A must-see for every holiday season, "Home Alone" has remained, ever since its debut in 1990, the ideal way to bring the family together and create the perfect atmosphere for spending the holidays together. Directed by Chris Columbus—who years later would direct the first two installments of the "Harry Potter" film series—the hilarious comedy starring Macaulay Culkin celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and has returned to theaters for a week-long run in a restored 4K version.
Still a hit today thanks to its inimitable blend of ingenious ingenuity and adrenaline, the film tells the story of Kevin McCallister, a child left home by his parents on Christmas Day and targeted by two burglars intent on ransacking their home. Regarded as the biggest commercial success of the 1990s after "Ghost" and one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, "Home Alone" owes much of its fame to John Williams' unforgettable soundtrack and the contributions of acclaimed actors, including Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
The latter, known for his role as Marv, chose not to attend the film's anniversary events, having long since stepped away from the entertainment world to live a more private life. The actor left Hollywood to move to a farm in Ventura County, California, where he lives with his wife, raises cattle, grows citrus fruits, and dedicates himself to sculpture. In a public message, he stated: "I'm not leaving my farm. It's not an insult to the film. It's just that I'm available for a phone call or a Zoom call. But I'm a bit of a homebody."
Convinced that the success of "Home Alone" will continue for a long time to come, he added: "I knew it was a gem of a movie. John Hughes wrote the funniest script I've ever read. I mean, I was rolling on the floor laughing while reading it. It was so funny, but also so heartfelt, and, you know, the little boy and the neighbor who saves him, him and the mother being reunited... it was really touching. It was so funny, it was so true, and so I knew that. I hoped we were making a great movie. I had no idea, obviously, and no one could, how long it would last."
But even for those who still love the original without signs of tiring, there's some news that's hard to ignore: surprisingly, Macaulay Culkin—currently on the road with the 35th anniversary tour titled "A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin"—has stated he's open to returning to the character, with a possible sequel, though it will have to be made with high expectations. Culkin even seems to have some ideas about the project's potential development. He said: "I had this idea. I'm either a widower or divorced. I'm raising a kid and everything. I work a lot and I don't pay enough attention to him, and the kid starts getting annoyed with me, and then I'm locked out of the house. (Kevin's son) won't let me in... and he's the one setting the traps for me."
Further clarifying the concept's genesis, he added: "The house would be a sort of metaphor for our relationship. My character needs to be welcomed back into the son's heart, something like that. It's the closest elevator pitch I have. I'm not completely allergic (to a sequel) if it's the right thing."
Columbus has always been skeptical about the idea of a sequel. He recalls the "Home Alone" era as a unique and unrepeatable cinematic moment, so much so that attempting to recreate it today would damage the franchise: "I think Home Alone really exists almost as a period piece, but it was a very special moment, and you can't really recapture that. I think it's a mistake to try to go back and recapture something we did 35 years ago. I think it should be left alone."
