14 interesting facts about Home Alone you probably didn't know

14. Candy reportedly earned less than the pizza delivery boy for his cameo

Despite his unforgettable cameo, John Candy earned less for his role than the actor who played the pizza delivery boy. He filmed all his scenes in a marathon 23-hour day and accepted the minimum pay as a favor to John Hughes. | © 20th Century Studios

13. Home Alone has earned almost half a billion worldwide

Home Alone has raked in an incredible $476.6 million worldwide—enough to buy Harry a whopping 39,723,722 replacement beanies at $12 a pop! Now that’s a number to make any Wet Bandit head spin. | © 20th Century Studios

12. Macaulay Culkin still refers to Catherine O'Hara as mommy

When Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O’Hara met years after filming Home Alone, he sweetly greeted her as mommy. She responded with baby, a heartwarming moment that even had O’Hara’s husband insisting on snapping a picture. | © 20th Century Studios

11. Buzz's "girlfriend" was actually played by a boy

Kevin’s reaction when he looks at the photo of Buzz's girlfriend is unforgettable, but only the most dedicated fans know that the girl in the snap is the son of the film’s art director. Chris Columbus felt it would be far too cruel to direct the joke at a real girl. | © 20th Century Studios

10. Joe Pesci kept his distance from Macaulay Culkin on set

Joe Pesci kept his distance from Macaulay Culkin during filming to make sure the young actor was genuinely afraid of him, which added an extra layer of realism to Harry’s menacing presence. | © 20th Century Studios

9. Finding the perfect house for the film took weeks of searching

It took several weeks for the director and his crew to find the iconic McCallister house. Luckily, they found a perfect spot in Winnetka, Illinois. With its mix of warmth and a hint of menace, the house perfectly matched the movie vibes and became a central character. | © 20th Century Studios

8. The film was inspired by an actual family trip

The idea of Home Alone was born during a real-life family trip to Europe, where movie writer John Hughes wondered, “What if we accidentally left one of the kids behind?” That simple question led him to draft the script in just nine days after returning home. | © 20th Century Studios

7. Robert De Niro was under consideration for the role of Harry

Before Joe Pesci took on the role of Harry in Home Alone, the production team briefly considered Robert De Niro. Luckily, he didn't show much interest, and Pesci said yes. | © 20th Century Studios

6. Home Alone features two Culkin siblings

Kevin’s bed-wetting cousin Fuller, infamous for his love of Pepsi, was played by Macaulay Culkin’s real-life younger brother, Kieran. Far from being typecast, Kieran has since built an impressive career, starring in hit series like Succession. | © 20th Century Studios

5. The film’s snowy holiday setting wasn’t originally planned

The snowy magic of Home Alone was the lucky accident. The blizzard on the second bay of filming was a surprise, and when the real snow melted, the crew had to keep the Chicago suburb wintery with fake flakes. | © 20th Century Studios

4. The stunts were real

The wild stunts in Home Alone were performed without special effects, relying on fearless stunts who took real falls. From icy stair tumbles to high-flying slips, every stunt had to be nailed on the first try. | © 20th Century Studios

3. Culkin improvised one of the most memorable moments in Home Alone

The aftershave scream, which is one of the most iconic Home Alone moments, was pure improvisation by Macaulay Culkin. When Macaulay Culkin instinctively kept his hands on his cheeks during the aftershave scream, an unplanned moment became one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. | © 20th Century Studios

2. The film maintained a cinematic record for almost 30 years

For nearly three decades, Home Alone held the title of highest-grossing live-action comedy. It wasn't until 2017 that the Chinese film Never Say Die topped it. | © 20th Century Studios

1. The script for the film was completed in just over a week

The beloved holiday classic Home Alone was born from the creativity of John Hughes, who wrote the script's first draft in just nine days. Inspired by his travel anxiety after a family trip to Europe, Hughes imagined the chaos of accidentally leaving a 10-year-old behind. | © 20th Century Studios