Parents' Guide to

Home Alone 3

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Formulaic movie draws some laughs from pratfalls.

Movie PG 1997 102 minutes
Home Alone 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 11+

Based on 11 parent reviews

Bliderman3
Bliderman3 Adult
September 6, 2020
age 18+

1'st Home Alone And New York Was Waaaaaaaaaaay Much Better

The Home Alone Series Was Great Unitl 3 I'ts No Good Not Funny At All And To Much Sex And Voilence And Swearing
Phyllis S.
Phyllis S. Adult
December 18, 2023
age 18+

NEVER a need to put Nudity in films ESPECIALLY IN A KIDS MOVIE!!!!!

See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Alex (Alex D. Linz) is left alone for a day when he has the chicken pox. Little does he know, an internationally renowned terrorist group is on his tail: he was given a gift with a precious piece of hardware inside. His mission? Keep his house and his neighborhood safe.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11 ):
Kids say (47 ):

Considering that Home Alone's initial hero played by Macualay Culkin is a very hard act to follow, little Alex D. Linz fills his shoes pretty well. He's cute, he's clever, he's got a devilish smile, and he's got the whole house to himself. The fact that John Hughes had a hand in writing and producing this movie goes a long way, too. The jokes are smart, the characters are fleshed-out, plus -- a bonus -- Scarlett Johansson fans get to see her in a bit part as Alex's older sister.

There is a formula that the movie goes by, of course. We know the bad guys are going to find Alex's house. We know that they are going to get punished when he unleashes his traps a-plenty. But the stakes are higher here, since the bad guys are smarter. And you do kind of feel sorry that the poor kid was left at home, even if we know he's invincible. Not bad for a threequel.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Why is watching people get hurt funny? The bumps and bangs are played for humor here, but what would be the real consequences of these incidents?

  • Nobody believes Alex when he tells his family that he has seen crooks in the neighborhood. Could he have been more convincing? Or is being unheard part of being a kid?

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