Macaulay Culkin rose to astonishing fame as a child star in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and was also one of the most successful child actors, with several blockbusters to his name. Now that the actor is turning 44, these seven of the actor’s best films deserve attention. They are diverse, yet capture Culkin’s consistent performance with his charismatic charm.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is no joke with the original film in the series. The sequel follows Culkin’s character, who is stranded alone in New York while his family spends Christmas in Florida. The plot is similar to the first film, with most of the original cast, including Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, returning as bumbling crooks who happen to be in New York this time.
Even though the 1992 film could not capture the flawless charm of the original, it is still an entertaining and worthwhile family film today, whose slapstick violence formula works well for Culkin’s character.
The Pagemaster
Directed by Pixote Hunt and Joe Johnston, The Pagemaster, starring Culkin, is one of the most underrated films of his career. It’s a creative story in which the real-life character Culkin is transformed into his animated version after he runs into a library to seek shelter from a storm.
He enters the world and finds himself immersed in a highly exciting, terrifying and fantastical world. The catchy premise of this film is further driven by an excellent voice cast including Patrick Stewart, Christopher Lloyd and Whoopi Goldberg. Their performances bring the story to life and make this strange hybrid of live-action and animation all the more valuable.
Party Monster
Party Monster is not like Culkin’s other films. Here, the actor is given the freedom to experiment with a unique role that depicts the true story of Michael Alig. The narrative is based on the memoirs of James St. James, a friend of Alig’s, and revolves around Alig boarding a Greyhound bus and leaving his boring life in the Midwest behind.
He arrives in New York City full of dreams. He quickly befriends powerful nightclub owner Peter Gatien, played by Dylan McDermott, and young clubber James St. James, played by Seth Green. Alig begins planning some of the city’s most controversial and lavish parties in a bid to become famous.
But within a few years, Alig’s drug abuse and erratic behavior threaten the empire he built. His once-quick rise now threatens to collapse and destroy his luxury and celebrity empire. Despite the critical flops, the film deserves attention for Culkin’s brilliant performance.
my girl
Directed by Howard Zieff, My Girl, which stars Culkin, is more down-to-earth, which in some ways contradicts his role in the Home Alone series and adds new facets to his acting chops. Although his character appears comedic on the surface and has a mild sense of humor, the film is much more realistic than his previous work as a child actor.
My Girl revolves around the life of 11-year-old hypochondriac Vada Sultenfuss, who grows up in her father’s funeral home. She relives childhood traumas, such as the loss of her mother and her best friend Thomas J. These characters, played by Macaulay Culkin, eventually bring her closer to her distant father and help her heal and grow.
The good son
In Joseph Rubens’ “The Good Son,” the young Culkin once again has the chance to prove his acting skills in a fairly serious role. Alongside him, Elijah Wood plays the little boy Mark, who stays with his aunt and uncle after the death of his mother while his father is away on a business trip. He befriends his cousin Henry, played by Culkin. He is a boy of the same age, but increasingly shows signs of violent and psychopathic behavior.
Culkin’s role in The Good Son introduces the actor to the dark world of a disturbing child’s psyche, but is a treat for audiences as he handles the role brilliantly.
Uncle Buck
The late John Candy of “The Ticket for Two” teamed up with Culkin in “Uncle Buck” and is an entertaining way to pass the time. The family-friendly comedy follows Candy, a bachelor who is forced to take on the role of guardian for his brother’s rebellious teenage daughter and her younger siblings while their parents are abroad.
John Hughes’ famous screenplay gives each character their big moment. The role was one of Culkin’s finest performances, and his strong performance paved the way for his future success in big-budget films.
Home alone
Although Culkin was just a child when he made these films, Home Alone has to be the best film of his career. The 1991 film, directed by Chris Columbus, proved to be a timeless, classic family comedy that still has a huge fan base.
In this first film in the Home Alone series, Culkin played Kevin McCallister, a resourceful little guy who is separated from his family to spend Christmas in Paris. There, he tries to protect his suburban Chicago home from two thieves, but has a subtly comic encounter in which he outwits them at every turn.
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