Home Alone

Name: Home Alone
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family
Released: November 16, 1990
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Daniel Stern, Joe Pesci, Macaulay Culkin

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 589 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 589 Ratings

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Home Alone

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: November 16, 1990 | PG

Starring: Daniel Stern, Joe Pesci, Macaulay Culkin

Summary: Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister has become the man of the house, overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, Kevin gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he's not decking the halls with tinsel and holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin's rigging aEight-year-old Kevin McCallister has become the man of the house, overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, Kevin gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he's not decking the halls with tinsel and holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin's rigging a bewildering battery of booby traps to welcome them! (20th Century Fox Corp.)
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Director: Chris Columbus

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Cartyn James

Kevin has the potential to be the mawkish child or the obnoxious little adult so common on screen, but he is neither. Played with great glee by Macaulay Culkin, he is a totally endearing, up-to-the-minute little boy. Read full review

Jeanne Cooper

This holiday contender from John Hughes is too crass, too loud and too violent to be added blithely to Christmas viewing traditions. But it is funny. Read full review

Hal Hinson

The movie has a big payoff; it's the setup that's the drag. But Kevin's antics will touch the budding subversive in every kid. My advice? Hide the car keys. Read full review

Noel Murray

Even though Macaulay Culkin's alternately muggy and inexpressive lead performance hasn't worn well, the supporting turns by Catherine O'Hara and John Candy are especially crackerjack, as is John Williams' buoyantly cartoony score. Read full review

Roger Ebert

All plausibility is gone, we sit back, detached, to watch stunt men and special effects guys take over a movie that promised to be the kind of story audiences could identify with. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The first half of Home Alone features the sugar-coated sentimentality that can usually be found in a Hughes film, while the second half is full of unanticipated sadism. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The movie is quite enjoyable as long as it explores the fantasy of a neglected little boy having an entire house of his own to explore and play in, but the physical cruelty that dominates the last act leaves a sour taste, and the multiple continuity errors strain one's suspension of disbelief to near the breaking point. Read full review

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User Reviews

SEROJ

Mar 19, 2013

Every year there's a tradition me and my family keep. On December or January we watch this all-time classic! It's amazing,interesting and funny and i can't give it less than 10/10!

15 of 22 users found this helpful157

Kai82

Dec 27, 2020

This movie has become a Christmas classic and is shown every year. It is the story of Kevin who is the youngest son of the McCallister family. When his family wants to spend Christmas in Paris he is forgotten at their home in Chicago because of an unlucky chain of events (They took greatThis movie has become a Christmas classic and is shown every year. It is the story of Kevin who is the youngest son of the McCallister family. When his family wants to spend Christmas in Paris he is forgotten at their home in Chicago because of an unlucky chain of events (They took great care to make the family not look careless or abandoning). Kevin is now “Home Alone” and enjoys his freedom while his family is on their way back with his now panic fueled mother ahead of the others. There are however 2 burglars who use the holidays for a series of raids on holiday abandoned homes and have picked the McCallister household as target. This starts the humorous events. Like I already said this is a Christmas comedy and works well. It is part of the writing, humor and actors that are combined creating an enjoyable movie. The story works because it is relatable. You can understand all characters motivations. Be it Kevin who can do things he would never be allowed before, his family or the burglars. Then there is the humor and slapstick. It has the Tom and Jerry appeal. The actors are also well chosen. Macaulay Culkin is one of a few child actors that delivers. It is hard at this age and many stars who become legends later on failed earlier as children or even as teens. The other stars are the 2 thieves Harry played by Joe Pesci who is a legendary actor and Marv played b Daniel Stern who has also a great career. Both fully deliver and improved this movie with their performance. Special credits to Kevins mother played by Catherine O’Hara. Her journey to get as fast as possible to her son is entertaining and well acted. She is just great and has an awesome carer because of her skills. I will give credits to the director Chris Columbus and producer / writer John Huges for creating this. Non of the above would have worked without their great work. Then of cause is the music by the legend himself John Williams. He is probably the Michael Jackson of film-music. Overall it is not hard to see why this became a success. It fully delivers and is the kind of movie you can rewatch once in a while. It became a classic and would be missed if not shown on Christmas.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

The3AcademySins

Dec 25, 2019

Home Alone is a masterpiece by John Hughes, and it is a family movie that has completely earned its place among the great timeless Christmas films. The acting is superb. The plot is fun. It's emotional when it needs to be, and absurdly hilarious when it needs to be. If you have never seenHome Alone is a masterpiece by John Hughes, and it is a family movie that has completely earned its place among the great timeless Christmas films. The acting is superb. The plot is fun. It's emotional when it needs to be, and absurdly hilarious when it needs to be. If you have never seen Home Alone, you have to make watching this a priority. Who knows? Maybe it will end up a holiday favorite with your own family.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

FionanMurphy

Aug 14, 2022

An enjoyable classic that everyone watches every christmas season with great heart and charm

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jack97

Dec 24, 2016

Home Alone - what can be said that hasn't been said already? It's memorable in every way from the characters to the dialogue to the musical score by John Williams to the last act with the booby traps! It drags on in parts, but apart from that Home Alone is a Christmas classic that is anHome Alone - what can be said that hasn't been said already? It's memorable in every way from the characters to the dialogue to the musical score by John Williams to the last act with the booby traps! It drags on in parts, but apart from that Home Alone is a Christmas classic that is an essential watch each and every Holiday season.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

JohnKristofer

May 27, 2015

I have great time watching this a s a kid,really miss this film even though it is always aired every Christmas for about 20 years .The film amuse me when I was little with it's quirky humor and a little bit violent when the robbers get into the house and been tortured by traps all over theI have great time watching this a s a kid,really miss this film even though it is always aired every Christmas for about 20 years .The film amuse me when I was little with it's quirky humor and a little bit violent when the robbers get into the house and been tortured by traps all over the house.This was a fun Christmas movie fun for the whole family.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Dostoyevsky3

Jan 6, 2021

A concept stretched extremely thin. A painfully unlikable central character doing the most unrealistic tricks in order to make children feel good about being sadistic. Home Alone is devoid of logic and reality and is a world that puts too much focus on abusive human characters. Choosing toA concept stretched extremely thin. A painfully unlikable central character doing the most unrealistic tricks in order to make children feel good about being sadistic. Home Alone is devoid of logic and reality and is a world that puts too much focus on abusive human characters. Choosing to feed bad influence among its target audience instead of providing moral values that could spiritually grow them.… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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