint can.)
- Sound Ideas, GUN, RICOCHET - MACHINE GUN RICOCHETS, BULLET 01
- Sound Ideas, SCI FI - SPACE RAY (Heard in a low volume when Harry sets off the Blowtorch trap.)
- Sound Ideas, THUMP, CARTOON - TUBE THUNK 01 (Heard once from the television showing Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas.)
- Sound Ideas, TRUCK, DIESEL - COME IN, STOP, IDLE, DRIVE AWAY