Home Alone

Home Alone is a 1990 comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to France for a Christmas vacation. While initially relishing his time alone, he is later threatened with two house burglars, whom he outwits by rigging the house with booby traps.

Most of the film was shot in the Chicago suburbs of Winnetka, Illinois and Wilmette, Illinois. Any other shots, such as those of Paris, are either stock footage or faked.

The movie made Macaulay Culkin a world-renowned actor. The film also features Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the "Wet Bandits," a bumbling pair of burglars named Harry and Marv who try to rob the McCallister home, believing it to be an easy mark with the family absent. Harry is best known for saying "ratcha fatcha" whenever pain is inflicted on him. The duo, unfortunately for themselves, run into numerous booby traps set by the resourceful Kevin throughout the house. It becomes apparent, however, that although they may get knocked back, they refuse to quit. Catherine O'Hara, Roberts Blossom, and John Heard also co-star.

Minor roles are played by Gerry Bamman, Devin Ratray, Kieran Culkin (Macaulay's younger brother), Michael C. Maronna, Hillary Wolf, and Angela Goethals. In addition, John Candy, a frequent collaborator of writer/producer John Hughes, has a supporting role as a polka band player. John Williams created the musical score, which was nominated for an Oscar.