Movies / 10-question mixed rounds
Home Alone trivia
One kid. Two burglars. How much do you remember?
Mixed rounds: about 3–5 minutes · No timer
10 random questions per mixed round · 50 questions in the full bank below
Published by Quizpen · Explanations include linked supporting reading. See our source-checking process and review limits.
PRACTICE BY SKILL
Choose a focused round
Practice one part of this topic with every question in that skill. Focused practice is separate from ten-question mixed rounds.
Getting your round ready…
BEHIND THE ROUND
A little more about this quiz
This round stays with the original 1990 Home Alone. Expect questions about Kevin’s family, the burglars, the holiday trip, and the people behind the film. There are no sequel questions, so one viewing of the first movie is all the background you need.
Play from memory after a movie night, or print the questions and let everyone answer on paper. The explanations reveal story details, so save this round until after watching if you want to avoid spoilers.
LEARN THE PATTERN
Host a Home Alone (1990) round with story, cast, and music categories
This bank covers the original 1990 film. Choose story-and-scene, cast, or credits-and-music practice; the reference and explanations include spoilers.
Home Alone (1990): characters, cast, and key credits
Keep the original film’s character names separate from the performers and production roles. Plot answers and explanations below contain spoilers.
| Character or job | Performer or credited creator | Recall distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin McCallister | Macaulay Culkin | The child left at home |
| Kate McCallister | Catherine O’Hara | Kevin’s mother |
| Peter McCallister | John Heard | Kevin’s father |
| Buzz McCallister | Devin Ratray | Kevin’s older brother |
| Fuller | Kieran Culkin | Kevin’s cousin |
| Harry | Joe Pesci | One of the Wet Bandits |
| Marv | Daniel Stern | Harry’s partner |
| Marley | Roberts Blossom | Kevin’s neighbor |
| Gus Polinski | John Candy | The polka musician who helps Kate |
| Uncle Frank | Gerry Bamman | A different role from Peter |
| Director | Chris Columbus | Directing credit |
| Writer and producer | John Hughes | Screenplay and producing credits |
| Original score | John Williams | Separate from the song’s lyric credit |
This independent fan quiz covers the 1990 film rather than every film in the series. A release year and an awards-ceremony year are different labels: the 1990 film received nominations at the 1991 Oscars.
Reference sources: 20th Century Studios: Home Alone (1990) · AFI Catalog: original film credits and story · Academy: 1991 score and song nominations
Check what you remember
Look away from the table. Try each question, then open it to check your answer.
Who plays Harry, and who plays Marv?Show answer
Joe Pesci plays Harry; Daniel Stern plays Marv. Both characters are the Wet Bandits.
Who wrote the music and lyrics for Somewhere in My Memory?Show answer
John Williams wrote the music; Leslie Bricusse wrote the lyrics. The song was nominated at the 1991 Oscars.
Does a question about Home Alone (1990) ask about Kevin’s New York adventure?Show answer
No. This bank covers the original film. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a separate sequel.
Follow the story’s cause and effect
Kevin’s night in the attic, the power outage, and the rushed departure belong to the setup. Kate’s return journey runs alongside Kevin’s changing experience at home. When reviewing a missed story question, connect the answer to what it causes next rather than memorizing an isolated prop.
Separate characters from performers and jobs
Joe Pesci plays Harry and Daniel Stern plays Marv. Chris Columbus directed; John Hughes wrote the screenplay and produced. John Williams’s score is a different credit from Leslie Bricusse’s lyrics for Somewhere in My Memory. Check whether the question asks for the character, actor, or production role.
Read the film and source qualifier
This is Home Alone (1990), not a combined franchise quiz. New York sequel details belong to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The running-time question specifies the AFI Catalog because the catalog and the studio’s current page give slightly different runtimes; the named source is part of that question.
Who are the Home Alone burglars?
Harry and Marv are the two burglars, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. They call themselves the Wet Bandits because Marv leaves the taps running in every house they rob. Harry is the planner who scouts the street in a police disguise; Marv is the louder partner whose flooding habit later gives the pair away.
- The AFI Catalog synopsis lists several of Kevin’s defenses: he hoses the outside steps so they ice over, spreads fresh tar on the cellar steps, and sets devices that leave Marv stepping on a nail and glass and burn both burglars.
- Buzz’s escaped tarantula, an earlier setup detail, returns during the break-in.
- Marley, not the police, finally rescues Kevin when the burglars catch him.
Three mix-ups this round is built to catch
Most missed answers come from mixing two similar names or two films. Check the question for the exact character, credit, or film before choosing.
