This classic Christmas movie is a must-watch—but its sequel is even better
As the holidays approach, a festive film is at the top of many people’s must-watch lists: Alone at home. And for good reason! However, its sequel should also be a priority, as it is the best choice.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is superior in several ways, which is almost unheard of when it comes to blockbuster movie sequels. A controversial view, perhaps, but one I am prepared to support.
Home Alone is rightfully one of the most popular Christmas movies
Make no mistake, I believe that Alone at home is not only one of the best Christmas movies on Disney+, but also one of the greatest of all time. It’s a must-have during the holiday season. Who doesn’t love seeing Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister outwit a few veteran criminals in the sanctuary of his own home during the Christmas season? Plus, Chris Columbus’ 1990 comedy features plenty of iconic scenes (like Kevin’s famous mirror scream and chaotic pizza delivery) that won’t soon be forgotten.
Alone at home contains a fantastic mix of slapstick comedy, heartwarming moments and Christmas spirit. It’s nostalgic in all the best ways and appeals to a wide audience. The film is a great watch for your entire family or group of friends, which is part of why it has stood the test of time and remained a popular choice during the holidays.
Eventually, Alone at home has become synonymous with Christmas, and rightly so. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the best movie in the world. Alone at home franchise. Instead, I think that title should go to his successor, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the superior film
Even though, technically, Kevin is not “home alone” Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkthe sequel is still better than the first opus of the franchise. It may be an interesting take, but it’s one I’ve had since the first time I watched the 1992 film. I’ve always loved Alone at homebut once I saw the second movie, I knew it was the best choice and would always hold a special place in my heart.
To start, Home Alone 2 feels much more festive than its predecessor because it takes place in New York. Many people say New York is one of the best places to visit during the holiday season for good reason. There’s something about New York that screams Christmas, and the Alone at home the rest takes full advantage of the magic of the city.
Kevin is staying at the Plaza Hotel, decorated with cheerful decorations. He visits an attractive toy store. He walks through streets filled with bustling crowds, eager to do his last-minute Christmas shopping. Kevin even goes to Rockefeller Center, which has a gigantic Christmas tree. In all, Home Alone 2 embodies Christmas, making it impossible not to feel festive after watching it.
Furthermore, the second Alone at home the climactic scene of the film is better than that of the first film. Of course, the traps Kevin sets in his house for Harry and Marv (like the burning doorknob and the blowtorch) are pretty unforgettable. That’s not to say the minds behind the popular holiday film haven’t upped their game for the sequel.
The best trap that Kevin set for the two criminals is perhaps the one which is undoubtedly the deadliest and which takes place precisely at Home Alone 2. Well, that certainly would have killed Marv; as you may remember, Kevin greeted Harry and Marv by throwing bricks at them when they arrived at his uncle’s abandoned house.
Home Alone 2 also features Harry unknowingly plunging his hot head into a kerosene-filled toilet, electrified Marv, and more iconic traps. Nor could anyone forget the moment when the birds attacked Harry and Marv towards the end of the sequel. All these slapstick comedic moments are better than what the first film offered.
The last reason why Lost in New York is greater than Alone at home is its casting. The sequel features the addition of Tim Curry as the hotel’s obsessive and paranoid concierge, Brenda Fricker as the woman Kevin befriends in Central Park, Rob Schneider as a bellboy, and Dana Ivey as an office worker. All of these actors make the movie better, and they certainly make it a lot funnier than the first movie.
The first two Home Alone films are the only ones worth watching in the franchise
Unfortunately, while Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is an exceptional sequel to Alone at home and managed to surpass it, the same cannot be said for the rest of the films in the franchise. Home Alone 3, Home Alone 4, Home Alone: The Holiday HeistAnd Home Sweet Home Alone simply don’t measure up to their predecessors. Since they don’t feature Kulkin as Kevin, they honestly don’t stand a chance.
The good news is that Alone at home And Home Alone 2: Lost in New York more than makes up for the other films in the festive franchise. After all, they’re both some of the best classic Christmas movies. But even though the first film is remarkable, its sequel surpasses it in almost every way—i.e. Lost in New York needs to be on your list of things to watch this holiday season.
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