Now that they’ve merged with Fox, Disney has access to many defunct franchises that the other studio wasn’t doing much with, and at a recent quarterly earnings conference, the Mouse House confirmed they were going to do something about that. CEO Bob Iger revealed that reboots of such family-friendly franchises like Home Alone, Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen are on their way to the Disney Plus streaming service.
There’s been a mixed reaction to all of these properties getting relaunched, but fans are protective of Home Alone the most. The original 1990 movie, and by extension its 1992 sequel, is a holiday classic that many of us watch every Christmas, so understandably folks don’t see much point in remaking it. Especially as there are so many redundant follow-ups as it is (did you know Home Alone 5 came out in 2012?).
As you’d expect, then, social media is full of people criticizing the news, and some are just sick of Disney’s endless reboots, in general.
Disney’s recycled movie ideas are getting worse and worse….
— Amber (@NYCdeb8tr) August 7, 2019
The message is clear, Disney: don’t touch this one.
Dont even think about rebooting this Disney. Not this one. #HomeAlone pic.twitter.com/i2lcbvfMyi
— Akëchëta (@MyFootUpUrAss) August 7, 2019
Not everything needs a remake. Films are works of art. Imagine they Disney said hey the Mona Lisa is great but everyone has seen it already. Lets remake the Mona Lisa. People would be like WTF you cant remake a painting. pic.twitter.com/M3an8bgZyQ
— loanerbrain (@loanerbrain) August 7, 2019
In the immortal words of Danny DeVito…
Ahtt aht Disney, you gave us a Lion King remake and you giving us a Little Black Mermaid. We the people, do not want another Home Alone, some things are not to be touched. Y’all was doing something, but now y’all doing too much. Leave Home Alone ALONE pic.twitter.com/jAYnolyA5C
— teee.bee特里???♂️ (@TerreB1999) August 7, 2019
No, Home alone is a classic. My children’s classic. Leave it alone! Know when to stop remakes.
— Lucy (@politicolucy) August 7, 2019
Others remain loyal to Macaulay Culkin and don’t think a remake would work without him in the role of Kevin McAllister (they’re right, too. Just check out Home Alone 4 for proof).
Home Alone 1 & 2 are classic- were never the same without Macaulay Leave them Alone
— Remy S (@Rambo_0784) August 7, 2019
What’s more, a lot of Twitter users have pointed out that the central premise of the movie just wouldn’t work in our modern-day world. Kevin is originally stranded at home when his family go on vacation and the phonelines go down. Nowadays, he’d have the internet, various apps and many other options to get in contact with his parents. No need to foil a burglary on his own.
Home Alone, which I don't think should be remade, would not be the same unless based in the 90s. Kevin could literally get anything to the house delivered, charge to his parents card, and the parents could face time him to check on him. The premise doesn't work today. Leave it be
— Bret Cash (@Crash30SG1) August 7, 2019
How you gonna remake #HomeAlone when 2019 Kevin can just text his Mom or catch an Uber ? pic.twitter.com/Y1QpLjeO3G
— Felichia Eaton (@FelichiaEaton) August 7, 2019
It looks like Disney will have to hire some nifty screenwriters to fix these inherent story problems, and also hire a talented cast to make up for the absence of Culkin. Otherwise, it seems old-school fans will be leaving this Home Alone remake alone.
