“Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.”
From “Elf” (2003) to “Home Alone” (1990) and modern-day classics like “Love Actually” (2003), there has been a long and grueling debate over which Christmas movie should be crowned as the greatest of all time. That title should go to “Home Alone.”
What truly sets “Home Alone” apart from other Christmas movies is its vastly different its plot is. “Home Alone” doesn’t follow the typical “superhuman saves the day” storyline that most Christmas movies follow. Instead, it opts for something that hits closer to home. Kevin doesn’t posses any superhuman abilities but makes the most of what he does have, which is a ton of problem-solving skills and creativity.
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin) is an unlikely hero. He is an everyday little kid who experiences the same struggles that most younger siblings feel—constantly being picked on by older siblings and being the outcast of the family. After being left behind when his family leaves for a Paris vacation, Kevin is faced with the daunting task of protecting the McCallister house from the infamous “Wet Bandits” robbers.
Kevin is not only relatable, but viewers like myself are inspired by Kevin, because if an eight-year-old Kevin McCallister can protect his house from two grown thieves, then I can accomplish seemingly insurmountable tasks. He doesn’t have any superhuman abilities but makes the most of his problem-solving skills and resilience. Kevin uses these skills to outsmart the Wet Bandits by setting a multitude of traps throughout the house.
Additionally, “Home Alone’s” slapstick comedy makes for a timeless watch. Kevin frequently uses lines from the fictional gangster movie made for Home Alone, “Angels with Filthy Souls,” such as “I give you to the count of 10, to get your ugly, yella, no-good keister butt off my property, before I pump your guts full of lead,” to scare off both the robbers and the pizza delivery driver. Moreover, Kevin’s boobytraps like the blowtorch and the icy stairs cause the robbers to yelp in pain, making us laugh even on the twentieth time of watching.
Beyond the comedy, “Home Alone” shows the importance of family. This is shown by Kevin’s growth throughout the movie, as he goes from wishing his family to disappear to gaining a true appreciation for them. When the family left, the house once filled with chaos and laughter became quiet, and he felt a lack of love without them.
Despite all that “Home Alone” brings to the table, people still argue that “Elf” (2003) or “Love Actually” (2003) deserves the title of the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Both of these movies are instant classics and provide their own unique view on Christmas. “Elf” offers a unique spin on Christmas in the form of a human-raised elf named Buddy, who expresses much of the excitement and childhood innocence that we once possessed. “Love Actually” on the other hand offers a much different perspective of Christmas and how “love is everywhere.”
While both of these movies are great in their own right, they lack the universal appeal of “Home Alone.” “Love Actually” includes nudity not appropriate for children, and the humor in “Elf” is not as reachable across a younger audience who don’t really see the appeal of Buddy’s child-like character. The wide appeal of “Home Alone” is evident in it being the most watched Christmas movie of all time and the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time.
Whereas movies like “Elf” and “Love Actually” show the magical and romantic sides of the holiday season, “Home Alone” stands alone at the top because it captures something that is a lot more relatable to families. “Home Alone” blends slapstick comedy, adventure, problem solving, growth, and emotion in a way that feels real and not too exaggerated by fanciful ideas.
In the end, “Home Alone” reminds viewers about what Christmas is all about—not miracles but rather the joy of spending time with those we love most.
Kevin’s journey is not just about defending his home from a couple of lowlifes, it’s also about helping those who are most important to us and cherishing time together. At the end of the day, whether you are a fan of comedies, romances, or even family films, one thing is clear: “Home Alone” is the greatest Christmas movie of all time.
You can stream “Home Alone” for $3.79 on Amazon Prime Video or with a Hulu subscription.
