Overview
A young boy turns his home into a fortress against two bumbling burglars during the holidays.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- playful
- warm
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the premise uneven and stretched thin, but agreed that Macaulay Culkin's charming performance and strong supporting cast sustain its frequent comic appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kevin wires the McCallister home with improvised traps to repel Harry and Marv.
Kevin is unintentionally left behind during the family's Christmas trip to Paris.
Kevin shops, eats, protects the house, and confronts burglars while home alone.
The burglars endure a carefully staged sequence of increasingly elaborate household traps.
Films like Home Alone, and why
Elf
shares family comedy, child-centered wish fulfillment, holiday warmth, and broad physical humor
The Goonies
shares a resourceful child protagonist, domestic adventure, slapstick peril, and affectionate family themes
A Christmas Story
shares Christmas comedy, an ordinary domestic setting turned into comic battleground, and sentimental family resolution
Problem Child
shares child empowerment, mischievous set pieces, and fast-paced family-friendly physical comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Columbus
- Release Date
- 1990-11-16
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (12887)
Cast
- Macaulay Culkin
- Joe Pesci
- Daniel Stern
- John Heard
- Roberts Blossom
- Catherine O'Hara
- Angela Goethals
- Devin Ratray
- Gerry Bamman
- Hillary Wolf
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Home Alone about?
- A mischievous child turns accidental solitude into a Christmas campaign of gleeful home defense.
- What is Home Alone like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Home Alone as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Home Alone violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Home Alone as mild.
- What did critics think of Home Alone?
- Critics generally found the premise uneven and stretched thin, but agreed that Macaulay Culkin's charming performance and strong supporting cast sustain its frequent comic appeal.
- Which films are like Home Alone?
- Films with a similar feel include Elf, The Goonies, A Christmas Story, and Problem Child.
- How long is Home Alone?
- Home Alone runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Home Alone?
- In United States, Home Alone streams on Disney Plus, Howdy Amazon Channel.
