10 Fascinating Tidbits About ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’

Joining the ranks of legendary sequels like The Godfather Part II, Toy Story 2, and Paddington 2, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York stands as a testament to the rare magic of follow-ups that surpass expectations. The 1992 adventure not only mirrored the charm of its predecessor with its mix of holiday spirit, family mishaps, and ingenious traps set by a precocious yet slightly unhinged child, but it also elevated the stakes with a snowy New York City backdrop, a whimsical bird lady reminiscent of Mary Poppins, and Tim Curry’s unforgettable, devilishly mischievous grin.

Three decades after Kevin McCallister’s second round of booby-trapped mayhem, here are 10 intriguing facts about this beloved holiday film.

1. Joe Pesci endured real pain for his role.

Experts have concluded that The Wet Bandits would not have survived the brutal injuries inflicted by their young adversary in real life. Although Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern escaped the Home Alone series unharmed, Pesci faced a terrifying incident during filming. In an interview with People, he revealed that he suffered severe burns on his scalp while shooting a scene where Harry’s hat catches fire.

2. Daniel Stern also faced challenges.

While playing the bumbling Marv Murchins again, Stern discovered the truth behind the saying, “Never work with children or animals.” During filming, a pigeon flew straight into his mouth, causing genuine distress. Alongside Pesci, Stern was covered in birdseed as hundreds of trained birds were released for a chaotic scene. One bird, however, targeted Stern directly, making Marv’s iconic girly scream entirely authentic.

3. Donald Trump aggressively secured a cameo role.

At the time, it was impossible to predict that Home Alone 2 would ensure Donald Trump joined Ronald Reagan as one of the few U.S. presidents with acting experience. However, “offered” might not be the right term. Director Christopher Columbus later disclosed that he was essentially forced to give the future president a speaking role in exchange for permission to film at Trump’s Plaza Hotel.

In 2021, Culkin notably supported the growing demand to remove Trump’s single line (“down the hall and to the left”) from the film. However, Columbus shared that test audiences in 1992 actually applauded when the real estate tycoon appeared on screen.

4. The film represented a significant financial milestone for Macaulay Culkin.

When Culkin was cast as Kevin McCallister in 1990’s Home Alone, he was relatively unknown, earning just $110,000 for his role. However, after his Golden Globe-nominated performance helped the original become the highest-grossing live-action comedy at the time, Culkin negotiated a much larger salary for the sequel. For Lost in New York, he received an astonishing 4000 percent raise, earning $4.5 million plus a share of the film’s $359 million box office revenue.

5. Culkin’s father created significant issues for the studio.

Kit Culkin, Macaulay’s father and manager, was notorious for stirring up problems behind the scenes, and Lost in New York was no different. Kit essentially blackmailed 20th Century Fox, demanding that his son be given the lead role in the horror film The Good Son in exchange for his participation in the Home Alone sequel. Realizing the sequel couldn’t succeed without Macaulay as Kevin McCallister, the studio reluctantly agreed. In 1993, Macaulay Culkin portrayed another disturbed child—this time, one who crosses the line into murder.

6. The Talkboy started as a mere prop.

The Talkboy, which Kevin used to trick Tim Curry’s concierge into believing his uncle was in the shower, became one of the most sought-after Christmas gifts in 1993. However, the cassette recorder didn’t exist until John Hughes insisted on its creation. Determined that Kevin should have a cutting-edge gadget to aid his New York escapades, Hughes prompted 20th Century Fox’s marketing team to collaborate with Tiger Electronics to design a non-functional prop. The film’s popularity led to the production of a real version, allowing children everywhere to mimic Kevin’s antics.

7. Michael Jackson made multiple visits to the set.

In 1991, a year after Home Alone hit theaters, Culkin starred in Michael Jackson’s "Black or White" music video, sparking a friendship between the two. During the filming of Lost in New York, the King of Pop made several unannounced visits to the set. Set decorator Daniel Clancy later shared how Jackson took Culkin out for dinner in a limo between scenes, while Devin Ratray, who played Kevin’s older brother Buzz, recalled Jackson showing up at rehearsals at the McCallister family’s Chicago home on a freezing February morning.

8. You can relive Kevin McCallister’s adventure.

The Plaza Hotel’s phone number, 1-800-759-3000, featured in the film, was real. To capitalize on the influx of calls, the hotel introduced a Home Alone Experience. Fans with deep pockets can still book a room similar to Kevin’s, complete with a mini-fridge requiring a key, tour iconic movie locations like Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and Radio City Music Hall in a limo, and indulge in Kevin’s favorite treat—a large cheese pizza.

9. Duncan’s Toy Chest is purely fictional.

Prepare to have your childhood dreams dashed: the enchanting toy store where Kevin receives ceramic turtle doves (every child’s dream gift, of course) and thwarts a Wet Bandits robbery doesn’t exist. Duncan’s Toy Chest, named after the film’s executive producer Duncan Henderson, was entirely fictional, inspired by F.A.O. Schwarz’s flagship store in Manhattan. Exterior shots were filmed at Chicago’s Rookery Building, which also served as the headquarters for Kevin Costner’s character in The Untouchables.

10. The film initially had a different name.

While Lost in New York is more descriptive, the working title Alone Again was initially considered by producers. Director Chris Columbus felt it sounded too much like a remake rather than a sequel. He also reportedly removed a scene where Kevin tries on aftershave to avoid the film being seen as a rehash of the original. The most elaborate title, however, belongs to the French release, Maman, j’ai encore raté l’avion, which translates to, “Mom, I Missed the Plane Again.”