“Home Alone” is a beloved American Christmas classic film that has left many fans with unanswered questions over the years.
In a recent interview on “Awards Chatter” podcast by The Hollywood Reporter, director Chris Columbus answered one of the most pressing questions from fans: What do Kevin’s parents do for a living in the movie?
In the film, Kevin’s family lives in a luxurious mansion in Chicago, where the parents can afford a trip to Paris for 15 relatives including both direct and extended family members.
Since the movie’s release in 1990, fans have speculated on how this couple could afford such a lavish lifestyle and travel expenses.
Columbus recalled discussing this question with producer John Hughes at the time and ultimately deciding on the characters’ professional backgrounds.
“We assumed that the mother was a very successful fashion designer because we used mannequins in the basement – I remember having a discussion about it,” explained Columbus.
As for the father’s occupation, it was based on Hughes’ personal experiences and possibly working in the advertising industry. However, Columbus added that he doesn’t quite remember the specifics anymore.
Addressing speculations from some fans suggesting that the father might be involved in organized crime, Columbus clarified: “While there was indeed a lot of organized crime in Chicago at the time, the father character in the movie definitely was not involved.”
The movie revolves around a large family who accidentally leaves their youngest son, Kevin (played by Macaulay Culkin), home alone while on their way to Paris for vacation. Kevin not only has to come to terms with being by himself, but also defend his home against two burglars.
“Home Alone” successfully crafted the iconic on-screen image of child star Culkin. However, Columbus revealed that he initially didn’t plan for Culkin to play the lead role.
“This is one of the reasons why John Hughes was such a great director and producer. I learned a lot from him,” explained Columbus. “He said to me, ‘Would you like to meet Macaulay?’ I said, ‘Sure, I’d like to meet him, but I also want to see other options.'”
Columbus ended up auditioning as many as 300 children, only to find it a complete waste of time. He mentioned that when he saw Culkin again, he realized that he was the “right kid” for the role.
He said that it was only after overcoming his own directorial “arrogance” that he recognized this.
Of course, Culkin went on to become the ultimate child star of the 1990s, starring in films like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “My Girl,” “Richie Rich,” and “The Pagemaster.”