Home Alone is a classic American family comedy directed by Chris Columbus, with a screenplay by John Hughes. Released in France on December 19, 1990, the film quickly became a beloved holiday staple. Starring Macaulay Culkin alongside Catherine O’Hara and Joe Pesci, it will be aired on television on TF1 on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM. Targeted at a family audience, the movie is recommended for viewers aged 8 and up.
As Christmas approaches, the McCallister family gets ready to head to Paris for the holidays. In the rush to leave, they overlook one crucial detail: Kevin, the youngest of the children, is left home alone. Initially overwhelmed, the 9-year-old gradually discovers the thrill of independence, turning his unintended solitude into an exciting adventure.
The situation takes a new turn when two unscrupulous burglars spot a house that seems empty. Kevin then must get creative to defend his home, setting up a series of traps and clever schemes. The film balances slapstick humor, a sense of adventure, and a child’s lighthearted perspective on responsibility and independence.
Written by John Hughes, a key figure in American popular cinema of the 1980s and 1990s, Home Alone fits squarely into the tradition of family comedies with broad appeal. The film was a massive box office hit, earning over $530 million worldwide against a modest budget of around $15 million, making it one of the most profitable films of its era.
The film spawned several sequels, including Home Alone Again, which transports the classic story to New York, along with other movies that follow the same formula—an unaccompanied child facing off against clumsy adults. The score by John Williams, also Oscar-nominated, plays a key role in shaping the film’s identity, blending orchestral melodies with a festive holiday atmosphere.
With its visual humor, engaging pace, and warm-hearted portrayal of childhood, Home Alone appeals just as much to kids as to adults feeling nostalgic for their youth. It has become a seasonal television staple during the holidays, embodying a nostalgic vision of popular family films from the 1990s.
Home Alone
Movie | 1990
Released in theaters: December 19, 1990
Television broadcast: TF1 on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Adventure, Comedy | Duration: 1h43
Directed by Chris Columbus | Starring Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Pesci
Original title: Home Alone
Country: United States
More than thirty years after its release, Home Alone still holds a special place in pop culture. Blending slapstick comedy with a coming-of-age story, the film continues to bring generations together, carving out a legendary space in the holiday movie tradition.
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