**9 Entertaining Facts You Might Not Know About *Home Alone***
*Home Alone*, the 1990 holiday favorite helmed by Chris Columbus and crafted by John Hughes, remains a cherished tradition for families around the globe. Featuring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, the crafty yet inventive boy left in the lurch during his family’s trip, this film has become emblematic of festive reminiscence. However, even if you’ve seen it time and again, there are numerous behind-the-scenes tidbits and fun trivia that add even more allure to this classic film. Here are nine entertaining facts you may not be aware of regarding *Home Alone*.
—
### 1. **The Script Took Just Over a Week to Write**
John Hughes, the iconic director behind *The Breakfast Club* and *Pretty in Pink*, composed the screenplay for *Home Alone* in a mere nine days. The concept emerged from his own travel worries. Reflecting on his inspiration, Hughes told *Time* magazine in 1990, “I was planning a vacation and making a checklist of things I didn’t want to forget. I thought, ‘I’d better not forget my kids.’ Then I pondered, ‘What if I left my 10-year-old son at home? What would happen?’”
—
### 2. **John Candy’s Performance Was Mostly Improvised**
The late comedic legend John Candy made a fantastic cameo as Gus Polinski, a polka band leader who aids Kevin’s mom, Kate (Catherine O’Hara), in her return home. Candy’s scenes were shot in a single day, yet his improvisation made a significant impact. As noted by director Chris Columbus, Candy’s side-splitting funeral-parlor tale was entirely unscripted and delivered at 4:30 a.m., leaving the cast and crew struggling to maintain their composure.
—
### 3. **John Candy Was Paid Less Than the Pizza Delivery Actor**
Despite his iconic role, John Candy received a surprisingly small paycheck for his appearance. As a courtesy to John Hughes, Candy agreed to the minimum pay for his one-day role. This resulted in him earning even less than the actor portraying the Little Nero’s pizza delivery man.
—
### 4. **The Rotten Tomatoes Rating Is Surprisingly Low**
While *Home Alone* is adored by fans, its critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at a modest 66%. This rating, derived from 116 reviews, sharply contrasts with the film’s lasting popularity and its revered status as a holiday staple.
—
### 5. **Robert De Niro Was Considered for Harry’s Role**
Joe Pesci’s portrayal of Harry, one half of the bumbling “Wet Bandits,” is a standout in *Home Alone*. However, the casting team initially toyed with the idea of Robert De Niro for the part. Although De Niro reportedly never seriously considered the role, it’s amusing to think about how the film may have unfolded with him involved.
—
### 6. **Kevin’s Famous Scream Was Unscripted**
One of the standout moments in *Home Alone* is Kevin’s scream after applying aftershave. Interestingly, Macaulay Culkin didn’t adhere to the director’s cues for that scene. Chris Columbus had instructed him to remove his hands from his face while screaming, but Culkin instinctively kept them on his cheeks, resulting in the iconic scene we all cherish.
—
### 7. **A Brief Animation You Might Miss**
The production utilized inventive techniques for special effects, including hand-painted animation. For instance, in the scene where Marv (Daniel Stern) pokes his head through the pet door and gets shot with a BB gun, the BB was meticulously hand-painted onto six frames of the film to create a realistic effect.
—
### 8. **The Black-and-White Film Is Not Authentic**
Kevin’s favorite gangster flick, *Angels with Filthy Souls*, may seem like a vintage classic from the 1940s, but it was actually crafted specifically for *Home Alone*. The production team did such an exceptional job that many viewers thought it was a real film.
—
### 9. **The Director Revisited Holiday Films Years Later**
Chris Columbus, who also directed *Mrs. Doubtfire* and the first two *Harry Potter* movies, returned to the holiday genre in 2020 with *The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two*. Featuring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, the Netflix film marked Columbus’s comeback to festive storytelling precisely 30 years after *Home Alone* was released.
—
### Why *Home Alone* Remains Popular
More than thirty years after its debut, *Home Alone* continues to enchant audiences with its ideal blend of humor, sentiment, and holiday cheer. Whether it’s Kevin’s ingenious traps or the comedic mishaps,
