The original Home Alone director isn’t interested in reboots; asks to leave the film alone

In 2021, Home Alone received a reboot through Dan Mazer's Home Sweet Home Alone.

It has a premise nearly identical to the 1990 film, as it follows a kid left behind to fend for himself while his parents are away. Yet, unlike the Macaulay Culkin film, often considered an all-time Christmas Classic, the reboot didn't receive a warm reception.

Chris Columbus, who directed the first film, returned to direct a sequel in 1992. The sequel, dubbed Lost in New York, is just as fondly remembered as the original movie.

During a recent red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight, he was asked whether he hopes to reboot the franchise in any way. The interviewer cited his previous return for a sequel.

"[That's because] that was immediate [after the first film]. We had the same cast and everyone was about the same age," said the director.

When asked about any desire for a reunion with the cast through a reboot or a sequel, the filmmaker said,

“I think ‘Home Alone’ really exists as, not at this timepiece, but it was this very special moment, and you can’t really recapture that. I think it’s a mistake to try to go back and recapture something we did 35 years ago. I think it should be left alone.”

Exploring the legacy of the Home Alone franchise

It's been 35 years since the first Home Alone film arrived in cinemas, and people still can't get enough of it. The film was directed by John Hughes, based on a script by John Hughes, who also produced it.

Macaulay Culkin headlined the project as 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, left 'home alone' while his parents went away for their Christmas trip to Paris. That's when he needed to fend off two thieves trying to break into his house, thinking no one was home. What could have been his worst nightmare ended up being theirs.

It's an exciting comedy charmer that works well even all these years later. Apart from Culkin, the film starred Catherine O'Hara and John Heard as his parents and Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the two crooks.

A year after the film's release, the cast returned for a sequel where Kevin ends up alone in New York, facing the same criminals that he fought back at his home. The franchise continued for three more chapters in 2002, 2012, and 2021. Still, none of those sequels or reboots is treasured the way the original film is.

In this context, Christ Columbus's statement holds ground. He understands that the film is a classic for a reason, as it captures an era with impeccable chemistry between its ensemble. It's challenging to capture the same feeling without all those pieces falling in place. That's why he is not interested in rebooting the franchise.

Speaking about the central cast and characters, here's who played whom in Home Alone,