The broadcast of the series has already become a holiday tradition in Romania “Home Alone” on PRO TV returns this December, bringing a touch of magic and a touch of nostalgia to all those who want to relive the adventures of their beloved Christmas movies.
The famous “Alone at Home” series is being repeated by PRO TV for Christmas Photo ProTV News
This year, Romanians will be able to watch the film trilogy “Home Alone” on each of the first three Saturdays of December, giving them an extra reason to enjoy the warm atmosphere of the holidays with their loved ones.
This is the 20th time that Pro TV has aired the films in the series “Home Alone”. Only in the year 2021 “Home Alone” it was not broadcast on Pro, the film rights being bought by Antena 1.
The series continues to be extremely popular in Romania, attracting millions of viewers every year, especially around the holidays. In 2023, over 2.5 million Romanians watched “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” broadcast by PRO TV, a channel that became the audience leader on this occasion. The same happened in 2020 with the first film in the series.
In fact, audiences for the first film in the series are usually similar, being one of the most watched productions of the Christmas period every year since the 90s.
Success “Home Alone” proves how deeply rooted this series is in Romanian holiday culture, continuing to be a top choice for festive evenings with the family. Despite the passage of time, interest in Kevin’s adventures remains consistently high.
Broadcast schedule
Saturday, December 7, 2024 – “Home Alone” – the magical season of Christmas begins with the first story of the likeable Kevin McCallister, the 8-year-old boy who, forgotten at home by his family, has to face two amateur thieves. His ingenuity transforms the house into a real fortress, and the film remains one of the funniest and most beloved productions of the holidays.
Saturday, December 14, 2024 – “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”) – Kevin is once again in the spotlight, but this time in New York, where he must use all his resources to take on the thieves in a completely different setting.
Saturday, December 21, 2024 – “Home Alone 3” (“Home Alone 3”) – the adventures continue with Alex Pruitt, another 8-year-old boy who wakes up alone at home and faces dangerous spies, offering new moments of suspense and comedy.
The gripping behind-the-scenes secrets of Home Alone – a holiday classic
These unforgettable films are full of fascinating behind-the-scenes stories that many don’t know. Here are some of them:
Macaulay Culkinalthough first choice for the role of Kevin McCallister, was not automatically cast. Screenwriter John Hughes, impressed by his performance in “Uncle Buck”he enthusiastically recommended. Still, director Chris Columbus auditioned hundreds of other kids, only to conclude that Macaulay was indeed perfect for the iconic role.
The Culkin family had a special role on the set. Kieran Culkin, Macaulay’s younger brother, also entered the universe “Home Alone”playing Fuller, Kevin’s likable cousin. This reflects a tradition of the franchise, which has given more roles to the children of members of the production team.
The success brought by “Home Alone” it also had less bright parts for Macaulay Culkin. His explosive fame strained his relationship with his parents, leading to public spats and a legal custody battle. Despite these challenges, Culkin continued to strengthen his career in the film industry.
Famous actors refused to act in the film. As for the cast of adults, the initial decisions proved surprising. The character of Harry, memorably played by Joe Pesci, was first proposed to actors such as Robert De Niro and Jon Lovitz. After their refusals, Pesci accepted the challenge, marking a remarkable change from his previous roles of “tough guy”.
The comedy magic didn’t come without obstacles. Making Kevin’s elaborate traps was often problematic. Some did not work as planned, and others posed risks to the actors. The collaboration between Columbus and Hughes was essential in creating safe and memorable funny moments.
The dangerous scenes were not limited to traps. One of the famous sequences, where the thieves step on nails, was extremely difficult for the actors. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern endured real pain, and Pesci injured his finger during a rehearsal.
The original script was different. In the first version of the scenario, Kevin was not left alone at home, but his family was going to be caught on a Christmas vacation. In fact, Kevin was a much smaller character, and the script changed significantly to create the iconic situation of a child at home alone, fighting thieves. This is how the screenwriter John Hughes managed to increase the suspense and comedy.
Kevin’s house was sold and renovated. The house where scenes from the first Home Alone movie were filmed is located in Winnetka, Illinois. After filming was completed, it was sold and the interior was renovated. However, the exterior of the house remained the same and continues to be a symbol of the film.
Joe Pesci’s real bite. In the famous scene where Joe Pesci bites Kevin’s finger, this moment was not staged! The fish actually bit Macaulay Culkin during a rehearsal, and it added realism to the scene, even though it was painful for Culkin.
The unplanned snow. In the first film, a snowstorm forced the production team to use artificial snow, an element that had not been provided for in the original budget. This synthetic snow remained on the set even after the real snow had melted, adding an unexpectedly magical atmosphere to the film.
A fake movie. In the film, Kevin watches a gangster movie called “Angels with Filthy Souls” to deceive the thieves. Although it’s a memorable scene, that movie doesn’t actually exist! It was created especially for “Home Alone”and its sequel, “Angels with Even Filthier Souls”appears in “Home Alone 2”.
These fascinating behind-the-scenes details add extra charm to a series that has managed to bring joy and laughter into the homes of millions year after year. In December, every Saturday, PRO TV will invite us to relive these magical moments with our loved ones.
