Okay, so have you seen Home Alone? It’s that super cool Christmas movie, but get this—it almost didn’t happen! Back in 1990, the genius John Hughes, who came up with the idea, wanted to make a fun movie for kids, just like the awesome ones he made for older folks.
He cooked up a story about a kid being left alone during the holidays. Sounds like a blast, right? But there’s a whole crazy tale behind it.
A Rough Start
Imagine this: everyone’s all hyped to start making the movie, but then boom! Warner Bros., the studio that was supposed to pay for everything, backed out. Can you even think about Home Alone without that Marv guy? It was almost a disaster!
And guess who almost played Marv? Some dude named Dan Roebuck. But you know what they say—things happen for a reason.
Home Alone Sneaky Moves
But hold up, the team wasn’t giving up. They slyly sent the script to 20th Century Fox, crossing their fingers for a Christmas miracle. Guess what? It worked! Fox joined in, and the real magic began.
Feels Like Home
They didn’t want to do the Hollywood thing, so they shot Home Alone in and around Chicago. They turned New Trier High School into the McCallister house. Finding that perfect house was a quest, but it had to be just right—warm and cozy for that holiday vibe.
Christmas Fanatic
The director, Chris Columbus, is nuts about Christmas. No wonder the movie has that festive, snug feeling!
Picking the Crew
Getting the cast right was a big deal. They needed a cool nine-year-old to lead, and the grown-ups had to be just right. Macaulay Culkin was the perfect choice, especially after killing it in Uncle Buck.
Marv Mayhem
Now, finding the perfect Marv was a bit of a puzzle. They first went with Daniel Stern, but he walked when things got messy. Dan Roebuck stepped in, but something was off. Chris Columbus realized they needed Daniel Stern back, and guess what? He said yes, and it was an awesome move!
Box Office Bang
Home Alone hit theaters just before Thanksgiving, up against Rocky V. Critics were meh, but the audience thought differently. It made way more money in the opening weekend than anyone expected and held the number one spot for 12 whole weeks! It brought in a crazy $285 million in the U.S. That’s superhero movie numbers right there!
The Aftermath
Home Alone became this big movie series, and the rookie team? They became Hollywood legends. It goes to show, even when things look tricky, a little Christmas magic can turn it all around. The end.
