There are probably not many details that can still be taken away from Home Alone, the 1990 family Christmas comedy by Chris Columbus. One of the most famous films ever made, Home Alone has become a tradition for families the world over to take in every holiday season. As such, it has become one of the most rewatched films, potentially of all-time.
Yet, the film was created with such love that there is still something new to take away from it each year. Much of this everlasting newness comes from the laboriously-crafted production design, which peppered the McCallister home with little Easter eggs and important details to set up plot points of the movie that come along later. Here are just a few that may not have been noticed before.
The Little Flower Pot That Could
From the first scene of the movie, which takes place in the entryway of the McCallister household, to the climax of errors that sees the burglars Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) falling on their backs, a flower pot stands in the corner.
It would be a challenge enough for a flower pot to stay standing in a house with five children and a ton of family members. But this flower pot also lasts a cardboard cutout-driven dance sequence and a series of massive collisions with the floor from adult men. And there is not even a single wobble.
Kevin’s Dinner Withstands Chaos, Too
The flower pot is not the only item in the McCallister household that stays upright throughout the events of the film. Immediately before the robbery begins, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) sits down to eat a macaroni and cheese dinner with a glass of milk. Just when he aims to dig in, the time comes to defend his house.
Throughout the events of the evening, his dinner remains on the dining room table. Yes, the image shows feathers covering the mac and cheese. But the glass of milk is pristine. Untouched. Not a drop spilled. That is a sturdy home and it even lasts years later when an aged Culkin returns to his antics within it.
So. Many. Towels.
One of the most iconic scenes of Home Alone comes when Kevin decides (for whatever reason) to apply aftershave when he finishes his shower. Yes, the comedy comes from the iconic scream that Culkin unleashes when the aftershave makes contact with his skin.
But if the viewer looks around the McCallister room for a second, they will see something a bit confounding. Why are there so many towels in that bathroom? By a quick count, there are twenty-five towels in the bathroom, including the one around Kevin’s waist. Yes, it is a big family with two parents and five children. But why does one bathroom need so many towels?
Somebody’s Been Brewing Coffee
When the beginnings of the burglary are unfolding and Marv and Harry are attempting to get into the house, the audience sees Kevin laying down in the kitchen, preparing to shoot the intruders when they approach the room’s dog door. The viewer is not necessarily drawn to look at the items in the kitchen, but it is rewarding to do so. Aside from the numerous appliances and expansive storage space, there is also a coffee pot on the counter.
But there is some coffee in it! It has been a couple of days since the McCallister family left for France at this point, so it is unclear if that is leftover coffee from their hurried morning or if Kevin was drinking some to wake himself up.
The Piano That Goes Untouched
It seems like every last item in the McCallister home is upturned and employed into action at some point. Cardboard cutouts, Christmas ornaments, hot metal, and more. They are all considered worthy tools for Kevin to use to defend his home. However, one of the most prominent tools goes untouched for the duration of the film: the piano in the parlor.
Granted, it would be challenging for an eight-year-old to hoist a piano and it would probably be too improbable for a burglar to recover from a collision with an instrument of that size. At the very least, it helps establish that the house has the capacity to become a musical place, so Harry understands that a hip-hop-happening party would certainly take place if a family was home.
Who Won the Golden Globe?
From John Candy to Pesci to Catherine O’Hara, the cast of Home Alone is undeniably star-studded. But the only one to receive a Golden Globe nomination for his performance was the lead, Culkin himself. And while it does not quite resemble an actual Golden Globe award, there is a knick-knack on a hallway table in the background that is a globe made of gold.
When Kevin is trying to figure out how to pack a suitcase, the globe can be seen and it is quite a lavish ornament in the house. Considering the prevalence of items like that and the size of the house, as a whole, how could the robbers not want to steal from the home?
Everything Is Christmas (Understandably)
Yes, Home Alone is a Christmas movie, no matter what contrarians like Bill Simmons say. Even if it was not for the themes of the movie and the heartwarming holiday sweetness of the setting and time, it would still obviously be a Christmas film. This is thanks in large part to the over-the-top production design, which works for all holiday lovers. Sometimes, a little embellishment can be a good thing.
John Muto, the production designer on the film, clearly loved the Christmas aesthetic. From the wardrobe to the colors of the home to the colors of little objects in the background that are only seen when closely examining them, everything is Christmas-themed. Kevin didn’t need to decorate a tree to feel festive. The house is Christmassy by default all year round.
Chicago Sports Teams Are Aces for the McCallisters
It is well-established that Home Alone takes place in a suburb of Chicago. As such, it makes sense that the McCallister family would be fans of Chicago sports teams, like the Bears football team and the Bulls basketball team. They could have potentially been fans of neighboring sports teams from nearby states like Wisconsin or Ohio, but they are Chicago diehards through and through.
Buzz’s room is the main location for all things Chicago sports. The Michael Jordan cardboard cutout, a slew of Bears paraphernalia, and more help set up the undertone of Chicago sports fandom in the film. Little details like that make all the difference.
The Ironing Board Jenga Tower
In the basement, a football helmet can be seen stacked on top of linens and clothes on the ironing board. This can probably be inferred to be Buzz’s (Devin Ratray) helmet. A hockey trophy is seen in Buzz’s room so it stands to reason that he is the athlete of the family. Since it is winter, it makes sense that the football helmet would be stuffed in storage until the next autumn rolls around.
The only thing that is unclear is why clothes were ironed and folded and then abandoned in the basement. Perhaps they were being saved for New Year’s Eve attire.
The Adorable Penguin Seen Only Briefly
There are so many details throughout Home Alone that are either referenced multiple times (the yard statue) or come back for specific key scenes or funny callbacks (the miniature athlete figurines). But one detail seems to be perfectly superfluous and that is welcome, on occasion. In Jeff’s (Michael C. Maronna) room, a little penguin figure is seen on a shelf.
It is a more playful, boyish room than Buzz’s teenage-transformed den, which explains why a penguin would remain in the room. Perhaps Jeff is nostalgic for childhood. Perhaps it is a winter ornament. Perhaps it is a little nod to the childlike whimsy that is within every viewer when they watch the great Home Alone.
