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'{{Short description|1992 film by Chris Columbus}} {{For|the video game|Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (video game){{!}}''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' (video game)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = Home Alone 2.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | alt = Kevin McCallister holding a newspaper that has the Statue of Liberty doing Kevin's iconic scream, with an enlarged Marv and Harry in the background peeking from behind a tower. | director = [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]] | writer = [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]] | based_on = {{Based on|Characters|John Hughes}} | producer = John Hughes | starring = {{Plainlist|<!--Per poster billing--> * [[Macaulay Culkin]] * [[Joe Pesci]] * [[Daniel Stern (actor)|Daniel Stern]] * [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]] * [[Tim Curry]] * [[Brenda Fricker]] * [[Catherine O'Hara]] }} | cinematography = [[Julio Macat]] | editing = [[Raja Gosnell]] | music = [[John Williams]] | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[20th Century Fox]]<ref name="AFI"/> * [[Hughes Entertainment]]<ref name="AFI"/> }} | distributor = 20th Century Fox | released = {{Film date|1992|11|20}} | runtime = 120 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 119:55--><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-film |title=''HOME ALONE 2&nbsp;– LOST IN NEW YORK'' (PG) |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |date=November 4, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919065607/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-film |archive-date=19 September 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $28 million<ref name=budget>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Putzer|first=Gerald|date=January 3, 1993|title=Sequels are B.O. Winners|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/sequels-are-b-o-winners-102555/|access-date=October 12, 2019|archive-date=October 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012193804/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/sequels-are-b-o-winners-102555/|url-status=live}}</ref> | gross = $359 million<ref name="BOM" /> }} '''''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York''''' is a 1992 American [[Christmas]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]] and written and produced by [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]. The sequel to the 1990 film ''[[Home Alone]]'' and the second film in the [[Home Alone (franchise)|''Home Alone'' franchise]], the film stars [[Macaulay Culkin]], [[Joe Pesci]], [[Daniel Stern (actor)|Daniel Stern]], [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]], [[Tim Curry]], [[Brenda Fricker]] and [[Catherine O'Hara]]. It follows Kevin McCallister as he is separated from his family on their holiday vacation to Florida, this time in New York City where he has another encounter with the Wet Bandits after their escape from prison. Hughes finished writing the film by February 1991, after signing a six-picture deal with [[20th Century Fox]]. Culkin's return was confirmed in May, and the rest of the cast was finalized soon after. [[Principal photography]] took place between December 1991 and May 1992, and was done on location in [[Illinois]] and New York, including at the [[Rockefeller Center]] and the original [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]. ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' was theatrically released in the United States by [[20th Century Fox]] on November 20, 1992. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances while criticizing its darker tone and violence, as well as its similarities to the first film. The film grossed over $359 million worldwide, becoming the [[1992 in film#Highest-grossing films|third-highest-grossing film of 1992]]. A [[standalone sequel]] with a new cast, ''[[Home Alone 3]]'', was released in 1997. ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' is the only ''Home Alone'' sequel to feature the majority of the cast from the first film; [[Devin Ratray]] reprised his role as Buzz McCallister in the sixth film in the franchise, ''[[Home Sweet Home Alone]]''. ==Plot== <!-- Note: Plot summaries in films should be 400-700 words. See WP:FILMPLOT. Please do not add unnecessary detail to the article. --> The McCallister family is busy packing up and planning to spend Christmas in [[Miami]]. The evening before departure, they all gather at Kate and Peter's, who are now living in [[Winnetka, Illinois]]. Kevin views [[Florida]] as contradictory to Christmas, due to its [[Climate of Florida|tropical climate]] and lack of Christmas trees. At a school Christmas [[pageant]], during Kevin's solo, Buzz, who is also part of the choir, provokes and embarrasses him. An enraged Kevin retaliates by pushing him, which causes the entire choir to fall, ruining the pageant. Back at home, Buzz makes a [[fauxpology|false apology]] to Kevin, which the family accepts, though Kevin refuses to apologize for his retaliatory stunt and berates his family for believing Buzz's lies and for wanting to spend Christmas in Florida. Kevin storms off to the attic, wishing to have his own vacation alone. The next morning, the family oversleeps and rushes to the airport as they did the previous year. Kevin is with them this time, but he becomes separated from them while carrying Peter's bag and accidentally boards a flight to [[NYC]]. Upon arrival, Kevin decides to tour the city and encounters a homeless woman tending to pigeons in [[Central Park]], who scares him off. Kevin uses Peter's credit