The Best Christmas Movie Is Dominating Streaming Charts
There are few holiday films as quotable and beloved as Home Alone and now, to no one’s surprise, the film is dominating Disney+ where it currently holds the coveted streaming position of #1. The feature first hit theaters back in 1990, quickly making Macaulay Culkin a household name, and boasted an all-star cast including Catherine O’Hara, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and even Culkin’s little brother and Succession star, Kieran Culkin. The second highest-grossing film of that year, losing only to the steamy Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore-led Ghost, the comedy would go on to earn a slew of nominations from the Golden Globes to the Oscars, with many critics celebrating Culkin’s breakout performance.
Quickly earning itself the title of a holiday classic, the success of Home Alone allowed it to spawn a sequel also led by Culkin, but this time dropping his character in New York City. The basic story would be reimagined several other times over the years but never with Culkin stepping back into his role as the street-smart kid ready to protect himself and his home from a duo of intruders. Alas, even Scarlett Johansson’s involvement in Home Alone 3 couldn’t save the next film in the franchise from complete box office failure.
Directed by Chris Columbus, who also helmed the second feature, Home Alone told the story of Kevin McCallister (Culkin), a young boy living in Chicago whose giant extended family is preparing to travel abroad to Paris for Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle, no one realizes that Kevin is missing from the group as they leave the house, board a plane, and set out for their vacation until his mother (Catherine O’Hara) comes to the realization mid-flight. But by this point, it’s too late, as Kevin is now left to his own devices in the family’s home thousands of miles away.
Having a great time at first, Kevin’s party is cut short when two burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) aka the Wet Bandits, attempt to break into the youngster’s house. Prepared to protect his home at all costs, Kevin gave the filthy animals a run for their money, setting up some incredible booby traps to keep the robbers at bay. The underlying theme of family in Home Alone is also something that has carried on its legacy throughout the years with not only Kevin’s struggle to be noticed by his loved ones but his misunderstood neighbor’s strained relationship with his own family.
Although talks surrounding a Home Alone 3 with the original cast members have been put on the table over the years, nothing has stuck. However, just a few weeks ago, Joe Pesci said that he would “never say never” to a threequel, but added that it would be “difficult to replicate” the blockbuster magnitude that the first film achieved. But we’ll just keep the hope alive with the “never say never” attitude and hope that everyone can feel the holiday spirit and come back together eventually.
