1990's Home Alone is a cult classic that fans watch every year during the holiday season. The story of Kevin McCallister saving himself and his home from two crooks was so beloved that a sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, was released in 1992. In the sequel, Kevin was left without his family yet again, but this time he was stranded in New York while the McCallisters were in Florida.
Stars like Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O'Hara ended their time with the franchise after Home Alone 2, but other directors tried putting their own spin on the film. Home Alone 3 came out in 1997, Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House was released in 2002, and more recently, Disney gave fans Home Sweet Home Alone in 2021. Though much of the movie is hilarious slapstick comedy, the premise of a kid being left alone by his parents results in some tear-jerking quotes.
Uncle Frank (Home Alone)
“Look What Ya Did, You Little Jerk!”
One of the least likable characters in the Home Alone franchise was Kevin's uncle Frank. Frank was Kevin's dad's brother and he clearly took advantage of the McCallisters' money and home.
In Home Alone, Kevin was tired of his older brother Buzz making fun of him. To get back at him, he tackled Buzz at the kitchen table, which caused a scene because everyone's drinks spilled. With all eyes on Kevin, Uncle Frank said, "Look what ya did, you little jerk!" and no one had Kevin's back.
Kevin McCallister (Home Alone 2)
“I Don’t Trust Anybody In This Family. And You Know What? If I Had My Own Money, I’d Go On My Own Vacation, Alone.”
It's an unpopular opinion to think that Kevin deserved to sleep in the cold attic with his cousin Fuller whenever he misbehaved. All Kevin wanted in both movies was love and attention. Instead, he was met with family members who encouraged Buzz's poor behavior.
As Kate was putting Kevin in timeout for not accepting Buzz's fake apology, he said something that broke her heart. He told her he wished he had his own money so that he could vacation by himself because he couldn't stand his family. Kevin always realized that he needed his family by the end of the movie but it's heartbreaking that he felt this way.
Alex (Home Alone 3)
“I Guess You Have To Be 35 Before Anyone Listens To Ya.”
Home Alone 3 had a completely different set of actors, location, and plot. In the movie, a young boy named Alex was stuck home alone during the holidays when he had chickenpox. His mom and dad were busy with work and couldn't be home with him all day, leaving him to fend for himself. But when Alex noticed a string of odd faces around the neighborhood, he realized he had to save his home and his neighbors before it was too late.
Like the original, Home Alone 3 had funny traps made by Alex, and he also had a loving family. However, it also had a gloomy moment when his parents and the police didn't believe him. With no one believing him, Alex concludes that nobody cares what a kid has to say and that he'd have to be 35 before someone took him seriously.
Kevin & Kate McCallister (Home Alone 2)
“Goodnight, Mom.” “Goodnight, Kevin.”
Kevin was stunned when he realized he got on the wrong plane and was in New York City instead of Miami with his family. With his dad's wallet in hand, Kevin went to one of the nicest hotels and booked himself a room to stay in until his parents found him.
As happy as Kevin was to be on his own in the Big Apple, there was a soft moment when he and his mom were both looking out of their respective windows at the night sky. They both whispered "goodnight" at the same time while looking at the moon. It was a sweet moment that showed how much they loved and missed each other despite the chaos.
Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)
“Everyone In This Family Hates Me!”
Home Alone is the best movie in the franchise because it set the tone for the others. It showed the complicated yet loving dynamic between Kevin and his family. As much as Kate loved her son, she knew she had to punish him at times when he acted out.
In one of the earliest scenes, Kate sent Kevin to bed for how he treated Buzz. Kevin told her that everyone in the family hated him and that it would be better if he didn't have a family. At just eight years old, those were harsh words for a mother to hear.
Pigeon Lady (Home Alone 2)
“I Haven’t Got Many Friends. I’m Like The Birds I Care For. People Pass Me In The Street. They See Me, But They Try To Ignore Me."
When Kevin is roaming around Central Park in Home Alone 2, he comes across a woman with pigeons all over her. She was soon dubbed Pigeon Lady because he never grabbed her name. At first, Kevin was terrified of the woman and her birds but by the end of the movie, they came to an understanding.
Kevin and the Pigeon Lady got to know each other better. She told him that she used to have a family and a home but when her husband broke her heart, she ran away from it all. Now that she lived on the streets, she lived a sad life where people judged and ignored her. It was a Home Alone plotline that didn't make sense — why would be so harmful to her just because of pigeons? — but it was her truth.
Kate McCallister (Home Alone)
“What Kind Of Mother Am I?”
Kate McCallister had some of the most unintentionally funny quotes throughout Home Alone. She was a loving and dedicated mother and would have done anything to get back to her son after losing him in New York and at home in Chicago.
In Home Alone, it wasn't until Kate was 30,000 feet above the ground that she realized she forgot her son behind. She sadly looked out into the distance and asked herself, "What kind of mother am I?" Her relatives tried making her feel better but nothing could have worked at that moment.
Kate McCallister (Home Alone 2)
“Kevin Is So Much Stronger And Braver Than I Am. I Know Kevin’s Fine… He Doesn’t Deserve That. He Deserves To Be At Home, With His Own Family, Around His Christmas Tree.”
Once Kate left Miami and landed in New York City, she had to guess where her son would be. The hotel said that Kevin ran away and they didn't know where he was, which led Kate on a mission. She eventually ran into two cops and showed them Kevin's picture, asking if they knew where he was.
Before the police officer told Kate to stand in her son's shoes, she told him how strong and brave Kevin was. She realized how amazing her son was in a dark moment, which was upsetting to realize — and watch.
Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)
“I Didn’t Mean It. If You Come Back, I’ll Never Be A Pain In The Butt Again. I Promise.”
After Kevin set up deadly traps around the house to protect himself from the burglars, he grabbed a photo of his family and admired them. Before turning out the lights for the night, Kevin prayed that his family would come back, and if they did come back, he'd act differently.
It was upsetting to see Kevin so lonely without his loved ones — even when they weren't always kinds to each other.
Max (Home Sweet Home Alone)
"And I'm Not Ugly... My Mum Said I've Got Character."
Home Sweet Home Alone is the most recent film in the franchise. In it, a boy named Max gets left at home when his mother flew to Tokyo for the holidays. It wasn't until she was in Tokyo that she realized she forgot Max behind. Meanwhile, neighbors of his break into his home when they thought he stole a very valuable doll of theirs.
Max thought the neighbors were talking about him when they referred to the "ugly boy" but they were actually referencing the doll. In a sad tone, Max stated that he wasn't ugly; he had character. The moment put everything into perspective and made viewers sad for Max.