card to check in at the [[Plaza Hotel]], not knowing that the Wet Bandits (now the Sticky Bandits) have also reached the city after escaping from prison. On Christmas Eve, Kevin visits a toy store whose kind owner, Mr. Duncan, plans to donate the day's sale proceeds to a children's hospital. After Kevin makes a donation, Mr. Duncan gives him a pair of ceramic turtledoves in thanks, instructing him to give one to another person as a gesture of eternal friendship. After encountering the Wet Bandits outside the toy store, Kevin evades them and the concierge at the Plaza, Mr. Hector, confronts Kevin about his use of Peter's credit card, now reported as [[Credit card fraud|stolen]]. Kevin flees the hotel but is caught by the duo. Marv mentions his and Harry's plan to rob the toy store before Kevin escapes by tricking a female passerby into punching the men. Earlier, upon landing in Miami, the McCallister family discover that Kevin is missing and file a report with the [[Miami Police Department]]. After the police trace Peter's credit card, the family immediately flies to New York. Meanwhile, Kevin goes to his uncle Rob's [[Upper West Side]] townhouse, only to find it vacant and undergoing renovations. In Central Park, Kevin again encounters and eventually befriends the pigeon lady, who takes him to [[Carnegie Hall]]. After she explains how her life collapsed when her love left her, Kevin encourages her to trust people again. Upon considering her recommendation to perform a good deed to make up for his misdeeds and, after recalling Mr. Duncan and the Sticky Bandits' plans, Kevin decides to prevent the toy store robbery. After rigging the townhouse with booby traps, Kevin catches the Sticky Bandits in the process of robbing the store, takes their picture and breaks the front window to set off the alarm. Kevin then lures the Sticky Bandits to the townhouse where they repeatedly injure themselves in the traps; escaping the townhouse, he calls the police from a pay phone to alert them to the pair's presence and flees toward Central Park. The Sticky Bandits catch Kevin after he slips on ice and prepare to shoot him, but the pigeon lady shows up and throws a bucket of birdseed onto them, attracting a massive flock of pigeons and incapacitating the pair until the police arrive to arrest them. Kevin slips away, leaving photographic and tape-recorded evidence against the duo, and Mr. Duncan recovers all the donation money, finding a note from Kevin explaining the incident. The McCallister family arrives in New York, and Kate, remembering Kevin's fondness for Christmas trees, finds him making a wish at the [[Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree]], and they reunite. On Christmas morning, a truckload of free gifts arrives at the McCallisters' hotel room, sent from a grateful Mr. Duncan for foiling the robbery. Kevin reconciles with his family and gives one of his turtledoves to the pigeon lady, cementing their friendship, before Peter yells at him from the hotel room for amassing a $967 room service bill. ==Cast== <!--ACCORDING TO THE END CREDITS OF THE FILM per WP:FILMCAST--> {{cast listing| * [[Macaulay Culkin]] as Kevin, a 10-year-old boy with a penchant for creating harmful inventions * [[Joe Pesci]] as Harry, a thief and one of the Sticky Bandits duo * [[Daniel Stern (actor)|Daniel Stern]] as Marv, a thief and another of the Sticky Bandits duo who serves as Harry's partner * [[Catherine O'Hara]] as Kate, Kevin's mother * [[John Heard (actor)|John Heard]] as Peter, Kevin's father * [[Devin Ratray]] as Buzz, Kevin's oldest brother * [[Hillary Wolf]] as Megan, Kevin's oldest sister * Maureen Elisabeth Shay as Linnie, Kevin's older sister; she was previously portrayed by [[Angela Goethals]] in the first film * [[Michael C. Maronna]] as Jeff, Kevin's older brother * [[Gerry Bamman]] as Uncle Frank, Kevin's uncle and Peter's older brother * Terrie Snell as Aunt Leslie, Kevin's aunt * Jedidiah Cohen as Rod, Kevin's older cousin and the older son of Rob and Georgette, who is living with Uncle Frank and Aunt Leslie to attend high school * [[Senta Moses]] as Tracy, Kevin's older cousin and the eldest daughter of Frank and Leslie * Daiana Campeanu as Sondra, Kevin's older cousin and the second daughter of Frank and Leslie * [[Kieran Culkin]] as Fuller, Kevin's youngest cousin and the younger son of Frank and Leslie * [[Anna Slotky]] as Brooke, Kevin's younger cousin and the youngest daughter of Frank and Leslie * [[Tim Curry]] as Mr. Hector<ref name=nameused/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tim-curry-10-most-memorable-214547481.html|title=Tim Curry's 10 Most Memorable Roles, From 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' to 'IT' (Photos)|publisher=Yahoo! Entertainment|date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> (credited as "Concierge"), the concierge at the Plaza Hotel who is suspicious of Kevin *[[Brenda Fricker]] as the Pigeon Lady, an unnamed woman who lives in Central Park, spending her life feeding pigeons, who befriends Kevin while he is lost in New York * [[Eddie Bracken]] as Mr. Duncan, the proprietor of Duncan's Toy Chest * [[Dana Ivey]] as Hester Stone (credited as "Desk Clerk"), the desk clerk at the Plaza Hotel * [[Rob Schneider]] as Cedric<ref name=nameused>{{cite book|title=Screen World 1993: Comprehensive Pictorial and Statistical Record of the 1992 Movie Season|author=John Willis|year=2000|publisher=Hal Leonard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/rob-schneider-looks-back-at-home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york/|title=Rob Schneider Looks Back at 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' 25 Years