Macaulay Culkin Sets Record Straight on Home Alone Movie Rumors

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Macaulay Culkin is giving away on-set secrets like it’s Christmas.

In a recent interview, the lead actor from “Home Alone” clarified several long-standing rumors about the 1990 film, such as the ways in which he employed his improvisational talents during the movie’s production.

Oh man, let me tell ya, I’ve always been convinced that the legendary line, “You guys give up, or are you thirsty for more?” wasn’t just off-the-cuff from Macauley – and it turns out I was right! It’s mind-blowing to think about how many of us fans speculated he had improvised it, but it seems like the truth is that it was planned all along. Crazy stuff!

He replied, “No, not that particular choice,” while on the August 7th episode of Hot Ones. “That option was already written in the script.

The 44-year-old individual, who is a parent to Dakota (age 4) and Carson (age 2) alongside partner Brenda Song, did admit that certain conversations between Kevin McCallister during his shopping trip were spontaneous.

At the supermarket, someone asked me, ‘Where are your parents?’ and followed up with ‘Why won’t you tell me?’ To which I replied, ‘Because you’re a stranger.’ That one was my line. I often came up with lines like that.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an interesting trivia about the movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.” The actor who played a significant role in the film admitted that the character portraying Buzz McCallister’s girlfriend was, in fact, a boy in makeup. This decision was made by director Chris Columbus to avoid having a young girl be the target of Kevin’s displeasure, which aligns with his creative vision for the movie.

According to my understanding, yes,” Macaulay affirmed. “However, it’s best to verify with Chris, but as I heard, that was part of the joke.

Moreover, the magazine found in Buzz’s room had been cleverly modified to serve dual purposes – safeguarding the child and creating a joke. To quote Macaulay, “Since I was only 9 years old, they essentially stuck together all the remaining pages.

During this time, the performer from The Righteous Gemstones series had a stuntman called Larry Nicholas. Macaulay Culkin believed that Larry was only thirteen years old, but in reality, he was thirty. This funny misunderstanding created quite a scene.

Macaulay reminisced about Larry: “He was attempting to grab something from the upper shelf, but the whole thing gave way. It was quite brutal, especially during that first attempt,” he said. “They tried again, and there was another take, then ‘boom’ once more. They kept on trying, over and over, and I couldn’t help but worry, ‘Larry is just 13! Be gentle!’

Read on for more secrets from the Home Alone set. 

John Hughes’ idea for his creation was sparked by his personal worries as a parent. In an oral history published in Chicago Magazine in 2015, his son, James Hughes, shared that the renowned filmmaker wrote down the concept in a notebook on August 8, 1989, before the family’s first trip to Europe. Two weeks later, upon their return home, he revisited the idea: what if one of the children had been accidentally left behind?

In a remarkably swift pace, the mastermind behind films like ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Pretty in Pink’ completed a preliminary script in a mere nine days, culminating in an intense eight-hour session to wrap up the final 44 pages. Reflecting on this, he admitted that he had jotted down his worries in the margins of his journal about working too slowly before completing the draft.

2. Macaulay Culkin doesn’t consider his breakout movie a must-watch during holidays. As he put it in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2018, he tends to switch the channel whenever the blockbuster appears on his television.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: “In some instances, I find myself making compromises. For example, when I get a new partner and she suggests watching a movie, let’s say ‘Home Alone’, and she seems keen but unsure – well, I often go along with it, even if it’s not my first choice. In these moments, I find myself quietly reciting the lines I know by heart, feeling a bit odd about it. But if it sparks her interest and keeps our shared entertainment enjoyable, then I’m all for it – whatever floats her boat, so to speak.

Maybe his reason for returning to the role could have been driven by the opportunity to star in a compelling 2018 Google advertisement, which imagines Kevin as a tech-savvy grown-up.

