The Untold Story Behind 'Home Alone': How a Strange Meeting Led to a Christmas Classic

Berfin Ceren Meray
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'Home Alone' has become a holiday tradition, but not many know the surprising story behind how it came to be. Directed by Chris Columbus, the film almost didn’t happen as we know it. Initially set to direct National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Columbus’s meeting with Chevy Chase took an unexpected turn, leading him to take on the iconic Home Aloneproject instead. Discover the behind-the-scenes secrets of this holiday classic, and learn how one pivotal meeting changed Columbus's career forever!

Director Chris Columbus shared the turning points of his career and the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic film Home Alone, a beloved piece of pop culture.

In an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast, Columbus explained how an unusual meeting with actor Chevy Chase led him to direct the Home Alone series.

It all started when John Hughes sent Columbus the screenplay for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Hughes was set to produce the film and offered Columbus the director's role. However, the process took a strange turn with an odd meeting Columbus had with Chevy Chase. Columbus said, “I was asking him all kinds of questions, but they were completely irrelevant and unrelated.” At one point, Chase said, “Wait a minute, are you the director? Oh, I thought you were a drummer,” which made the meeting even more bizarre. This tension led Columbus to step away from the project.

Soon after, Hughes suggested another Christmas movie for Columbus: Home Alone.

Hughes, who wrote and produced the screenplay, was considering Macaulay Culkin for the role of Kevin McCallister. However, Columbus initially wanted to explore other options. 'We met with 300 different kids, but from the very beginning, the answer was clear: Macaulay had a magical effect.'

Columbus also acknowledged that the McCallister family's wealthy lifestyle was often a discussed mystery, and he mentioned that he and John Hughes had discussed this.

'We decided that Kate McCallister was a successful fashion designer,' he said.

He also added that the mannequins in the family’s basement were a reference to this.

As for the father, Peter McCallister, there wasn't much clarity, though he speculated that he was likely an advertiser.