Home Alone

Directed by Chris Columbus, 1990
PG; 103 minutes

“Using split-second editing, playfully choreographed violence and exaggerated responses such as the bug-eyed double take, director Chris Columbus has created a live action comedy in the style of a Warner Bros cartoon.” —Lynden Barber, Sydney Morning Herald

In Chicago, the McCallister family is preparing for a holiday trip to Paris. Amidst all the rush, they accidentally leave youngest son Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) behind—which his mother Kate (Catherine O’Hara) discovers as they’re already in flight! While Kate embarks on an exhausting journey to get home, Kevin enjoys his freedom, until he must stave off a bumbling pair of burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) who have discovered that this tough little tyke is home alone.

The “My Favorite Films” series features tales of romance, humor, suspense, satire, and heroism with films since 1945. These films may hold special memories for you—no matter how many times you see them, they continue to draw you in once more. While many of these films are available through streaming, it's always more fun to see them in the theatre.

This December, the Modern invites you to gather for a month of films that honor the lives and screen legacies of Tim Curry, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Duvall, and Dolly Parton, this lineup reflects the range of performances that stay with us—warm, eccentric, deeply human, and unforgettable. From small-town salons and radio booths to Texas farms and snow-bright city streets, these stories remind us how humor, resilience, tenderness, and a little mischief can turn ordinary days into lasting cinematic memories.

Make a day of it at the Modern and include extra time to visit the galleries. Enjoy lunch in Café Modern and then settle in for an afternoon screening, or plan for a coffee break afterwards with fellow film enthusiasts.

Screenings are at 2 pm most Wednesdays in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 (free for Modern members) and are available at the Museum’s admission desk or online here.