‘Home Alone’ is one of the most famous movies of the 1990s. Even after many years, it is still loved and watched during the holiday season. The film features the funny performances of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as villains, the charming Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, and a great soundtrack by John Williams. ‘Home Alone’ was such a big hit that it held the record for the highest-grossing live-action comedy film for over 20 years until ‘The Hangover Part II’ took its place in 2011.
The story is about a clever boy named Kevin McCallister. His family goes on a vacation to Paris, but Kevin is accidentally left behind. While his family is away, some robbers plan to break into the McCallister house. But Kevin is not an ordinary kid. He sets up many funny and creative traps to stop the robbers. If you are curious about where ‘Home Alone’ was filmed, here are the details.
Where was “Home Alone” Filmed?
The entire storyline of Home Alone is set in and around the McCallister family’s house and neighborhood in a Chicago suburb. Most scenes are filmed in the McCallister house, but additional locations include a church, a skating rink, and a grocery store.
Filming took place across various locations in Illinois, including Chicago, Winnetka, Highland Park, and Oak Park. Principal photography started in February 1990 but faced challenges due to budget concerns raised by distributor Warner. 21st Century Fox eventually took over, and filming wrapped up in May 1990.
Winnetka, Illinois
McCallister House: Most of the movie takes place in the McCallister house and its neighborhood in a suburb of Chicago. The main location for filming the house scenes was 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. This house is where Kevin sets up his clever traps. The Murphy house, where Mitch Murphy lives, is also nearby at 656 Lincoln Avenue.
Treehouse and Interior Shots: The treehouse where Kevin hides during the climax of the movie was built just for the film. Many interior scenes, like the basement and attic, were filmed on a set at New Trier High School. Other places in Winnetka used for filming include Panera Bread at 940 Greenbay Road and Hubbard Woods Metro Station on Gage Street.
Winnetka is a rich and quiet suburb, making it a perfect place for ‘Home Alone.’ It has also been used for other famous movies like ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ ‘Ocean’s Twelve,’ ‘Meet the Parents,’ and ‘Sixteen Candles.’
Various Locations Across Illinois
Church Scenes: Some scenes in ‘Home Alone’ were filmed in different parts of Illinois. The church where Kevin talks to old man Marley is Trinity United Methodist Church on West Lake Avenue in Wilmette. The inside of the church was filmed at Grace Episcopal Church on Lake Street in Oak Park.
Airport Scenes: The scenes where Kevin’s family rushes to catch their plane and the scenes at Paris Airport were actually filmed at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
These filming locations helped bring the story of ‘Home Alone’ to life and made it a beloved holiday classic.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Home Alone
Q: Where was “Home Alone” filmed?
A: “Home Alone” was filmed primarily in and around the Chicago area. The main location was the McCallister family house, located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. Other filming locations included the Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette, the Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, and the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
Q: When was Home Alone” filmed?
A: Filming for “Home Alone” began in February 1990 and was completed in May 1990. The production faced some issues with the budget, but it was successfully completed under the direction of 21st Century Fox.
Q: When was “Home Alone” released?
A: “Home Alone” was released in theaters on November 16, 1990. The film quickly became a holiday favorite and a major box office success.
Q: Where else, besides Winnetka, was “Home Alone” filmed?
A: Apart from Winnetka, other filming locations included the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago for the airport scenes and the Panera Bread restaurant at 940 Greenbay Road in Winnetka. Additionally, the Hubbard Woods Metro Station on Gage Street was used for certain scenes.
Q: Were any interior scenes filmed on set or in other locations?
A: Yes, some interior scenes, particularly those of the basement and attic, were recreated on a set at New Trier High School. The film also used the Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park for interior church scenes.
