Over three decades after its release, Home Alone is still considered one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made. Like Elf and A Christmas Story, it is one of the few holiday films that has managed to become a timeless Christmas classic. No matter how many years go by, it’s always revisited and celebrated around the holidays, especially as countless families have incorporated the film into their Christmas traditions.
The film propelled Macaulay Culkin into childhood stardom for his iconic role as Kevin McCallister, the little boy who gets left home alone on Christmas and must defend his house against burglars. Home Alone has remained a classic, largely due to Culkin’s performance and how he captured the heart and mischievousness of being a child. Young audiences will be absorbed in the storyline, as there are few bigger dreams in childhood than being left home alone and given the freedom to do anything one pleases. Meanwhile, older audiences will enjoy the nostalgia for childhood and the sweet moments of family connection.
Because of the original Home Alone’s unparalleled success as a Christmas classic, it is sometimes easy to forget there was more than one film in the series. Culkin reprised his role as McCallister for a sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which also included much of the original cast. Unfortunately, this was the last film that Culkin and the rest of the original McCallister family actors would return for. The third installment featured a new child, Alex Pruitt (Alex D. Linz), who was left home alone. Meanwhile, Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House featured the McCallister family, but they were recast. The series also boasted two reboots.
In total, there are six films in the Home Alone franchise. None of the sequels or remakes ever eclipsed the success of the original. However, they are all light-hearted and funny Christmas films that capture the spirit of the holidays and the joy of childhood. Few Christmas classics boast even one sequel, so it’s pretty unique that Home Alone boasts a whole series.
For viewers who want to spice up their holidays by watching all six Home Alone films, here’s a breakdown of how to watch them in order of release date, as well as where to watch them.
