Home Alone
Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:42:53 PM Wikipedia source
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 as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old 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. The cast also features Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara. Hughes conceived Home Alone while on vacation, with Warner Bros. being originally intended to finance and distribute the film. Warner Bros. shut down the production after it exceeded its assigned budget, but it quickly resumed under 20th Century Fox following meetings with Hughes; Columbus and Culkin were hired soon afterwards. Filming took place between February and May 1990 on location across Illinois. Home Alone had a sneak preview across 1,000 theaters on November 10, 1990, and was theatrically released in the United States on November 16. It received mixed-to-positive reviews and grossed $476.7 million worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1990. It made Culkin a child star, and was the highest-grossing live-action comedy for two decades. It was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Home Alone has since been considered one of the best Christmas films. In 2023, Home Alone was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". A sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992.
Infobox
Tables
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Original Score | John Williams | Nominated |
| Best Original Song | "Somewhere in My Memory" Music by John Williams; Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse | Nominated | |
| American Comedy Awards | Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) | Macaulay Culkin | Won |
| Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Comedy | Jane Jenkins and Jane Hirshenson | Won |
| BMI Film & TV Awards | Film Music Award | John Williams | Won |
| British Comedy Awards | Best Comedy Film | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actor | Macaulay Culkin | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Macaulay Culkin | Nominated | |
| Golden Screen Awards | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television | "Somewhere in My Memory" Music by John Williams; Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse | Nominated |
| Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Movie | Won | |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Won | |
| Young Artist Awards | Most Entertaining Family Youth Motion Picture – Comedy/Action | Won | |
| Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture | Macaulay Culkin | Won | |
| Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Angela Goethals | Nominated | |
References
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