Later|publisher=usmagazine.com|date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> (credited as "Bellman"), the bellhop at the Plaza Hotel * [[Leigh Zimmerman]] as Fashion Model * [[Ralph Foody]] as Johnny (credited as "Gangster"), a gangster from the fictional film ''Angels with Even Filthier Souls'', a sequel to ''Angels with Filthy Souls'' from the previous film * Clare Hoak as Gangster - "Dame", Johnny's girlfriend from the fictional film ''Angels with Even Filthier Souls'' * Monica Devereux as Hotel Operator * [[Bob Eubanks]] as Ding-Dang-Dong Host * [[Rip Taylor]] as Celeb #1 * [[Jaye P. Morgan]] as Celeb #2 * [[Jimmie Walker]] as Celeb #3 * [[Ally Sheedy]] as New York Ticket Agent * Rod Sell as Officer Bennett * [[Ron Canada]] as Cop in Times Square * [[Donald Trump]] as himself, owner of the [[Plaza Hotel]] }} ==Production== {{Anchor|Development}} In February 1991, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that John Hughes was to sign a six-picture deal with [[20th Century Fox]]; among the projects was a sequel to ''Home Alone''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cieply |first=Michael |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-14-fi-1646-story.html |title=Fox Says 'Big Deal' to New Hollywood Frugality |work=Los Angeles Times |page=D2 |date=February 14, 1991 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104163923/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-14-fi-1646-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 1991, Culkin was paid $4.5 million plus 5 percent of the film's gross to appear in the sequel,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=David J. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-12-ca-2329-story.html |title=Fine With Us, but He Has to Share With His Brother |work=Los Angeles Times |page=16 |date=May 12, 1991 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104164032/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-12-ca-2329-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> compared to $110,000 for the original. The production budget was $28 million.<ref name=budget /> {{Anchor|Filming}} [[Principal photography]] took place from December 9, 1991, to May 1, 1992, over a course of 144 days;<ref>Weekly Variety Magazine; December 9, 1991; Page 11</ref><ref>Daily Variety Magazine; May 1, 1992; Page 12</ref> the film was shot in [[Winnetka, Illinois]]; [[O'Hare International Airport]] in Chicago; [[Evanston, Illinois]]; and New York City.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maps and directions to Home Alone 2 Filming Locations |work=Movie Locations Guide.com |url=http://www.movielocationsguide.com/Home_Alone_2:_Lost_in_New_York/filming_locations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117153723/http://www.movielocationsguide.com/Home_Alone_2:_Lost_in_New_York/filming_locations |archive-date=November 17, 2014 }}</ref> According to the director, [[Chris Columbus (filmmaker)|Chris Columbus]], [[Donald Trump]], the owner of the [[Plaza Hotel]] at the time, allowed the crew to shoot scenes in the hotel lobby and one of its suites in exchange for a cameo in the film in addition to the standard fee for film productions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beresford |first=Jack |title=Home Alone 2 director says Donald Trump 'bullied his way' into movie |url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/home-alone-2-director-says-donald-trump-bullied-his-way-into-movie-197727 |work=The Irish Post |date=November 14, 2020 |access-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211043755/https://www.irishpost.com/news/home-alone-2-director-says-donald-trump-bullied-his-way-into-movie-197727 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pesci suffered burns to his head while filming the scene in which Harry's hat is set on fire.<ref name=McArdle>{{cite news |url=https://people.com/movies/joe-pesci-reflects-on-making-home-alone-2-with-macaulay-culkin-as-movie-turns-30/ |title=Joe Pesci Reflects on Making 'Home Alone 2' as Movie Turns 30: 'I Did Sustain Serious Burns' |last=McArdle |first=Tommy |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=November 29, 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206075926/https://people.com/movies/joe-pesci-reflects-on-making-home-alone-2-with-macaulay-culkin-as-movie-turns-30/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Music== {{unreferenced section|date=December 2023}} [[John Williams]] returned to score ''Home Alone 2''. While the film featured the first film's theme song "Somewhere in My Memory", it also contained its own theme entitled "Christmas Star". Two soundtrack albums of the film were released on November 20, 1992, with one featuring Williams' score and the other featuring Christmas songs featured in the film. Ten years later, a 2-disc Deluxe Edition of the film score soundtrack was released. ==Release== ===Marketing=== Numerous [[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (video game)|video games]] based on ''Home Alone 2'' were released by [[THQ]] for such systems as the [[Sega Genesis]], the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy]] and [[personal computer]]s, mostly in late 1992. A separate hand-held game was released by [[Tiger Electronics]]. Numerous [[board games]] were also released, some based around play cards, while another was a close emulation of the classic [[Mouse Trap (board game)|Mouse Trap]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9538/home-alone-2-lost-new-york|title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York|website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928230048/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9538/home-alone-2-lost-new-york|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9552/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-action-contraption-game|title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York&nbsp;– Action Contraption Game|website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923103437/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9552/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-action-contraption-game|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Talkboy]] cassette recorder was produced as a tie-in for the movie by [[Tiger Electronics]] based on specifications provided by John Hughes and the movie studio, and sold particularly well after the film was released on home video.