- Kieran and Rory Culkin: Kieran Culkin plays Kevin’s cousin Fuller. Rory Culkin, another of Macaulay Culkin’s younger brothers, is not in the AFI cast list for this film.
- Peter and Frank: Peter (John Heard) is Kevin’s father; Frank (Gerry Bamman) is his uncle. Both are McCallister adults on the trip.
- Home Alone and Home Alone 2: the 1992 sequel, Lost in New York, sends Kevin to New York City and brings Harry and Marv back. None of the fifty questions here are about the sequel.
Build a holiday round with a separate answer key
Choose a shorter paper packet from story, cast, and music questions in the worksheet builder. Keep the key until every player has answered, then read the explanation for a disputed item. No scene reenactment is needed: this is a recall game about a fictional film.
Put it into practice
Further reading: 20th Century Studios: Home Alone (1990) · AFI Catalog: original film credits and story · Academy: 1991 score and song nominations
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Home Alone trivia: the full question sheet
One kid. Two burglars. A holiday classic. Test your memory of the original 1990 Home Alone, from its story to its credits.
By Quizpen · Updated
Browse the full question bank50 questions & answers
What is the first name of the boy left at home?
Reveal answer
Kevin. Kevin is the child who stays behind in the Chicago-area house. The comedy follows his sudden independence and his efforts to defend the home.
Sources for this answer
How old is Kevin in the original film?
Reveal answer
Eight. Kevin is eight in the original 1990 film. The quiz concerns this first film, rather than his later adventures in the sequels.
Sources for this answer
The family home is in the suburbs of which city?
Reveal answer
Chicago. The story starts in suburban Chicago, Illinois. This is the home Kate tries to reach after discovering that Kevin is missing.
Sources for this answer
Which country does Kevin’s family travel to?
Reveal answer
France. The family travels to France for the holidays. Their international trip makes Kate’s attempt to return home more complicated.
Sources for this answer
What are the burglars’ names?
Reveal answer
Harry and Marv. Harry and Marv are the two burglars. Kevin has to protect the house while his family is away in France.
Sources for this answer
What is Kevin’s mother’s first name?
Reveal answer
Kate. Kate is Kevin’s mother, played by Catherine O’Hara. Her attempt to get home runs alongside Kevin’s story in the house.
Sources for this answer
Gus Polinski leads what kind of band?
Reveal answer
Polka. Gus Polinski leads a polka band. His offer of a ride helps Kate complete her journey back to the Chicago area.
Sources for this answer
In which year was Home Alone first released?
Reveal answer
1990. Home Alone opened in the United States on November 16, 1990. The question refers to the original film’s release, not a sequel or re-release.
Sources for this answer
Who directed Home Alone?
Reveal answer
Chris Columbus. Chris Columbus directed Home Alone; John Hughes wrote and produced it. Director and screenwriter are separate credits on this film.
Sources for this answer
Who wrote the screenplay?
Reveal answer
John Hughes. John Hughes wrote the screenplay and produced the film. Chris Columbus is credited as director, while John Williams composed the score.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Kevin McCallister?
Reveal answer
Macaulay Culkin. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin, the child at the center of the story. The AFI credits distinguish him from Kieran Culkin, who plays Fuller.
Sources for this answer
Who plays the burglar Harry?
Reveal answer
Joe Pesci. Joe Pesci plays Harry, one of the two burglars. Daniel Stern plays his partner Marv, so the actors’ roles are easy to mix up.
Sources for this answer
Who plays the burglar Marv?
Reveal answer
Daniel Stern. Daniel Stern plays Marv; Joe Pesci plays Harry. Marv’s habit of leaving water running explains the pair’s Wet Bandits nickname.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Kevin’s mother, Kate?
Reveal answer
Catherine O’Hara. Catherine O’Hara plays Kate McCallister. Her character’s return journey is the other main strand of the film’s story.
Sources for this answer
Who plays the polka musician Gus Polinski?
Reveal answer
John Candy. John Candy plays Gus Polinski, the musician who helps Kate get home. The role is a supporting appearance rather than one of the two burglars.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Kevin’s father, Peter?
Reveal answer
John Heard. John Heard plays Peter, Kevin’s father. Uncle Frank is a different adult in the family and is played by Gerry Bamman.
Sources for this answer
Which actor plays Kevin’s cousin Fuller?
Reveal answer
Kieran Culkin. Kieran Culkin plays Fuller, Kevin’s cousin. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin; the similar surnames in the credits belong to different roles.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Kevin’s older brother Buzz?
