Home Alone director Christopher Columbus has shared the story behind one of the most memorable scenes in the Christmas classic, where actor Macaulay Culkin improvised a now-iconic moment.
It’s been 35 years since the introduction of Kevin, the young boy left behind by his family in the 1990 film, and 33 years since he made a comeback in the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Despite the years that have passed, the series remains a holiday favorite, with certain scenes standing out as particularly memorable.
One expression of Kevin’s is especially notable—you likely picture it instantly: eyes wide, mouth agape, with hands pressed against his cheeks.
This scene takes place in the first Home Alone movie, often hailed by fans as the best in the series.
In this part of the film, Kevin is preparing for the day and applies aftershave to his face, leading to the iconic expression.
Feeling the sting, his mouth drops open, he slaps his hands to his face, and lets out a scream. It’s a reaction most can relate to.
This scene is arguably one of the most famous in the film, and perhaps in all of cinema. Its charm partly lies in the fact that it was an unplanned moment, not scripted as it appears on screen.
In an interview with Business Insider, director Chris Columbus revealed he instructed Culkin on how to realistically portray the scene, considering Culkin, as a child, had never actually used aftershave.
Columbus explained: “If you put something on your face that burns, most people move their hands right away. So my direction to him was when you pat your face, move your hands and scream.”
However, Culkin didn’t exactly follow this guidance.
Columbus continued: “I think it was the first take, he kept his hands on his cheeks. It’s funny, the iconic moment from Home Alone was an accident.”
Though Culkin improvised the reaction, it has become a timeless part of pop culture, referenced in memes by characters like Chris Griffin in Family Guy and Scarlett Harlett from UK Drag Race. The scene is synonymous with Christmas, thanks to Culkin’s spontaneous creativity.