Photo: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
It's a burning question that has been on everyone's mind every Christmas — how did the McCallisters afford that massive Chicago home? Home Alone director Chris Columbus is finally coming clean, ya filthy animals.
During appearance on The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast, Columbus shared, "Back then, John [Hughes] and I had a conversation about it, and we decided on what the jobs were." Kate McCallister, played by Catherine O'Hara, "was a very successful fashion designer," which is where the mannequins in the McCallister basement came from. Meanwhile, Peter McCallister, played by John Heard, may have worked in advertising, but it's unclear. Chris explained, "The father could have, based on John Hughes' own experience, worked in advertising, but I don't remember what the father did."
One thing is for sure, though: The McCallisters were not in the mob. Columbus shared, "Not organized crime — even though there was, at the time, a lot of organized crime in Chicago."
How the McCallisters were able to afford their iconic, enormous house, which is located in Winnetka, Illinois, has been at the forefront of internet debates year after year around the holiday season — a time when most people watch Home Alone.
Listen to Chris Columbus talk about Home Alone and more on the "Awards Chatter" podcast on iHeartRadio.