Twitter-user spots easy-to-miss detail in 'Home Alone' that explains why Kevin was left behind

It is the most wonderful time of the year - but considering it is 2020 that's not really saying much.

But as we put this horrible year behind us and look forward to the festive season, many of us will be spending our nights cozying up by the fire and rewatching some of our favorite Christmas movies.

Now, we've all got our individual favorites, but one movie that appears to be universally loved is Home Alone - which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month.

Starring a young Macaulay Culkin as the wise-cracking whizzkid Kevin McCallister, the movie follows the youngster's attempt to protect his family home from two bungling burglars the night before Christmas.

But just in case you've never seen this movie and are wondering why Kevin just didn't ask his dad to call the police, let me explain...

As the movie title suggests, Kevin has been left home alone after his entire family (who are just the worst people in the world) flies to Paris, accidentally leaving him behind.

Due to the busy time of the year, Kevin's parents struggle to fly straight home, and a storm on their street results in the phone lines being down - meaning they can't call Kevin and he can't call the cops.

In addition, on the morning of their flight, the family accidentally sleeps in, and in the chaotic rush to get to the airport, Kevin is left behind in the attic.

However, why didn't the family clock that Kevin wasn't with them when they got to the airport?

Well, one Twitter user has spotted a crucial - but easy-to-miss - detail in the movie that explains everything.

At the start of the movie, Kevin gets into a fight with his older brother, Buzz, and during their scuffle, a load of drinks are spilled, soaking the family's passports and tickets.

As Kevin's father hurries to clean the spillage with red napkins, he accidentally throws a plane ticket in the trash - and that plane ticket has 'Kevin' written on it.

Writing alongside a snap of her television, Twitter user Nora Brown wrote on December 7:

"I have seen Home Alone probably 1 billion times, but was today years old when I realized they threw out Kevin’s plane ticket during the pizza debacle and that’s why no one figured out he was gone earlier at, like, the airport."

But Nora wasn't the only person who spotted the blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail, with another Twitter user writing on December 6:

"Watching Home Alone for the 50th time and I’ve never noticed that in the starting scene when there is a fight in the kitchen, Kevin’s ticket is put in the bin. Who knew?"

I can honestly say that I have seen this movie about a dozen times, and I have NEVER noticed this before.