People Are Appreciating “Home Alone” With Adult Eyes By Sharing 27 Things That Make It So Funny
Every holiday season, most of us sit down to watch various Christmas movies to get into the festive mood. And, well, let's not deny that for most of us, Home Alone is the supreme one. And for good reason - the movie is full of brilliant moments that make it an undying Christmas classic. Today, let's take a trip across the moments the internet folks deemed to be the funniest out of the first two Home Alone movies.
More info: Reddit
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Daniel Stern’s scream when Kevin puts the tarantula on his face is, for my money, the greatest on-screen scream in the history of cinema and it never fails to crack me up.
should be used alongside with 'Wilhelm scream' in movies! https://youtu.be/2rP5FcaOkIM?t=21
When Buzz is explaining why he doesn’t care that Kevin got left for “three reasons” and then lists them as reason A, 2, and D
As probably many of you are aware, Home Alone is a series of American Christmas family comedy movies. The original idea was created by John Hughes, and the first two movies, about which we are talking today, were directed by Chris Columbus. The movie follows the adventures of a kid named Kevin, who is left alone at home (or in New York, in the second movie), hence the name, during Christmas and has to defend himself and his home from criminals.
The first movie was released back in 1990, and the second one back in 1992. Both of them star such big names as Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara.
"I know you're not the real Santa. I'm old enough to know how this works.
...but I also know you work for him."
Wishing santa well at hes currently fighting cancer so hope u beat it ken hudson campbell
I just love kieran culkins grin when kevin hears he may need to share a bed with him.
*sips more pepsi
Bored Panda reached out to one of the actors from the first two Home Alone movies - Jed Cohen, who played Rod, Kevin’s cousin.
Jed defined working on the Home Alone set as a magical experience. “I was 13 years old, and while I had been working as a professional actor for over 5 years, Home Alone was my first film. So everything was new: the lights, the sets, the process, the acting style.”
He also mentioned that his son is proud of him being in the movie, just as he is “Just a few days ago, my son said, ‘Hey Dad, it's really cool that you were in Home Alone!’ And I feel the same way!”
The man feels lucky to be involved in the creation of many people's holiday traditions: “The movie is a snapshot in time. It captures some of the best pieces of the early '90s, an innocent cross between a Norman Rockwell painting and a Three Stooges slapstick, told from the perspective of an 8-year-old kid. And it still resonates!”
I always crack up when Kevin’s buying groceries and tells the clerk “It’s for the kids”.
Also love how he's perusing a copy of "Woman's Day" because that's what a mom in line buying groceries "would do".
Why did you take your shoes and socks off?
Why are you dressed like a chicken?
I don’t know know why, but that bit gets me every time
Fun fact: the line about the chicken was not in the script. the actor added it on
When working on the movie, Jed had no idea it would become such a big deal over time: “I remember reading the script, and getting to Kevin's first trip down to the basement, when he imagines the furnace coming to life. I thought it was dumb! At that point in my life, if I had a clearer understanding of who John Hughes and Christoper Columbus really were, I might have given the script the benefit of the doubt.
But even so, making great movies takes the combined talents of so many people. The writers, the director, the actors, the editors... no one can do it on their own. This film brought together some huge talents, and rested them all on the performance of a 10-year-old Macaulay Culkin, who knocked it out of the park!”
Jed shared some memories from his first time working in the film: “I remember the first take of my closeup at the spider terrarium. I tapped on the glass, the spider skittered away, I flinched (as indicated in the script), and the director yelled 'CUT!' It turns out that I had flinched right out of frame! The director gently offered the insight that acting on camera is a LOT more subtle than on stage... We had to try a few more times, but eventually, we got it right.”
Jed said that his favorite scene from the movie doesn’t even include him! “It's when Catherine O'Hara (the mother) and John Candy (the 'polka king') are driving to Chicago, and she asks "Have you ever gone on vacation and left your child home?" As I understand it, the entire scene was improvised, and the dialogue just cracks me up every time I see it!”
I also love in the second movie, where Catherine O’Hara and the dad are at the police station explaining it isn’t the first time they’ve lost Kevin, etc. but they also never manage to lose their luggage lolz and they both laugh and knock on the desk/wood.
The look on the cop’s face is priceless!
For me it's 2 scenes in the second one. When Marv falls down the hole in the house, stands, looks up, and says "Wow, What a hole!" Then when he says "Suck brick kid!" And misses by like 8 feet 😂
To get cinema expert insight about the Home Alone movies, Bored Panda also reached out to Cleiton De Veras, who is a creative director at History of Cinema.
Cleiton stated that he believes that the enduring popularity of the Home Alone series movies originates from “its timeless theme of family, relatable characters, and unforgettable humor, creating a nostalgic and cross-generational appeal that has solidified it as a cherished holiday classic.”
Also, the brilliant performances of its actors also played quite a big role in the movie’s success: “Macaulay Culkin and Joe Pesci's dynamic in Home Alone created a legendary on-screen rivalry. The epic good-guy-versus-bad-guy battle was infused with humor and holiday spirit, adding a special charm to the film's enduring appeal.”
Cleiton agrees that the same is true with the movie’s direction - it also contributed to the franchise’s success: “Chris Columbus's direction in Home Alone stood out for its skillful pacing, creative choreography of comedy, and emphasis on family themes, creating a timeless holiday classic that seamlessly blends humor and heart.”
Agree on the John Candy scene. Also love the first scene with him talking about his polka band…”we’re big in Sheboygan”.
The other scene that makes me roll every time is the pizza delivery guy/filthy animal scene. The thought of being that guy and hearing, “keep the change, you filthy animal” cracks me up every time!