Reveal answer
Devin Ratray. Devin Ratray plays Buzz, Kevin’s older brother. Buzz’s teasing helps set up the family argument before the trip.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Kevin’s neighbor Marley?
Reveal answer
Roberts Blossom. Roberts Blossom plays Marley. The neighbor’s role changes as Kevin learns that the frightening stories about him are untrue.
Sources for this answer
Who plays Uncle Frank?
Reveal answer
Gerry Bamman. Gerry Bamman plays Uncle Frank. John Heard plays Peter, so the two adult McCallister roles should not be confused.
Sources for this answer
Who composed the film’s orchestral score?
Reveal answer
John Williams. John Williams composed the original score. It received an Academy Award nomination in 1991, separate from the film’s original-song nomination.
Sources for this answer
Which Home Alone song received an Oscar nomination?
Reveal answer
Somewhere in My Memory. Somewhere in My Memory was nominated for Original Song at the 1991 Oscars. Home Alone also earned a separate nomination for its original score.
Sources for this answer
Who wrote the lyrics to Somewhere in My Memory?
Reveal answer
Leslie Bricusse. Leslie Bricusse wrote the lyrics, while John Williams wrote the music. The Academy lists both contributions in the song’s nomination.
Sources for this answer
What was Home Alone’s US theatrical rating?
Reveal answer
PG. The US theatrical release was rated PG. The letters mean parental guidance suggested; ratings in other countries use different systems.
Sources for this answer
According to the AFI Catalog, about how long is the original theatrical Home Alone?
Reveal answer
103 minutes. AFI records the theatrical running time as 103 minutes. The studio’s current page lists 1 hour 42 minutes, so this question specifies the catalog used.
Sources for this answer
In which Illinois village is the house used for the exterior shots?
Reveal answer
Winnetka. The house used for the exterior is in Winnetka, Illinois. AFI also records interior sets built at a school in nearby Northfield.
Sources for this answer
Who was the film’s production designer?
Reveal answer
John Muto. John Muto is credited as production designer. That role oversees the physical look of a film’s settings, distinct from photographing or editing them.
Sources for this answer
Who was the film’s cinematographer?
Reveal answer
Julio Macat. Julio Macat is credited as director of photography, another name for cinematographer. This is the camera-and-lighting role, not the screenplay credit.
Sources for this answer
Who edited Home Alone?
Reveal answer
Raja Gosnell. Raja Gosnell is credited as editor. Editing assembles filmed material into the sequence and pacing viewers see in the finished movie.
Sources for this answer
Which holiday is the family preparing to celebrate?
Reveal answer
Christmas. The family is preparing for Christmas. The holiday setting shapes both their trip and Kevin’s wish to be reunited with them.
Sources for this answer
What is Kevin’s family name?
Reveal answer
McCallister. Kevin’s surname is McCallister in the film’s credits. McFly and McClane belong to other movie characters, not Kevin’s family.
Sources for this answer
What is Kevin’s father’s first name?
Reveal answer
Peter. Peter is Kevin’s father and Kate is his mother. Frank is Kevin’s uncle, despite sharing the McCallister surname.
Sources for this answer
What is Kevin’s older brother called?
Reveal answer
Buzz. Buzz is Kevin’s older brother. Their argument before the trip leads to Kevin spending the night apart from the rest of the family.
Sources for this answer
What does Harry disguise himself as near the beginning?
Reveal answer
A police officer. Harry poses as a police officer to ask about the household’s security. The disguise lets a burglar gather information under an apparently reassuring pretext.
Sources for this answer
What nickname do Harry and Marv use?
Reveal answer
The Wet Bandits. Harry and Marv are the Wet Bandits. The name comes from Marv flooding houses, rather than from the weather or their escape route.
Sources for this answer
What does Marv leave running in houses they rob?
Reveal answer
Water taps. Marv leaves water taps running to flood the houses. That recurring habit explains the Wet Bandits name and helps identify the burglars.
Sources for this answer
What kind of pet does Buzz keep?
Reveal answer
A tarantula. Buzz keeps a tarantula, which Kevin accidentally lets loose. The escaped pet later becomes part of the confrontation with the burglars.
Sources for this answer
Which basement appliance frightens Kevin?
Reveal answer
The furnace. Kevin imagines the basement furnace as menacing. The scene turns an ordinary part of the house into a reflection of his fear of being alone.
Sources for this answer
What makes Kevin scream after he pats his cheeks in the bathroom?
Reveal answer
Aftershave. Kevin applies aftershave and reacts to the sting. The cheek-slapping scream is a bathroom moment, separate from his encounters with the burglars.