<ref name="SeattleTimes1993">{{cite news|title=Talkboy: 'Home Alone 2' Toy Is Hot, Hot, Hot|last=Reyes|first=Sonia|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19931216&slug=1737234|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=November 12, 2016|date=December 16, 1993|archive-date=November 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113033315/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19931216&slug=1737234|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Horovitz|first=Bruce|title=New Twist in Tie-Ins : 'Home Alone 2' May Redefine Merchandising|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-12-fi-433-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 12, 1992|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224011000/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-12-fi-433-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=J. Fox|first=David|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-21-ca-522-story.html |title=Marketing Mania: Movies from 'Aladdin' to 'X' Try to Cash In on Tie-Ins—'a Great Profit Center for the Studios'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|pages=B8, B11|date=21 October 1992 |access-date=25 December 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref></ref> Additional promotional partners included [[American Airlines]] through which the McCallisters make their trip via the airline's two [[Boeing 767|<!-- don't delink -->Boeing 767]]s, [[the Coca-Cola Company]], [[Jack in the Box]], [[Hardee's]], and [[Roy Rogers Restaurants]].<ref>{{cite news|last=J. Fox|first=David|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/177393774/|title=Marketing Mania: Movies from 'Aladdin' to 'X' Try to Cash In on Tie-Ins—'a Great Profit Center for the Studios'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|pages=B8, B11|date=October 21, 1992|access-date=December 23, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224010959/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/177393774/|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Home media=== {{Anchor|Video|DVD}} The film was first released by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|Fox Video]] on [[VHS]] and [[LaserDisc]] on July 27, 1993. It was later released on [[DVD]] on October 5, 1999, as a basic package.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/movies/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york/21628/|title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York|publisher=tribute.ca|date=October 5, 1999|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607213010/https://www.tribute.ca/movies/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york/21628/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was released on [[Blu-ray]] on October 6, 2009, with no special features,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Home-Alone-2-Lost-in-New-York-Blu-ray/5585/|title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Blu-ray|date=October 6, 2009|publisher=blu-ray.com|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411155843/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Home-Alone-2-Lost-in-New-York-Blu-ray/5585/|url-status=live}}</ref> and was released alongside ''Home Alone'' in a collection pack on October 5, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Home-Alone-Collection-Blu-ray/15620/|title=Home Alone Collection Blu-ray Home Alone / Home Alone 2: Lost in New York|date=October 5, 2010|publisher=blu-ray.com|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411155825/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Home-Alone-Collection-Blu-ray/15620/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was reissued again on DVD and Blu-ray on October 6, 2015, alongside all five ''Home Alone'' franchise films, titled ''Home Alone: 25th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Christmas Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribute.ca/news/home-alone-25th-anniversary-ultimate-collectors-christmas-edition-on-blu-ray-and-dvd/2015/10/06/|title=Home Alone: 25th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Christmas Edition on Blu-ray and DVD|publisher=tribute.ca|date=October 6, 2015|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813014236/https://www.tribute.ca/news/home-alone-25th-anniversary-ultimate-collectors-christmas-edition-on-blu-ray-and-dvd/2015/10/06/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Reception== ===Box office=== ''Home Alone 2'' opened with $31.1 million from 2,222 theaters, averaging $14,009 per site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=homealone2.htm |title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York&nbsp;– Weekend Box Office Results |access-date=November 12, 2007 |archive-date=June 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612004652/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=homealone2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|page=12|title=Top opening weekends of November|date=November 15, 1994}}</ref> It broke the short-lived record set one week earlier by ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992 film)|Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' for having the largest November opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-23-ca-624-story.html|title=Holy Cow! 