The director of Home Alone has revealed how Kevin McCallister’s family were able to afford such a massive house.
It’s one of the main abiding questions about one of the world’s favorite holiday films, and finally we have a satisfying answer.
Home Alone is a Christmas classic, but it raises many questions
The McCallister family, who took that now-infamous vacation to Europe without their son Kevin, lived in a massive house for a massive family.
In the suburbs of Chicago, it must have cost a fortune, even at the time.
The real house from the classic Christmas movie is in Winnetka, Illinois, and it has been the subject of much debate ever since this festive favorite hit screens.
Since 1990, this house has been the subject of more holiday chatter than almost anywhere outside of the North Pole, and - thankfully - the man behind the movie is here to give us the definitive answer.
Chris Columbus was on hand to discuss how Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin was able to live in such luxury.
Speaking on the Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Columbus shared details of a conversation between himself and screenwriter John Hughes, in which they decided on the chosen professions of the adults of the household.
He explained: “Back then, John and I had a conversation about it, and we decided on what the jobs were.”
Kevin’s mom, played by Catherine O’Hara, was ‘was a very successful fashion designer’ as evidenced by the mannequins in the house’s basement.
Peter McCallister, Kevin’s father, played by John Heard, was less defined.
Columbus said: “The father could have, based on John Hughes’ own experience, worked in advertising, but I don’t remember what the father did.”
It must have been well paid, anyway.
Chris Columbus quashed a popular fan theory
Columbus moved to dispel the popular rumor that Kevin’s dad was in some way connected to the criminal world, which had been touted as a reason for the Wet Bandits - Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern - targeting the house.
“Not organized crime — even though there was, at the time, a lot of organized crime in Chicago,” Columbus confirmed.
The house itself has an interesting history, too.
It’s been on the market a few times, and was relatively recently expanded and listed with an asking price of $5.25 million.
The real house boasts an indoor basketball court, movie theater, poker room, and - fittingly - a statue of Culkin made of Lego.
In 2021, it was even listed for stays on Airbnb, which would have been a real Christmas miracle.