Home Alone (1990)

Veteran 80s directors John Hughes and Chris Columbus teamed up with this 1990 release, destined to become one of the all-time best-selling Christmas films and instantly launched the career of child star Macaulay Culkin to A-list status. Set in an unnamed Chicago suburb (like most of Hughes' films), the first film in the series was mostly filmed around Winnetka, Illinois.

The MacAllister family home is located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, IL. It looks essentially the same today except the curved driveway is now gone and the yard is fenced off. This is an extremely popular tourist stop, so I recommend if you visit keep it short and do not disturb the neighborhood. 

As seen in the TV series "The Movies That Made Us," the whole interior of the McAllister house was realized as a set built in the gymnasium  of New Trier Township High School in Northfield (not to be confused with the one in Winnetka). This same school was used in several John Hughes movies. The school was not being used at the time and was taken over by the production as production offices and stage space. 

The airport that the MacAllister family leaves from in Chicago (and arrives in Paris) is Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The Hubbard Woods Pharmacy was where Kevin runs into Old Man Marley and accidentally runs out without paying for his toothbrush. The business has changed hands multiple times but the location is at 940 Green Bay Road in Hubbard Woods, IL.

A frightened Kevin then runs across Green Bay Rd. to the park on the other side, where he is pursued by a police officer.

Kevin continues out the east side of the park across the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks.

Before setting their sights on the MacAllister house, the "Wet Bandits" load up loot outside the back door of 656 Lincoln Avenue.This is also where Kevin first spots their van parked in front of the garage.

As he walks home, Kevin is almost hit by the Wet Bandits as they pull out from 656 Lincoln Avenue.

The bandits follow Kevin past the church & nativity scene where he hides. Church exteriors were filmed at Trinity United Methodist Church at 1024 West Lake Avenue in Wilmette, IL.

Kevin does some last-minute shopping at The Grand Food Center at 606 Green Bay Road in Winnetka, IL.

Kevin runs into Santa Claus in Chestnut Court Park to the west of Winnetka Village Hall (visible in the background) at 510 Green Bay Road in Winnetka, IL.

Kevin returns to Trinity United Methodist Church at 1024 West Lake Avenue in Wilmette, IL.

Interior scenes in the church where Kevin is reunited with Old Man Marley were filmed at Grace Episcopal Church at 924 Lake Street in Oak Park, IL.

The interior flooded basement of the neighbor's house was a set built in the swimming pool of New Trier Township HS in Northfield.