Hollywood actor Macaulay Culkin has finally picked his favourite between his two iconic Christmas films and it’s Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Speaking on the YouTube show Hot Ones, Culkin said his decision was based on earnings, not nostalgia.
“I got paid more,” the 44-year-old star joked. “I think I own five percent of the net. And also 15 percent of the merchandising. So, if you buy a Talkboy, I’ll take 15 percent of that. Thank you very much.”
Sequel That Paid Off
Released in 1992, Home Alone 2 followed the runaway success of the 1990 original. While both films became holiday favourites and box office hits, Culkin said the sequel offered him better financial terms.
The actor admitted that merchandise sales still bring him money decades later. “By the way, buy a Talkboy this Christmas,” he laughed, referring to the tape recorder featured in the sequel.
Fond Memories and On-Set Stories
Beyond the money, Culkin said he enjoyed working with the returning cast. Actress Catherine O’Hara, who played his on-screen mother, praised his charm during his 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, crediting him for the films’ global popularity.
He also shared a behind-the-scenes mishap involving co-star Joe Pesci, who accidentally bit his finger during a rehearsal to appear more menacing. “He once told me he hadn’t been home in three years,” Culkin said, joking about the competitive energy on set.
Stunt Double Rumour
Culkin also confirmed a long-standing rumour about his stunt double in Home Alone. His stunts were performed by Larry Nicholas, a 30-year-old man with dwarfism, who was dressed to look exactly like the nine-year-old actor.
“I saw him for the first time in the wardrobe department,” Culkin recalled. “I thought he was maybe 13. But he laughed and said, ‘I’m Larry the stuntman.’”
Larry once suffered a fall when a shelf broke during a scene. “The first take was dangerous and then we had another with an explosion. I kept telling people on set to go easy on him,” Culkin said.
Legacy of Holiday Classic
Home Alone released in 1990,became one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, spawning sequels and spin-offs. Culkin’s role as Kevin McCallister made him one of the most recognisable child actors in cinema history.
While his acting career later slowed, the films have remained central to his public image. In recent years, he has toured the United States with A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin, hosting screenings and Q\&A sessions for fans.
