- Director: Chris Columbus
- Year: 1990
Overview
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind when his large family travels to Paris for Christmas. He initially enjoys his freedom, but he soon discovers two burglars, Harry and Marv, are targeting his house. Kevin decides to defend his home rather than call the police. He designs a complex network of booby traps using household items to slow down and injure the intruders. After a chaotic night of defending his perimeter, Kevin lures the burglars into a trap where they get arrested, and he is reunited with his family the next morning.
Takeaways
Kevin turns his house into a fortress once he realizes he is all on his own and has to defend it. He maps out every door and window, figuring out exactly where the burglars will try to break in. His traps are super creative, using everyday toys and household items to trip up the bad guys and make them pay for every step they take. Harry and Marv are too stubborn and cocky to realize they're being outsmarted, walking right into one trap after another. Kevin's win shows that even if you're small and outnumbered, you can protect your home by using your head and whatever you have lying around.