Sources for this answer
Where is Kevin sent to sleep after the dinner argument?
Reveal answer
The attic. Kate sends Kevin to the attic after the dinner argument. Being separated from the family helps explain how he is missed in the morning rush.
Sources for this answer
What causes the family’s alarm clocks to fail overnight?
Reveal answer
A power outage. A storm damages the power supply, stopping the clock radios. The family oversleeps, and the resulting rush helps set up Kevin’s accidental abandonment.
Sources for this answer
Which neighbor child is mistakenly counted with the departing children?
Reveal answer
Mitch Murphy. The neighbor child Mitch Murphy is counted with the departing children. The mistaken headcount makes Kevin’s absence less obvious during the rushed departure.
What does Kevin ask Santa to bring back?
Reveal answer
His family. Kevin asks for his family to return. His request shows how his feelings have changed since he wished they would disappear.
Sources for this answer
Who rescues Kevin when the burglars finally catch him?
Reveal answer
Marley. Marley comes to Kevin’s rescue. The neighbor Kevin once feared becomes the person who helps him when his own plans are no longer enough.
Sources for this answer
How does Kate travel the last stretch home with the band?
Reveal answer
In a rented moving truck. Gus offers Kate a ride with the band in a rented moving truck. The road trip completes the final stretch of her journey home.
Sources for this answer
Where do Kevin and Marley have their Christmas Eve conversation?
Reveal answer
A church. Kevin and Marley talk in a church on Christmas Eve. The conversation replaces Kevin’s fearful assumptions with Marley’s account of his family troubles.
Sources for this answer
Which relative is Marley watching sing in the choir?
Reveal answer
His granddaughter. Marley is listening to his granddaughter in the choir. The visit connects to his estrangement from his son, which he discusses with Kevin.
Sources for this answer
What does Marley use when he intervenes against the burglars?
Reveal answer
A snow shovel. Marley uses his snow shovel when he intervenes. The tool earlier associated with Kevin’s fear of the neighbor becomes part of his rescue.
Sources for this answer
What small item does Peter find on the floor near the end?
Reveal answer
A gold tooth. Peter finds Harry’s gold tooth. The small object is a leftover clue to events the returning family has not seen.
Sources for this answer
At the end, whom does Kevin see Marley reunited with?
Reveal answer
His son and family. Kevin sees Marley reunited with his son and family. That reunion parallels Kevin’s own return to family life at the end.
Sources for this answer
Answer key
- Kevin. Kevin is the child who stays behind in the Chicago-area house. The comedy follows his sudden independence and his efforts to defend the home.
- Eight. Kevin is eight in the original 1990 film. The quiz concerns this first film, rather than his later adventures in the sequels.
- Chicago. The story starts in suburban Chicago, Illinois. This is the home Kate tries to reach after discovering that Kevin is missing.
- France. The family travels to France for the holidays. Their international trip makes Kate’s attempt to return home more complicated.
- Harry and Marv. Harry and Marv are the two burglars. Kevin has to protect the house while his family is away in France.
- Kate. Kate is Kevin’s mother, played by Catherine O’Hara. Her attempt to get home runs alongside Kevin’s story in the house.
- Polka. Gus Polinski leads a polka band. His offer of a ride helps Kate complete her journey back to the Chicago area.
- 1990. Home Alone opened in the United States on November 16, 1990. The question refers to the original film’s release, not a sequel or re-release.
- Chris Columbus. Chris Columbus directed Home Alone; John Hughes wrote and produced it. Director and screenwriter are separate credits on this film.
- John Hughes. John Hughes wrote the screenplay and produced the film. Chris Columbus is credited as director, while John Williams composed the score.
- Macaulay Culkin. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin, the child at the center of the story. The AFI credits distinguish him from Kieran Culkin, who plays Fuller.
- Joe Pesci. Joe Pesci plays Harry, one of the two burglars. Daniel Stern plays his partner Marv, so the actors’ roles are easy to mix up.
- Daniel Stern. Daniel Stern plays Marv; Joe Pesci plays Harry. Marv’s habit of leaving water running explains the pair’s Wet Bandits nickname.
- Catherine O’Hara. Catherine O’Hara plays Kate McCallister. Her character’s return journey is the other main strand of the film’s story.
- John Candy. John Candy plays Gus Polinski, the musician who helps Kate get home. The role is a supporting appearance rather than one of the two burglars.
- John Heard. John Heard plays Peter, Kevin’s father. Uncle Frank is a different adult in the family and is played by Gerry Bamman.