RIP John Candy, one of the great comedic talents of all time. That syrup-like chuckle of his gets me every time.
My absolute favorite moment in the movie is when Harry is trying to open the basement door and he keeps slipping on the ice. That scene has made me belly laugh since I was a child.
There's just something about watching someone slip on the ice that makes me giggle uncontrollably. I don't want anyone to get hurt, but there is just no way to do it gracefully and flailing and contortions just get me.
After its premiere, the first movie received mixed reviews, and only in later years did the reception become generally positive, praising the cast, humor, and even music.
Cleiton De Veras expressed his thoughts about that: “Critics may not accurately predict a movie's likability in the eyes of the public, particularly when it comes to holiday classics, as personal connections to festive themes often play a significant role in audience enjoyment.”
Yet, the mixed reviews did not hold the movie’s initial success back, as it became the highest-grossing live-action comedy until the crown was stolen by The Hangover Part II, released in 2011. Also, it was the second-highest-grossing film of 1990.
Do you watch Home Alone every Christmas? What is your favorite scene from the movies? Share with us in the comments!
I have such a love for the scene towards the beginning as they're preparing to leave for the airport, and the neighbour kid is asking all the inane questions to the taxi drivers.
"Did you know the McCallisters are going to France? Do you know if it's cold there? Do these vans get good gas mileage?"
Destroys me every time to the bafflement of my wife and children
Kevin had the best lines:
Waiter: “Two Scoops, Sir?”
Kevin: “Two? Make it 3, I’m not driving”
And
Kevin: “No Clothes on anybody. Sickening”
I totally agree with you. Just watched this a couple days ago and rewinded to watch the van scene a couple of times.
Also, at the end “how did you guys get home?” “Oh, we took the morning flight. Remember? The one you didn’t want to wait for.”
And Buzz being shocked that Kevin went grocery shopping then a few moments later, “KEVIN, what did you do to my room?!?!”
I love the part in the second one where Marv says, in a very nasal voice, “That was the sound of a tool chest, falling down the stairs”
The funniest part of Home Alone that doesn't involve Macaulay Culkin or slapstick for me is uncle Frank trying to console Kevin's mom by saying he forgot his reading glasses.
I like the run through the airport. I'm far too familiar with ORD and those iconic Christmas decorations. Couldn't say why but that makes it a Christmas movie some how
“I wouldn’t let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my a*s.”
Just the way Buzz says it, and Kevin’s look of pure shock/terror gave me a chuckle as a kid and still does to this day.
“Kevin go pack your suitcase.”
“Pack… My suitcase???”
The camera zooming in as a 5 year old kid goes wide eyed realizing he doesn’t know how to pack his suitcase is gold.
I totally understand. My favorite bit in home alone 2 is when Harry reads the newspaper in Central Park and out of the blue he starts whacking away at a pigeon nearby. I crack up every time.
When he gets ready to hit the spider (on the other bandits chest) with a crowbar gets me every time
Hyper on 2! Is a catchphrase in our house.
That whole exchange with the officers back and forth is pretty funny.
Kevin's line "Nice night for a neck injury" in #2 cracks me up every time.
The slapstick part is great, but the rest of the movie is so funny even without it. The way that Kevin and his family interact is great. "You're what the French call, les incompental"
A bit that always gets me is the way John Heard says, ‘What a funny guy,’ when he finds out Kevin has been doing all the washing and stuff.
I love when Kevin uses a folk and knife with his Mac & Cheese Dinner.
I don't know if it's meant to be funny but Buzz's lines always make me snicker with how his mood swings at a moment's notice. He goes from being a typical teenager talking about girls and nude beaches, to being the typical older brother that doesn't have a single nice word for Kevin (and he does have some pretty sweet zingers), to being surprisingly sagely and self-deprecating when he lists all the ways Kevin can benefit from being exposed to the wider world on his own and there's no danger because he's (as in himself) is a boring, unlucky guy who lives with a boring family in the most generic, safe neighborhood around.
The fact he even manages a somewhat backhanded compliment towards Kevin at the end is endearing in its own way.
Any mention Sheboygan (SP?) just brings mirth. Funny funny man.
@Sunny Foxglove ~ Sheboygan, Wisconsin, NOT Cheboygan, Michigan.
Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know, but the line “Kevin, you’re such a disease” kills me every time.
Did Antoine notice, that the cop eating a doughnut ,he's name is agent Balzac( Ballsack)😜
The donut piece that falls out of his mouth and lands on the phone always bothered me
Load More Replies... We have watched this every Christmas Eve without fail for as long as I can remember. It's truly one of my favorite movies of all time. Anytime anyone goes to the store I tell that person to bring me back something French. My kids are grown but anytime they were being mildly annoying growing up, I would tell them ( and still do) that I was going to feed them to my tarantula. I also use, "I don't like the way that kid looked at me," and so many other quotes almost daily. It's just an extremely quotable movie.
Did Antoine notice, that the cop eating a doughnut ,he's name is agent Balzac( Ballsack)😜
The donut piece that falls out of his mouth and lands on the phone always bothered me
Load More Replies... We have watched this every Christmas Eve without fail for as long as I can remember. It's truly one of my favorite movies of all time. Anytime anyone goes to the store I tell that person to bring me back something French. My kids are grown but anytime they were being mildly annoying growing up, I would tell them ( and still do) that I was going to feed them to my tarantula. I also use, "I don't like the way that kid looked at me," and so many other quotes almost daily. It's just an extremely quotable movie.
