Home Alone (1990)

All Critics (41) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (20) | DVD (22)

The movie is quite enjoyable as long as it explores the fantasy of a neglected little boy having an entire house of his own to explore and play in, and it still manages to be fun when he exhibits superhuman ingenuity and resourcefulness.

July 26, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Pic boasts wonderful casting, with Culkin a delight as funny, resilient Kevin, and O'Hara bringing a snappy, zesty energy to the role of mom.

July 6, 2010 Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

[The movie has] an inconsistency of mood not helped by abrupt editing and Columbus' sometimes self-conscious direction.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

[A] surprisingly charming film, which may be the first Christmas black comedy for children.

May 20, 2003 Full Review

Caryn James

New York Times

Top Critic

This holiday contender from John Hughes is too crass, too loud and too violent to be added blithely to Christmas viewing traditions. But it is funny.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Jeanne Cooper

Washington Post

Top Critic

If Home Alone had limited itself to the things that might possibly happen to a forgotten 8-year-old, I think I would have liked it more.

January 1, 2000 Full Review | Comments (11)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

A better director could have helped the film out considerably, even saved it... But even then, the script is tremendously weak, by Hughes's standards or anybody else's.

November 9, 2011 Full Review | Comments (2)

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Straw Dogs lite.

July 26, 2011 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

This is engaging and frequently hilarious. But the joke is stretched a bit too far.

July 26, 2011 Full Review

Film4

A hilarious comedy (although not a very believable one -- there can be no eight-year-olds this ingenious) that kids will love and adults won't mind sitting through either.

July 26, 2011 Full Review

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

A funny, but overrated family comedy

August 9, 2007 | Comments (3)

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

There are few movies that can be described as never having a dull moment, and Home Alone fits in this small group. It's the perfect family holiday film.

January 25, 2007 Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Home has become a Christmas staple, and rightfully so; it's probably the last theatrical film set during the season to get the themes of family and kindness so right.

November 9, 2006 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

DVDTalk.com

watching this all again today with a critical eye reveals that Home Alone's prat-fall humor has gotten completely worn out

November 5, 2006 Full Review | Comment (1)

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

This slapstick is vicious; a family film?

July 17, 2004

Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Everyone involved ought to be sent home alone -- with no supper.

January 21, 2004 | Comments (2)

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

• 1. Marley: You can say hello when you see me. You don't have to be afraid.
  – Submitted by Joe N (49 days ago)
• 1. Marv: The window?
  2. Harry: Yeah.
  3. Marv: I'm not going out the window.
  4. Harry: What are ya scared of Marv? Are you afraid?
  – Submitted by Joe N (49 days ago)
• 1. Harry: Were did he go?
  2. Marv: Maybe he committed suicide.
  – Submitted by Connor N (4 months ago)
• 1. Fuller: Kevin, your such a disease.
  – Submitted by Connor N (4 months ago)
• 1. Buzz McCallister: I wouldn't let you sleep in my room, if you were growing, on my ass!
  – Submitted by Connor N (4 months ago)
• 1. Kevin McCallister: This is it. Dont get scared now.
  – Submitted by Ronalds J (5 months ago)