Three decades after Home Alone first became a holiday classic, director Chris Columbus still feels strongly about the franchise’s later installments. During a recent 35th anniversary screening and Q&A at the Academy Museum, Columbus—joined by original star Macaulay Culkin—opened up about the sequels that followed the first two films. Seasonal viewings remain tradition for audiences worldwide, and the franchise continues generating interest through streaming, merchandise and reboot efforts. But Columbus maintains little affection for the installments produced without his involvement.
Columbus criticizes later sequels
Columbus directed Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). When asked about subsequent films, including Home Alone 3 (1997) through the 2021 reboot Home Sweet Home Alone, he did not soften his opinion.
“It’s been revisited with really bad sequels,” Columbus said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Sorry to insult anybody, but they’ve completely f***ed it up.”
He added that Home Alone 3, while still flawed, was “sort of the best of the bunch of the bad movies.”
Culkin chimed in during the Q&A, joking that the sequels failed because “they didn’t have us.” Culkin largely stepped away from mainstream acting for years but has recently returned to selective roles.
A history of strong views
Columbus has voiced dissatisfaction with franchise reboots before. In a 2020 interview, he criticized Disney+ for developing Home Sweet Home Alone without consulting him, calling the effort a “waste of time.” Although the sequels attempted to introduce new child protagonists, they failed to replicate the runaway success of Kevin McCallister’s original escapades against the Wet Bandits, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
Would Columbus ever return to the franchise?
Columbus revealed he once considered a concept for a new sequel featuring the Wet Bandits returning from prison to seek revenge on Kevin—now as an adult with a child of his own. He suggested the idea could have provided a compelling narrative while honoring the original tone. However, he acknowledged obstacles, including uncertain cast interest and the difficulty of recapturing the chemistry that defined the early films.
“Part of it is based on the cast at that age, at that particular time, and I don’t think you can duplicate that,” Columbus said.
Culkin has pitched his own concept for a potential third Home Alone centered on an adult Kevin. But Columbus indicated he’s focusing on other projects, including Gremlins 3, signaling he may have moved past the franchise permanently.
The staying power of a holiday classic
Despite mixed reception to later sequels, the first two films remain holiday staples and continue attracting multi-generational audiences. The premise of a clever child outsmarting burglars retains pop-cultural staying power, especially during festive streaming cycles.
The future of the Home Alone franchise remains uncertain, but ongoing nostalgia ensures ongoing debate around potential revivals. For now, Columbus appears content leaving the franchise untouched, believing lightning cannot be recaptured in the same bottle.
