Macaulay Culkin Reveals Why He Hides His Iconic 'Home Alone' Role From His Kids

Macaulay Culkin reflected on his iconic role in "Home Alone" during a Q&A with director Chris Columbus, sharing that his children adore the film.

However, the actor revealed that he keeps his role in the movie a secret from them. He also opened up about his unusual childhood, estrangement from his father, and growing up as a child star.

Becoming a parent has reshaped Macaulay Culkin's perspective, helping him appreciate the film and his own family in new ways.

Macaulay Culkin Talks Watching 'Home Alone' With His Children

Culkin recently reflected on the enduring impact of one of the films that defined his career. The 45-year-old actor joined director Chris Columbus for a Q&A following a special screening of the beloved holiday classic at the Academy Museum, celebrating the movie's 35th anniversary.

He shared that his own children have become devoted fans of the film, but in their own way.

"They don't even call it 'Home Alone,' they just say 'Kevin," he shared with The Hollywood Reporter. "They're like, 'Wow, Kevin's really funny,' 'I go, 'He's also handsome, somebody that your mom [Brenda Song] might be into."

The actor and Song share two sons: Dakota, 4, and Carson, 3, and despite their enthusiasm for the movie, Culkin hasn't revealed that he played Kevin, explaining, "I try to keep the magic alive."

He recalled showing his oldest son an old family photo, prompting a hilarious reaction: "He looks right at me, and he goes, 'Who's that? That looks like Kevin,' I go, 'Oh, no, nobody, here's your aunt.'"

The Actor Sees 'Home Alone' Through His Kids' Eyes

Culkin also admitted that becoming a parent has shifted his perspective on" Home Alone."

He now identifies more with Catherine O'Hara's character, appreciating her desperate effort to reunite with her son.

When asked if he watches "Home Alone" with his kids, he says, "Of course, this movie is awesome. But I don't watch the movie, I watch them. I watch their eyes. I listen to them laugh and things like that. And it makes me really proud to be a part of something like that. So it resonates now. Now I can see it through their eyes."

"You guys were raised on it, now you guys are raising your kids on it, right? So, now I'm raising my kids on it. It means something completely different," he noted during the Q&A. "That's the way I look at the movie nowadays."

Macaulay Culkin Honors Brenda Song And Family During Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony

Culkin, who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2023, reflected on his experience making the film as a child.

He told Fox News Digital at the time, "I always knew my lines. I always found my light and just tried to be professional and charming at the same time. That's the best I could do."

During the ceremony, he paid tribute to Song, calling her his "champion" and saying, "You're the only person happier for me today than I am. You're the best woman I've ever known. You're the best person I've ever known."

He added, "You've given me all my purpose. You've given me family. And after the birth of our two boys, you've become one of my three favorite people."

The couple met in 2014 through a mutual friend and reconnected romantically in 2017 while working on the comedy "Changeland."

They became engaged in January 2022, with sources describing them as "excited for their future together."

The Actor Reflects On His Unconventional Childhood And Parenting Lessons

Culkin also reflected on his unconventional childhood on a recent episode of "Mythical Kitchen."

"I knew that what I was doing was different than other kids. For me, I didn't know how weird my life was until I got older and got away from it," he said, per People Magazine.

He added, "After a while, you actually come up with the vocabulary — the actual vocabulary, the emotional vocabulary – to figure out how this all shook out."

Born to Christopher Cornelius "Kit" Culkin and Patricia Brentrup, the "Richie Rich" actor was one of eight children: Kieran, Rory, Dakota (who passed away at 29 in 2008), Quinn, Shane, Christian, and Jennifer. The Culkin siblings faced a challenging upbringing, particularly after their parents separated in 1995.

Macaulay Culkin Says His Father Was An Example Of What Not To Do When Raising Kids

On the March 31 episode of the "Sibling Revelry" podcast with Kate and Oliver Hudson, Culkin revealed one of his earliest memories of his father.

He shared that he remembered thinking, "When I grow up, this is how I'm not going to be with my kids."

Culkin noted, "Now that I have kids of my own, it's like, you know, it kicks up some dust. I kinda go, you know, like, I can't believe he was like that. He had all these lovely kids. It's crazy."