3. Instead of saying “Hey @Disney, give me a call!”, you could have phrased it as “I’ve got an idea for Disney remaking the ’90s classic – how about ‘Home Sweet Home Alone’?

The movie might have had a distinctly different style if Chevy Chase hadn’t been rather difficult. Originally, Chris Columbus was slated to direct the successful 1989 comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” as he revealed in an interview with Chicago Magazine. However, during their first meeting over dinner, Columbus recalled that Chase behaved impolitely towards him, saying, “To put it bluntly, Chevy was disrespectful.

Upon the second attempt, things didn’t improve significantly and Columbus found himself reaching out to producer Hughes, ultimately deciding to withdraw from the project. Reflecting on events, Columbus recalled, “Approximately two weeks later, I received two scripts at my in-laws’ home in River Forest. One was ‘Home Alone’, accompanied by a note from John inviting me to direct. I was struck by the thought, Wow, this man is genuinely backing me up when no other Hollywood figure was willing to. For Columbus, John was a true savior.

5. Despite almost not being made due to a budget disagreement between Warner Bros. and the production team, the film was on the verge of being canceled. However, it was Joe Roth, who was chairman at 20th Century Fox at the time, who overheard this dispute during lunch with Hughes’ agent, which turned out to be about a $700,000 difference in budget.

Roth recalled that he was told the production costs for “Home Alone” were approximately $14.7 million, but Warner Bros would only pay $14 million. He questioned this and was given an explanation. He responded, “Alright, if you can sort it out, I’ll take it on.” It seemed like a straightforward decision to him because the price wasn’t high, he didn’t have a Thanksgiving film at the time, he found the idea appealing, and he admired the people working on it. As it turned out, this was a wise choice as the movie went on to generate over $476 million in box office revenue.

6. In my role as a dedicated follower, I can express that the lead role was essentially in my grasp, having been guided by Hughes the previous year in Uncle Buck with John Candy. Despite this, Hughes felt it was necessary for me to explore other young actors, as he put it, “I wanted to ensure I had done my due diligence as a director.” John Candy, ever supportive, gave me his blessing, saying, “Take your time, do what you need to do.

After over 200 tryouts, Columbus finally recognized Culkin as the perfect candidate. It was clear from the start that this was the right child for the role. I felt instinctively that John understood this moment would unfold, but it was very kind of him to grant me such creative autonomy.

The inept burglars, Marv (played by Daniel Stern) and Harry (portrayed by Joe Pesci), had formed a close friendship well before they became known as the Wet Bandits.

In a chat with Chicago, Stern revealed that while audiences might have thought they first met during Home Alone, they had already made each other laugh on set years prior in a different movie where both were eventually cut out: I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can. We played characters in a mental institution; Joe was always carrying an architectural drawing tube, and during one scene, he would pretend to snort Ping-Pong balls from the table by holding the tube up to his nose. This action made me burst into laughter, and we became friends right then and there.

Stern felt deeply drawn to this part. He shared, ‘The script resonated with me. It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to showcase that style of physical comedy, much like when I was young.’ Feeling confident, he thought, ‘I can knock it out of the park with this role.’ He auditioned for Chris and desired it intensely. Upon leaving, he felt, ‘I could have done it even better.’ It was the one instance in his life where he called back and asked, ‘May I try again?’ Chris later told him that he was already planning to cast him, but appreciated seeing his determination.

9. Contrary to their portrayal, Pesci and Stern were not the ruthless, large-tempered characters they were depicted as. Instead, Stern confessed during a Reddit session on Christmas Eve in 2015 that he had a soft spot for children and enjoyed spending time with Mac.

During the production of the 1992 sequel, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”, his son Henry (who is now a California senator), along with daughters Sophie and Ella, visited me more frequently compared to the initial film. We all enjoyed spending time together, taking Mac to Central Park for games of tag and catch. I believe that my character in this sequel was significantly softer than Joe’s.

