Home Alone Watching Order

Whether you’re watching during the holidays or are just looking for some hijinks, the Home Alone movies deliver. However, the franchise has expanded over time, particularly in recent years. If you find the rush of new movies confusing or are wondering how to watch the Home Alone movies, you’re in the right place.

This watching order is designed to give an outline of the Home Alone movie franchise. It explains what order to watch the Home Alone movies and looks at any connections between them. 

Kevin McCallister Home Alone Watching Order

The main Home Alone movies and the ones most people mean when they reference Home Alone movies are the first two films. These films are centered around Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin McCallister, and generally share a story and most of the secondary characters. These are the classics and the pinnacle of the Home Alone franchise. They should be watched in order, Home Alone first and Home Alone 2 after, since Home Alone 2 has many references to what happened in the original film.

The character of Kevin McCallister and some of his relatives return in the fourth Home Alone film. This film somewhat continues the story of the first two. However, most fans of the series consider it not worth watching.

Other Home Alone Movies Watching Order

Outside of the Kevin McCallister Home Alone films, there are currently three other films in the franchise. Each of these is essentially independent and tell a story that doesn't fit into any larger narrative. They are only part of the franchise because they feature wacky hijinks as a young boy sets traps for intruders of some kind.

However, it is worth noting that these other Home Alone films often contain numerous references to or even cameo appearances from the first two Home Alone movies. So, we suggest watching those first two films before starting any of these.

Home Alone Watching Order FAQ

Are All Home Alone Movies Connected?

Home Alone, Home Alone 2, and Home Alone 4 are all connected because they all star the same character. However, the other films are almost completely unconnected.

Do You Need to Watch the Home Alone Movies in Order?

The first two Home Alone movies should be watched in order. The second directly continues the story of the first. In addition, if you watch the fourth movie, you should watch it after these first two.

Besides these, it doesn't really matter. Each of the other films is almost entirely independent of the rest.

Are All the Home Alone Movies Christmas Movies?

Almost all of the Home Alone movies are Christmas movies. Those that don't directly take place on or adjacent to Christmas still occur around the holiday season.

Are All the Home Alone Movies Worth Watching?

In general, most people regard the first two Home Alone movies as beloved classics. These are the two movies that received theatrical releases, star Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, were directed by Chris Columbus, and were written by John Hughes. These movies have near-universal acclaim and are absolutely worth watching.

The third Home Alone movie was also released in theaters but did not bring Macaulay Culkin back as Kevin McCallister or Chris Columbus as the film's director. This film is generally regarded as far worse than the first two.

The next three Home Alone movies did not get theatrical releases. They also generally considered to be worse than the third film and far worse than the first two. Most people don't consider them worth watching at all.

All Watching Orders