Macaulay Culkin Prefers Home Alone 2 Citing Higher Earnings

Macaulay Culkin, star of the first two Home Alone films, has revealed that his favorite movie in the franchise is the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, primarily because he was paid more and owns a percentage of the net profits and merchandising, including the iconic Talkboy. Culkin joked on the show Hot Ones that if viewers buy a Talkboy, he benefits from 15 percent of the sales. Both Home Alone and its sequel were box office hits, with the sequel nearly doubling the original's opening weekend earnings, and the franchise remains close to Culkin's heart, highlighted by his 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony attended by his on-screen mother, Catherine O'Hara. Culkin has also shared fond memories of working with co-star Joe Pesci, who reportedly bit his finger to maintain an intimidating on-screen presence. Despite retiring from acting at a young age, Culkin continues to engage with fans through special screenings and public appearances. The Home Alone franchise has continued with new installments, though none have matched the success of the original films starring Culkin.