It seems logical, given the accounts stating that Pesci intentionally stayed away from Culkin on set, making it likely that Culkin would feel even more frightened by Pesci’s character.

The stunts were indeed genuine, with the unnerving tarantula landing on him being a memorable example. However, Stern found this scene among his most enjoyable to film, despite its unpleasant aspect.

He stated that not only was it exciting and amusing to perform this task, but it also served as a personal test to conquer my discomfort of encountering something disgusting and dangerous on my face. The experience was even more terrifying because I had to let out a scream, which meant my mouth was wide open too-and I was worried that the creature might find its way into my mouth instead!

It’s not surprising that he exclaimed it originated from a part of his soul he had never explored before and has no intention of revisiting!

11. During the filming of both Home Alone and Home Alone 2, it was as if those stunt performers were actually dead, Columbus shared with Chicago magazine. “There wasn’t any computer-generated imagery involved,” he confessed. “It was quite scary to witness. It wasn’t until they stood up and walked over to the monitor to watch the replay that we could finally laugh.

Absolutely, Stern pointed out that the stuntmen were the unacknowledged stars of the show. Whenever someone mentions their favorite moments, he replies, “Ah, that was our man Leon Delaney.

12. The sound technicians really showed off their skills with every slip-up, using a chunk of cold roast beef to produce the sound of a body hitting the ground and a hot soldering iron on chicken skin to mimic flesh burning sounds.

In the first “Home Alone” movie, Macaulay Culkin got a scar after an incident during filming. Specifically, in a 2004 interview with Rule Forty Two, he shared that during one of the rehearsals, Joe Pesci accidentally bit him and broke his skin.

Chris Farley nearly made his cinematic debut with that film, as recalled by actor Ken Hudson Campbell, who landed the role of the church Santa. At the audition, Campbell remembered seeing the comedy icon, who apparently had just arrived after a night of mischief. “It seems he was out all night and had just been dropped off following a series of antics,” Campbell recounted of that initial tryout. “Farley went first, but his performance didn’t go smoothly. He walked in and promptly walked back out. I, on the other hand, felt my audition went well. A few weeks later, I received a call.

Other close calls featured actors like Robert De Niro and Jon Lovitz, who declined the opportunity to play Harry, as well as Kelsey Grammer, who chose not to take up the role of Uncle Frank. Oh dear, it seems you all missed a great opportunity, don’t you think?

The renowned house in Winnetka, Illinois (approximately 16 miles from Chicago) was inhabited by its owners during filming. Initially, production had rented an apartment for Cynthia and John Abendshien for a shoot that was expected to last four to five weeks. However, the location manager clarified that according to their contract, they could demolish walls when the owners weren’t home. Given this, Cynthia stated that it was advisable for them to stay on the property during filming.

For a period of about five and a half months, a family of three lived in their spacious four-room bedroom suite. “We even set up a hot plate there to prepare our meals,” mentioned John. “We didn’t need to cook often as we had easy access to the food truck that the crew utilized, which our daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, adored.” Luckily, most of the interior scenes that would have damaged the house were filmed at a nearby closed high school during the filming process.

The residents living in the North Shore neighborhood are now accustomed to seeing people driving by in their cars, drawn by the impressive $1.585 million Georgian mansion on their suburban street.

As a longtime resident of this city, I fondly reminisce about expressing in 2019 to the Chicago Tribune that most street dwellers cherish their lifestyle and find it exhilarating. Specifically, having a movie filmed here was a significant event, and it continues to hold great significance for me. Whenever I stroll past that house, I always notice someone standing out front, capturing memories with their camera.

These can be referred to as instances where producers of “Friends” attempted to deceive viewers subtly. In 2016, a sharp-eyed fan from 22 Vision discovered an intriguing link between the holiday film and the popular NBC sitcom. By combining footage, this fan revealed that Monica and Chandler’s new house in New York City suburbs was none other than the spacious McCallister residence in Illinois from the movie.