'Home 2' Hauls in Box-Office Moola : Movies: Sequel starts off with a bang, opening with seventh-biggest weekend. 'Dracula' continues strong; 'X' is third.|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 23, 1992|access-date=August 25, 2022|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825163340/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-23-ca-624-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film went on to hold this record until 1994 when it was taken by ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Love at First Bite: 'Vampire' Tears Into Box Office : Movies: Warners film looks to be the fourth largest debut ever. 'Santa Clause' sleighs into the No. 2 spot with a solid take.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 14, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-14-ca-62651-story.html|access-date=December 22, 2010|first=Richard|last=Natale|archive-date=August 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825163546/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-14-ca-62651-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, it achieved the highest opening weekend for a [[Chris Columbus (director)|Chris Columbus]] film and would hold that record until it was surpassed by ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]'' in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|title=Weekend Box Office: Potter Smashes Records|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/20/weekend-box-office-potter-smashes-records|publisher=IGN|access-date=April 17, 2022|date=November 20, 2001|archive-date=April 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417165358/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/20/weekend-box-office-potter-smashes-records|url-status=live}}</ref> It started off better than ''[[Home Alone]]'', grossing $100 million in 24 days compared to 33 days for the original.<ref name=AFI>{{AFI film|59269}}</ref> However the final [[box office]] gross was lower with $173.6 million in the United States and Canada and a worldwide total of $359 million,<ref name=BOM>{{mojo title|id=homealone2}}</ref> compared to $476 million for the first film.<ref>{{mojo title|id=homealone|title=Home Alone}}</ref> The film was released in the [[United Kingdom]] on December 11, 1992, and topped the country's box office that weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.25thframe.co.uk/charts/chart.php?chart=19921211|title=Weekend box office 11th December 1992&nbsp;– 13th December 1992|publisher=www.25thframe.co.uk|access-date=30 December 2016|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104163928/https://www.saltypopcorn.co.uk/charts/box-office.php?chart=19921211|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is the [[1992 in film#Highest-grossing films|third-highest-grossing film released in 1992]] behind ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'' and ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1992&p=.htm|title=1992 Worldwide Grosses|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=October 13, 2019|archive-date=August 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830130136/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1992&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In the United States and Canada, it grossed more than ''The Bodyguard'' and [[List of 1992 box office number-one films in the United States#Highest-grossing films|ranked second]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1992&p=.htm|title=1992 Domestic Grosses|work=Box Office Mojo|access-date=October 13, 2019|archive-date=August 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830130134/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1992&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Critical response=== ====Initial==== On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "A change of venue&nbsp;– and more sentimentality and violence&nbsp;– can't obscure the fact that ''Home Alone 2: Lost in New York'' is a less inspired facsimile of its predecessor."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/home_alone_2_lost_in_new_york|title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505052032/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/home_alone_2_lost_in_new_york|archive-date=May 5, 2019|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite Metacritic |id=home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york |type=movie |title= Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Reviews |access-date= June 27, 2021 }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, a grade lower than the "A" earned by its predecessor.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://cinemascore.com |title=CinemaScore |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=December 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210223808/https://m.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=Dec 4, 1992 |author=Jill Andresky Fraser |title=Making the grade with filmgoers |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1992-12-04-9212030106-story.html |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |quote=Despite the violence, women liked the film more than men did. Overall, Cinemascore gave the movie an "A-." |access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010225123/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1992-12-04-9212030106-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film two out of four stars and stated that "[[cartoon violence]] is only funny in cartoons. Most of the live-action attempts to duplicate animation have failed, because when flesh-and-blood figures hit the pavement, we can almost hear the bones crunch, and it isn't funny."