How To Throw A ‘Home Alone’ Viewing Party

‘Tis the season to stuff your face full of oversized desserts and relive your favorite movies from childhood. If you’re anything like me, there are a few choice movies that you must watch every year during the holiday season, and Home Alone is definitely one of them. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that sitting at home eating ice cream sundaes the size of my head is a whole lot more fun if there are people around to join me. Which is why I’ve taken to throwing an annual Home Alone viewing party. And, I have to say, it’s sort of become my favorite part of the season. Mainly because everyone that I know loves Home Alone, and because watching Home Alone usually always necessitates a number of indulgent, kid-like things to go with it.

Talk about a perfect way to throw a party. And as much as I love a good theme party (and have considered setting up the house to boobytrap my friends throughout the evening — tar and feathering in the bathroom! a nail through the foot when you go downstairs for more ice! — I’ve realized that a theme can go too far, and a better idea is to stick with the more people-friendly aspects of the movie for your party.

Luckily for us—and for my friends—there is still plenty to bring to the viewing party that is on-theme and right in line with all of the things you love from the movie.

Cheese Pizza Is A Must

It’s Kevin’s favorite and should work as the foundation for all of the foods you build in around the party. It’s how the whole “Kevin getting left behind” thing happens in the first place, so I recommend serving this as your entrée. Hopefully it will come out to less than $120, depending on your party size.

Serve Popcorn In Miniature Trash Cans

So that it looks like the salt Old Man Marley carried around the neighborhood. If you can find red dye to make it look like the blood of all the people he supposedly killed, even better.

Make It A Pajama Party

The person with the most Kevin-like bedhead wins a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.

Dessert Is Ice Cream Sundaes

Obvi. I usually put out a make-your-own sundae bar with all of Kevin’s favorite fixin’s: marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, etc.

Decorate With Booby-Trap Items

Again, I don’t recommend actually booby-trapping your house, but if you can scatter the table with Micro Machines and a few fake tarantulas, it will really up the theme factor.

Don’t Be Afraid to Include The Sequel

Those movies are short. If your group is thirsty for more, have the second movie at the ready. (Warning: If this happens, you will need a voicemorphing app to relive your favorite Talkboy moments.)

Have Prizes Ready

For the person who can come up with the best burglar name, the person who can recite the entire script of Angels with Filthy Souls, and the person who can name every single booby-trap that Kevin uses in the movie.

Happy Holidays from one Home Alone fanatic to the next!

Image: 20th Century Fox; Giphy (7)