Macaulay Culkin Shares the Real Reason He Prefers ‘Home Alone 2’ Over the First Film

The Home Alone movies have been part of Christmas traditions for decades. Created by John Hughes, the series started with Home Alone in 1990 and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 1992, both directed by Chris Columbus.

The first three movies were released in theaters by 20th Century Fox and generally, they are the most popular of the franchise. Over the years, the franchise has become a holiday staple, loved for its mix of comedy, action, and Christmas spirit.

Recently, Macaulay Culkin, who famously played Kevin McCallister in the first two films, appeared on the YouTube series Hot Ones. During the interview with host Sean Evans, he explained why he thinks Home Alone 2 is better than the original.

The answer had nothing to do with the story or the stunts. “I got paid more,” Culkin said with a grin. He went on to add, “I think I own 5% of the net [profit] and I also own 15% of the merchandising. So, if you buy a Talkboy, yeah I’ll take 15% of that. By the way, buy a Talkboy this Christmas.”

When it was first released, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York didn’t get glowing reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 35% score based on 57 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 10. Metacritic’s score is 46 out of 100 from 22 critics, labeling it “mixed or average.” CinemaScore audiences gave it an A-, a little lower than the A given to the first movie.

In more recent years, the sequel has been getting more love. In 2022, John Nugent from Empire magazine wrote that it was “a sequel that effectively also functions as a remake, a film that recognises the greatness of what came before and wisely hews as close to that winning formula as possible.” Nugent also said that setting the final showdown in a house under renovation allowed for “more ambitious, wild, and far more brutal” traps, and he praised stunt coordinator Freddie Hice for pulling it off without CGI.

Collider also praised the movie in 2022, saying its biggest appeal is that it “takes everything they loved about the first film to a higher level” without holding back.

Whether people watch it for the laughs, the bigger stunts, or simply because it’s part of their holiday routine, Home Alone 2 continues to stand out, especially for Macaulay Culkin, who’s still cashing in on those Talkboy sales.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!