<ref>{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-1992 |title=Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) |work=Chicago Sun-Times |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=November 20, 1992 |access-date=October 8, 2011 |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603143548/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-1992 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]], reviewing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', wrote: "Whatever was unforced and funny in the first film has become exaggerated here, whatever was slightly sentimental has been laid on with a trowel. The result, with some exceptions, plays like an over-elaborate parody of the first film, reminding us why we enjoyed it without being able to duplicate its appeal."<ref>{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |title=MOVIE REVIEW: 'Home' Again for the Holidays |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-20-ca-415-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=November 20, 1992 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224011000/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-20-ca-415-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Dave Kehr]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote the sequel "plays like a coarsened, self-parodying version of the original, in which the fantasy elements have become grubbier and more materialistic, the sentimentality more treacly and aggressive, and the slapstick violence—already astonishingly intense in the first film—even more graphic and sadistic."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kehr |first=Dave |title='Home, Cruel 'Home' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-20-9204160168-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 20, 1992 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224010957/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-20-9204160168-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Brian Lowry of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted the sequel's derivativeness when compared to the original film, but wrote the "action sequences are well-choreographed, if, perhaps, too mean-spirited even in light of their cartoonish nature".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lowry |first=Brian |url=https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-2-1200430955/ |title=Film Reviews: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York |date=November 15, 1992 |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119233706/https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-2-1200430955/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Janet Maslin]] for ''[[The New York Times]]'' acknowledged that "''Home Alone 2'' may be lazily conceived, but it is staged with a sense of occasion and a lot of holiday cheer. The return of Mr. Culkin in this role is irresistible, even if this utterly natural comic actor has been given little new to do. Mr. Pesci and Mr. Stern bring great gusto to their characters' stupidity, to the point where they are far funnier just walking and talking than they are being hurt."<ref>{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |title=Alone Again: Holiday Mischief In Manhattan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/20/movies/review-film-alone-again-holiday-mischief-in-manhattan.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 20, 1992 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224010956/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/20/movies/review-film-alone-again-holiday-mischief-in-manhattan.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Reviewing for ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, [[Richard Schickel]] noted "''Home Alone 2'' precisely follows the formula that made its predecessor the biggest grossing comedy in human history. But no, it is not a drag, and it is not a rip-off. Look on it as a twice-told fairy tale." He praised Hughes and Chris Columbus and felt "the details of the situations are developed vividly and originally. And they are presented with an energy and a conviction that sequels usually lack."<ref>{{cite news |last=Schickel |first=Richard |title=A Twice-Told Fairy Tale |url=http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,977086,00.html |magazine=Time |date=November 30, 1992 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224010956/http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,977086,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Duane Byrge of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' wrote that while the "sequel is merely a superimposition of the original, kids will be delighted" by it. He further praised Culkin as "breezily winning", felt Pesci and Stern deserved combat medals, and Curry served as "a terrific foil for Kevin's pranks".