With the release of the first trailer for Home Sweet Home Alone, fans got a nice surprise in the form of a returning character from the first two movies. Though Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York are the most famous, there are actually five total Home Alone movies. This begs the question: which Home Alone movies does the new one connect to, and which of these movies do audiences need to watch beforehand?

Home Alone

Macauley Culkin Home Alone's Kevin in winter clothes

Being the one that started it all, Home Alone definitely ties into the new Home Sweet Home Alone movie. The trailer features a shot of a police officer turning up to the scene, and a close-up on his jacket reading 'McCallister.' This is meant the be the character of Buzz McCallister, Kevin's annoying older brother, still played by Devin Ratray from the first Home Alone. So at the very least, the first film connects to the newest installment, though it's unclear if there will be any other connections.

For those who've yet to see the original Christmas Classic, or who want a refresher, Home Alone is available to stream on Disney+.

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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Home Alone 2 is a direct sequel to the first movie, starring the same classic characters. And so with Buzz McCallister featuring in Home Sweet Home Alone, that means the second film connects as well. For now, it's not been revealed if any other original characters will return, although it's certainly possible. However, actor Macaulay Calkin, who played protagonist Kevin McCallister, recently tweeted that he does not have a cameo in the reboot.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is also available to stream now on Disney+.

Home Alone 3

Released five years after the last movie, Home Alone 3 is the first in the series to have a completely different set of characters. Not a single returning actor or character appears throughout, and there's no reference to the events of previous films. Even so, this doesn't mean they don't take place in the same world, as there's also nothing to suggest otherwise. With five years gone by, there's no particular reason for the McCallister family to reappear in this new family's lives, and nothing contradicts the events of the first two movies. And so, it's very much possible Home Alone 3 does have some connection to the originals and Home Sweet Home Alone. Due to the movie's poor reception, however, it seems unlikely there'll be any returning characters from this installment.

For those who still want to catch up on Home Alone 3 just to be safe, it's available to stream on Disney+.

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Home Alone 4

Home Alone 4 is the first, and only, in the franchise to truly try to reboot the first movie. Instead of featuring a whole new family, Home Alone 4 reuses all the names of the original McCallister family, with each role being played by a different actor. So Kevin McCallister is played by young Mike Weinberg and is meant to be a new version of the character. Despite being named Home Alone 4, this movie is clearly a reimagining of the original rather than a sequel or a similar tale set within the same world as the first films. This, combined with the movie's poor ratings, makes it seem unlikely that there'll be any reference to it in the new film.

For those who still want to watch Home Alone 4, it's available to rent on YouTube and Vudu.

Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

Likely the least known of the bunch, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist was released in 2012 on television only, premiering on ABC Family. Much like Home Alone 3, The Holiday Heist features an all-new family and makes zero references to previous movies. Separating it even more so, this installment is the first to not feature Chicago in any way and to have the protagonist not actually alone at home. Despite nothing suggesting otherwise, this movie is so independent of the previous ones that it seems a safe bet to say it won't be connected in any way.

But for those who want to complete the Home Alone collection, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist is available to rent on Amazon.

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