The Home Alone franchise is a holiday favorite. And it has been considered a Christmas classic since the moment Macaulay Culkin slapped those childishly cheeks and yelled at the top of his lungs all the way back in 1990. But, did you know that there have been aired 5 Home Alone movies up to date?
Of course, the plot remains the same in all of them: a children who find themselves left alone during the holiday season and is faced with the challenge of defending themselves from criminals. However, both critics and viewers like us have mixed reviews and different opinions depending on which of the 5 movies are you referring to.
We will be reviewing all 5 ‘Home Alone’ movies from the original in 1990 to the 2012 release, to find out which in is the best Home Alone movie and which one is ranked the worst.
Home Alone (1990)
The first Home Alone movie was released in Chicago on November 10, 1990, and in the rest of the world on November 16 of that same year.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics on its release, Home Alone is often regarded as one of the best Christmas-themed movies ever.
© 1990, Hughes Entertainment. All rights reserved.
The film is a comedy that tells the story of an eight-year-old boy called Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who must defend his home from two thieves (Pesci and Stern) after being accidentally left home alone at Christmas. The McCallister family, who is flying to Paris to spend Christmas, do not realize he is missing until it is too late. So Kate, his mother, will do her best to get back on time for Christmas and return to her youngest son.
The film received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture in a Comedy or Musical and for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for Culkin, as well as two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score and best original song.
Home Alone soon became the highest grossing comedy film of all time in the United States. The movie held this title until 2011, when it was surpassed by The Hangover Part II. It was also the highest-grossing Christmas movie until it was overtaken by The Grinch in 2018.
Place in our ranking: 1/5.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
In the second Home Alone movie Macaulay Culkin repeats the leading role of McCallister family youngest son. For thar, Culkin was paid $4.5 million, which is quite high that the $110,000 that he was paid for the original.
The film was released on November 20, 1992.
© 1992, Hughes Entertainment. All rights reserved.
One year after the events of the first movie, he accidentally finds himself stranded in New York City while the McCallister family is flying to Miami to spend Christmas. But the same criminals are also in the city and recognize him in the street walking by himself once more, so he will have to fight them back like the old times.
Not only does Macaulay Culkin reprise his role in the film, as Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara and John Heard also reprise their roles from the first film.
Although it fell short of beating its predecessor, which made $ 476 million, it was the third-highest-grossing film of 1992.
Place in our ranking: 2/5.
Home Alone 3 (1997)
This is third Home Alone movie and this time none of the actors of the previous movies repeat their role in the movie. Therefore, it is the first Home Alone movie without Culkin.
The film was released on December 12, 1997.
© 1997, Hughes Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Bumbling spies try to get back a stolen microchip they accidentally put into the hands of a young boy who’s home alone with the chicken pox.
The film was negatively received by critics and grossed over $79 million at the box office. It was even nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Remake or Sequel. That is why it is also the final film in the Home Alone franchise to receive a theatrical release.
Place in our ranking: 3/5.
Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002)
The fourth installment in the Home Alone series is a made-for-television comedy film directed by Rod Daniel and aired on ABC on November 3, 2002.
© 2002, Fox Television Studios. All rights reserved.
This movie brings back many of the main characters from the first two movies, but they were all played by different actors.
Place in our ranking: 5/5.
Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012)
The fifth installment in the Home Alone series is a made-for-television comedy film directed by Peter Hewitt and premiered on ABC Family on November 25, 2012.
© 2012, Fox Television Studios. All rights reserved.
Like in Home Alone 3, this movie does not focus on the McCallister family.
Place in our ranking: 4/5.
Great post of these incredible movies of our childhood.