Inside the Real-Life ‘Home Alone’ House More than 30 Years after the Film – Photos
- It has been more than 30 years since the iconic classic “Home Alone” came out, and some footage of the inside of the house where the movie was filmed has been released.
- Macaulay Culkin, aka Kevin McCallister, who is all grown up now, recently reunited with Hollywood star Catherine O’Hara, who played his mom in the movie, during his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony.
- Culkin also recreated scenes from the movie in a Google commercial he starred in a few years ago.
The “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois on December 1, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
“Home Alone” is a classic family comedy released in 1990 and beloved by countless people across the world. The plot follows eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, played by Hollywood star Macaulay Culkin, 43, who is accidentally left alone at home by his family on Christmas Eve.
While the McCallisters are busy jetting off on a family vacation, little Kevin is tasked with defending the family fortress against the perils of two less-than-smart burglars called the Wet Bandits. The brave, charismatic, and sharp little boy thwarts every attempt the duo of thieves make to gain access to the house and its assets.
Directed by Chris Columbus, written by John Hughes, and musically scored by John Williams, “Home Alone” is an incredibly successful production many enjoy watching and re-watching. The film has been nominated for awards six times and has won eleven Film and TV Awards, ranging from Oscars to Golden Globes.
When creating the holiday classic, Hughes used his own experience getting ready for a family trip as a source of inspiration. After making a list of every item he didn’t want to forget, which included his children, Hughes started to wonder what his son would do had he been left home alone.
John Hughes posing for a portrait in Chicago, Illinois on November 28, 1990 | Source: Getty Images
He was able to write eight pages worth of notes from this thought, which led to conceptualizing the beginning of the movie’s story. Columbus, who fell in love with the script, then came aboard as director and got to pick his first choice of actors for each role.
Chris Columbus at the 30th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival in East Hampton, New York on October 9, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Besides Culkin, some other big names who starred in the film include Catherine O’Hara, who plays Kevin’s mom, John Heard, and Joe Pesci, to name a few. When it came time to look for a little boy to play the lead role, casting director Janet Hirshenson scoured far and wide, but no one could top Culkin, as confirmed by Columbus:
“No one else had whatever quality Mac had. He felt like a real kid but was also incredibly charming and extraordinarily funny…Mac was slightly imperfect too, which was great…everyone who met him fell in love with him and for me, that’s a movie star.”
Macaulay Culkin at the American Comedy Awards in 1991. | Source: Getty Images
Aside from the incredibly talented cast, director, producers, writer, and film crew, part of what makes the movie so legendary is the setting, which essentially takes place in a beautifully decorated family home in Kenilworth, an upscale Chicago suburb. Spanning 4,243 square feet, take a look inside the iconic McCallister house, which includes six bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms.
A Glimpse inside the Real-Life ‘Home Alone’ House, Which Has Also Been Made into a Lego Replica
Over 30 years since “Home Alone” came out, the legendary real-life home where the movie was primarily filmed still stands. In 2021, the house was made available as an Airbnb for one night only for fans of the movie who want to experience what it’s like to live like a McCallister.
The “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
Stepping inside the home, one is immediately transported back to Christmas Eve in 1990. The house was made to resemble the “Home Alone” set exactly, with Christmas decorations, holiday red linen-covered beds, and even the traps and contraptions made by Kevin to keep the baddies at bay. Ben Breit, who worked with Airbnb, said:
There may be Uncle Nero’s pizza. There may be some sledding. This really is about — to the best of our abilities — recreating that experience…”
Inside the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
One of the bedrooms inside the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
There are even family photos on display and the well-known swinging paint cans Kevin used to whack and disorient the villains. His elaborate battle plan also sits on the dining room table, giving a nod to the memorable scene where Kevin contemplates his ideas over a plate of delicious-looking mac ‘n cheese.
Culkin also brought back the scene where Kevin eats mac ‘n cheese at the dining table.
A family picture inside the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
Kevin McCallister’s battle plan inside the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
The “Home Alone” paint cans inside the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 16, 2021 | Source: YouTube/NBCNews
If fans of the movie did not get a chance to relive their favorite memories from the film by booking an overnight stay in the real-life McCallister home, they could buy a miniature Lego version of the house. Fully kitted with all the home objects from the movie, including mini Lego figures of some of the characters, the Lego version of the house was priced at $250.
The miniature Lego version of the “Home Alone” house posted on December 1, 2021. | Source: YouTube/Today
Inside the “Home Alone” house posted on December 1, 2021. | Source: YouTube/Today
On the 30th anniversary of the movie, a woman who actually lived inside the home where “Home Alone” was filmed sat down for an interview to discuss some of her memories from that time. Lauren Abendshien was six years old when production for the movie began, and her parents’ home was picked for the location.
Inside the “Home Alone” house posted on December 1, 2021. | Source: YouTube/Today
The crew took over the space for approximately four to five months, and Abendshien scored a front-row seat to how the movie was made. Of her and her family’s experience still living there during ongoing filming, Abendshien divulged:
We stayed in the house pretty much the entire period that they were filming…In order to avoid appearing on screen, we would have to crawl around under the window line, from room to room, especially in the evening…”
The living room inside the “Home Alone” house posted on December 7, 2020 | Source: YouTube/This Morning
Interestingly, Abendshien also got some face time with some of the cast. She spoke about how Culkin would use her bedroom as a space for him to learn his schoolwork with his tutor.
Macaulay Culkin at ShoWest in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994. | Source: Getty Images
Aside from the home where the main events took place, other locations used to film “Home Alone” include the surrounding neighborhood of the residence, which also showcased the neighbors’ homes. Another location was the local store on the corner where Kevin steals a toothbrush, which has since been turned into an ice cream shop.
The “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
A birds eye view of the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
The neighbor’s house next to the “Home Alone” house in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
Another store includes the now updated and revamped grocery shop where Kevin buys groceries in the movie, which is within walking distance from the house. Other iconic locations include the outside spot, which now has benches, where they built Santa’s workshop in the movie, and the two different churches used for exterior and interior shots for scenes in the film.
One of the stores in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
The grocery store in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
One of the stores in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
Inside the grocery store in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
An outside area featured in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
Inside the church in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
The other church featured in “Home Alone” in Chicago, Illinois posted on December 21, 2022 | Source: YouTube/Going to the Movies!
Macaulay Culkin Recreated Some Iconic ‘Home Alone’ Scenes in a Google Ad and Reunited with His On-Screen Mom
As another commemoration of the iconic movie, Culkin himself paid homage to the film that was his big break in a Google commercial. In 2018, he appeared in an ad promoting Google Assistant.
Several moments into the commercial show, Culkin reprises his lead role, like when his character wakes up and realizes he has been left home alone and then jumps on the bed. Another part includes his iconic filthy animal phrase when he orders pizza.