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bryge |first=Duane |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-movie-review-1992-1254611/ |title='Home Alone 2': THR's 1992 Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 20, 2019 |orig-date=November 15, 1992 |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204095949/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/home-alone-2-lost-new-york-movie-review-1992-1254611/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ====Retrospective==== During the 21st century, online reviewers have looked more favorably on the film. John Nugent of [[Empire (magazine)|''Empire'' magazine]], in a 2022 article entitled 'Why ''Home Alone 2: Lost In New York'' Is Better Than ''Home Alone''<nowiki/>', argued that the film was "a sequel that effectively also functions as a remake, a film that recognises the greatness of what came before and wisely hews as close to that winning formula as possible." Nugent also opined that "by setting the final showdown in a house undergoing renovations, the filmmakers give themselves room to be more ambitious, wild, and far more brutal" and praised the work of stunt coordinator Freddie Hice since no CGI was used.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nugent |first=John |title=Why Home Alone 2: Lost In New York Is Better Than Home Alone |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/why-home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-is-better-than-home-alone/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Empire |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222041846/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/why-home-alone-2-lost-in-new-york-is-better-than-home-alone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also writing in 2022, Reid Goldberg of [[Collider (website)|Collider]] noted: "A significant part of the film's appeal... is that it's unapologetic in taking everything they loved about the first film to a higher level."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Reid |date=2022-12-15 |title='Home Alone 2' Is Proof Identical Sequels Can Work |url=https://collider.com/home-alone-2-proof-identical-sequel-works/ |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=Collider |language=en |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108151347/https://collider.com/home-alone-2-proof-identical-sequel-works/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Other media== ===Sequels=== {{See also|Home Alone (franchise){{!}}''Home Alone'' (franchise)}} A third film with a new cast, ''Home Alone 3'', followed in 1997. Two television movies, ''Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House'', which features returning characters but with a different cast, and ''Home Alone: The Holiday Heist'', aired in 2002 and 2012, respectively. ''Home Sweet Home Alone'', the sixth film in the series which has [[Devin Ratray]] reprise his role as Buzz, was released on the streaming service [[Disney+]] in 2021. ===Novelization=== ''Home Alone 2'' was [[novelization|novelized]] by [[Todd Strasser]] and published by [[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] in 1992 to coincide with the film. The "point" version, which has the same storyline, was also novelized by A.L. Singer. It has an ISBN of 0-590-45717-9. An audiobook version was also released read by Tim Curry (who played the concierge in the film). As in the novelization of the first film, the McCallisters live in [[Oak Park, Illinois]] and the crooks are named as Harry Lime and Marv Murchins.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} The novel also takes place one year after the events of the first film, but the ages of Kevin and his siblings are given as being two years older than the first film. In the beginning of the novelization, a prologue, which ends up being Marv's nightmare in prison, he and Harry sneak away from the cops and return to Kevin's house to seek revenge on Kevin. Kevin bolts into the garage with Marv and Harry in hot pursuit. Harry and Marv end up triggering extra traps that Kevin had set up in the garage. Kevin watches as Marv ends up triggering a trap where a running lawnmower falls on his head (this was a trap featured in ''Home Alone 3'').{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} ==See also== * [[List of Christmas films]] * [[List of films featuring fictional films]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} * {{AFI film|59269}} * {{IMDb title|0104431|Home Alone 2: Lost in New York}} * {{TCMDb title|78240|Home Alone 2: Lost in New York}} * {{AllMovie title|22859|Home Alone 2: Lost in New York}} {{Home Alone}} {{Chris Columbus}} {{John Hughes}} {{Authority control}} {{Portal bar|Film|United States|Comedy|1990s|New York (state)}} [[Category:1992 films]] [[Category:1992 children's films]] [[Category:1992 comedy films]] [[Category:1990s English-language films]] [[Category:1990s adventure comedy films]] [[Category:1990s screwball comedy films]] [[Category:1990s Christmas comedy films]] [[Category:American adventure comedy films]] [[Category:American Christmas comedy films]] [[Category:American screwball comedy films]] [[Category:American slapstick comedy films]] [[Category:American sequel films]] [[Category:Compositions by Leslie Bricusse]] [[Category:Films about missing people]] [[Category:Films set in 1992]] [[Category:Films set in Chicago]] [[Category:Films set in hotels]] [[Category:Films set in Miami]] [[Category:Films set in New York City]] [[Category:Films shot in Chicago]] [[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]] [[Category:Films shot in New York City]] [[Category:Home Alone (franchise)]] [[Category:20th Century Fox films]] [[Category:Films directed by Chris Columbus]] [[Category:Films produced by John Hughes (filmmaker)]] [[Category:Films scored by John Williams]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by John Hughes (filmmaker)]] [[Category:Cultural depictions of Donald Trump]] [[Category:American children's comedy films]] [[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]] [[Category:Films about vacationing]] [[Category:1990s American films]]'