- Kieran Culkin. Kieran Culkin plays Fuller, Kevin’s cousin. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin; the similar surnames in the credits belong to different roles.
- Devin Ratray. Devin Ratray plays Buzz, Kevin’s older brother. Buzz’s teasing helps set up the family argument before the trip.
- Roberts Blossom. Roberts Blossom plays Marley. The neighbor’s role changes as Kevin learns that the frightening stories about him are untrue.
- Gerry Bamman. Gerry Bamman plays Uncle Frank. John Heard plays Peter, so the two adult McCallister roles should not be confused.
- John Williams. John Williams composed the original score. It received an Academy Award nomination in 1991, separate from the film’s original-song nomination.
- Somewhere in My Memory. Somewhere in My Memory was nominated for Original Song at the 1991 Oscars. Home Alone also earned a separate nomination for its original score.
- Leslie Bricusse. Leslie Bricusse wrote the lyrics, while John Williams wrote the music. The Academy lists both contributions in the song’s nomination.
- PG. The US theatrical release was rated PG. The letters mean parental guidance suggested; ratings in other countries use different systems.
- 103 minutes. AFI records the theatrical running time as 103 minutes. The studio’s current page lists 1 hour 42 minutes, so this question specifies the catalog used.
- Winnetka. The house used for the exterior is in Winnetka, Illinois. AFI also records interior sets built at a school in nearby Northfield.
- John Muto. John Muto is credited as production designer. That role oversees the physical look of a film’s settings, distinct from photographing or editing them.
- Julio Macat. Julio Macat is credited as director of photography, another name for cinematographer. This is the camera-and-lighting role, not the screenplay credit.
- Raja Gosnell. Raja Gosnell is credited as editor. Editing assembles filmed material into the sequence and pacing viewers see in the finished movie.
- Christmas. The family is preparing for Christmas. The holiday setting shapes both their trip and Kevin’s wish to be reunited with them.
- McCallister. Kevin’s surname is McCallister in the film’s credits. McFly and McClane belong to other movie characters, not Kevin’s family.
- Peter. Peter is Kevin’s father and Kate is his mother. Frank is Kevin’s uncle, despite sharing the McCallister surname.
- Buzz. Buzz is Kevin’s older brother. Their argument before the trip leads to Kevin spending the night apart from the rest of the family.
- A police officer. Harry poses as a police officer to ask about the household’s security. The disguise lets a burglar gather information under an apparently reassuring pretext.
- The Wet Bandits. Harry and Marv are the Wet Bandits. The name comes from Marv flooding houses, rather than from the weather or their escape route.
- Water taps. Marv leaves water taps running to flood the houses. That recurring habit explains the Wet Bandits name and helps identify the burglars.
- A tarantula. Buzz keeps a tarantula, which Kevin accidentally lets loose. The escaped pet later becomes part of the confrontation with the burglars.
- The furnace. Kevin imagines the basement furnace as menacing. The scene turns an ordinary part of the house into a reflection of his fear of being alone.
- Aftershave. Kevin applies aftershave and reacts to the sting. The cheek-slapping scream is a bathroom moment, separate from his encounters with the burglars.
- The attic. Kate sends Kevin to the attic after the dinner argument. Being separated from the family helps explain how he is missed in the morning rush.
- A power outage. A storm damages the power supply, stopping the clock radios. The family oversleeps, and the resulting rush helps set up Kevin’s accidental abandonment.
- Mitch Murphy. The neighbor child Mitch Murphy is counted with the departing children. The mistaken headcount makes Kevin’s absence less obvious during the rushed departure.
- His family. Kevin asks for his family to return. His request shows how his feelings have changed since he wished they would disappear.
- Marley. Marley comes to Kevin’s rescue. The neighbor Kevin once feared becomes the person who helps him when his own plans are no longer enough.
- In a rented moving truck. Gus offers Kate a ride with the band in a rented moving truck. The road trip completes the final stretch of her journey home.
- A church. Kevin and Marley talk in a church on Christmas Eve. The conversation replaces Kevin’s fearful assumptions with Marley’s account of his family troubles.
- His granddaughter. Marley is listening to his granddaughter in the choir. The visit connects to his estrangement from his son, which he discusses with Kevin.
- A snow shovel. Marley uses his snow shovel when he intervenes. The tool earlier associated with Kevin’s fear of the neighbor becomes part of his rescue.
- A gold tooth. Peter finds Harry’s gold tooth. The small object is a leftover clue to events the returning family has not seen.
- His son and family. Kevin sees Marley reunited with his son and family. That reunion parallels Kevin’s own return to family life at the end.