In the crucial part, Chicago’s weather delivered the desired snowy effect. To achieve this cinematic appearance, the team utilized snow machines and semi-trucks loaded with ice shavings.

However, upon capturing the scene where Kate McCallister (Catherine O’Hara) returned home, location manager Jacolyn Bucksbaum reminisced, “It was breathtaking, real snow.” The largest snowstorm in years had occurred, and it was Valentine’s Day. In essence, Mother Nature proved to be incredibly helpful on that particular day.

20. The family’s hurried rush to their Paris flight was filmed unexpectedly at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. “We had to act quickly,” Columbus explained. “We managed just two or three attempts of the whole family sprinting through the terminal. It was nerve-wracking.

Absolutely, improvisation was welcomed during filming. And that’s not surprising, given that John Candy became a well-known figure in ’80s and ’90s productions.

For a single day, he stepped onto the set to play his brief role as Gus Polinski in The Polka King. John served as a favor to him, according to Columbus. O’Hara shared, “We worked tirelessly for 21 hours without a break, improvising scenes.” This is how it went: Candy would initiate something, followed by John Hughes, and Candy would respond, leading us to spontaneously continue the interaction. Everything was improvised on the spot. We’d start an absurd conversation and see where it took us. Chris later told me that most of what we filmed couldn’t be used because I was supposed to be searching for my child, but instead, I was enjoying myself with these guys in a truck. He chuckled and said, “You were supposed to be serious, but you were just having fun with your co-stars.

22. Besides Candy, it wasn’t just one who was quick-witted. Reportedly, Culkin devised his threat to Marv and Harry in a clever way: “Are you two ready to surrender, or are you still eager for more?”

He significantly adapted key elements within the scene where Kevin feigned hosting an extravagant party as a ruse against the burglars.

In an interview with TopMob News in December 2024, Culkin described a moment when intruders, reminiscent of the Wet Bandits from the movie “Home Alone,” appeared. Instead of reacting as usual, he set up a scene with a Michael Jordan figurine on his train set, playing music, and manipulating mannequins with strings. Originally, he was meant to play the piano and other instruments. However, they found it too complex, so they simplified it by attaching strings to him and asking him to be silly. I guess that’s where my talents shine best, he added.

24. An intriguing detail about Buzz’s girlfriend (woof): It turns out she was portrayed by actor Devin Ratray, who was actually the art director’s son dressed up to appear as an unattractive young girl. Yahoo! reports that this decision was made by the producers to avoid being unfair to a real actress.

25. The scenes from the film-within-a-film, the mock-noir titled “Angels with Filthy Souls“, were entirely penned by Hughes, including the famous line, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” The local talent Ralph Foody was chosen to embody a 1940s silver screen star. To this day, Columbus noted, people are deceived by Ralph’s acting prowess; they believe it’s an actual vintage movie.

Additionally, the initial script incorporated a humorous reference to the movie “Angels” when characters Marv and Harry found themselves in prison, watching the film and coming to the realization that they had been thoroughly deceived.

After more than three decades, the movie “Home Alone” continues to captivate audiences globally. As Howard Stern shared with Chicago, he’s often referred to as the “Home Alone” guy wherever he goes. In 2003, during a visit to troops in Iraq, he found himself surrounded by children in Baghdad who recognized him from the movie, even amidst the chaos of war. According to Stern, “Home Alone” has such widespread influence that it’s practically everywhere.

The connection among the cast still holds strong. Despite not seeing each other for a long time, Culkin and his on-screen mother O’Hara reconnected at Martin Mull’s art exhibition in 2013.

Macaulay Culkin shared with TopMob that it had been such a long time since he last saw her, he couldn’t remember. But there she was, parked in the driveway, and he exclaimed, “Mom!” To which she responded, “Son!” Every time they meet, it’s always the same – “Mom,” “Son.” She is truly sweet-natured.

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2025-08-08 02:18