For millions, the holidays don’t truly begin until a certain blonde-haired kid outsmarts a pair of hapless, bumbling burglars. Released in 1990, Home Alone became an instant classic — a perfect blend of slapstick, sentiment, and John Williams’ unforgettable score.
Its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), cemented Macaulay Culkin’s place as one of the defining child stars of the ’90s. His portrayal of Kevin McCallister — a clever, defiant, and endlessly resourceful child — has endured for 35 years as a symbol of independence and festive mischief. While Culkin was absent from all the subsequent Home Alone films, he has now returned to the role that made him a household name.
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More than three decades after Home Alone first became a holiday staple, Macaulay Culkin is back, only this time, Kevin McCallister isn’t fending off burglars—he’s protecting something far more important: his family’s well-being.
Per Business Wire, Home But Not Alone is a brand-new holiday campaign from a leading in-home care provider Home Instead. The campaign includes new shorts that see Culkin step once again into the shoes of his mischievous on-screen alter ego — now grown up and channeling his trademark over-preparation to keep his elderly mother safe.
The campaign, launched on November 1 to coincide with Home Alone’s 35th anniversary, highlights a side of the holiday season often overlooked: the quiet, complicated work of looking after loved ones at home.
Directed by Jody Hill, the ads balance nostalgia and sincerity, drawing on the cultural weight of Kevin’s legacy to deliver a message that feels both personal and universal.
“We wanted to tell this story authentically, recognizing that we all experience this moment with a loved one at some point,” said Jody Hill, the director of the Home But Not Alone spots. “It goes beyond holiday nostalgia to connect with Kevin McCallister years later – as he faces the same concerns many of us have as our parents age. It’s real, it’s funny, and it’s deeply human.”
Through the spots — which include Granddaughter Marley, Groceries, Your Turn, and The Delivery — Home Instead uses humor and recognition to encourage families to begin the conversation about professional care.
“When we think about the holidays, we think of families being together and watching classics like Home Alone,” said Home Instead’s Chief Marketing Officer Kim Atkinson. “These times can also uncover when loved ones may need additional support to continue living independently at home.
Starting the conversation about care can be difficult for both aging parents and their adult children, but it’s the essential first step to ensuring connection and dignity. This campaign helps families take that step with compassion, humor, and hope.”
Culkin’s return is more than a clever throwback; it reframes one of pop culture’s most enduring characters for adulthood. Where Kevin once defended his home alone, now he learns the power of not being alone — a reminder that family care doesn’t have to mean doing everything yourself. But his return to the iconic role is not all that surprising.
Culkin has occasionally revisited the role over the years, most notably in a 2018 Google Assistant commercial that re-created iconic Home Alone scenes with a tech-savvy adult Kevin, and in DRYVRS, viral YouTube shorts where an older Kevin reflects on his chaotic childhood. Each appearance leaned on nostalgia, but Home But Not Alone takes a more reflective approach — showing what happens when that clever, kind kid finally grows up.
Running through January 11, Home But Not Alone brings a surprising dose of warmth and wisdom to this year’s holiday advertising season.
Will you be watching the original Home Alone movies this winter? Let us know in the comments down below!
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