Home Alone: Why Joe Pesci ignored Macaulay Culkin on set

'He’s pampered a lot by a lot of people, but not me,' actor said

Home Alone may be one of the most beloved Christmas films of all time, but Joe Pesci didn’t have much festive cheer on set.

The movie, directed by Chris Columbus, stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, a young boy whose family accidentally leave him behind when they travel overseas for the holiday season.

Rather than worry about being on his own, though, Kevin embraces his newfound freedom – that is until two burglars set their sights on his house.

In the film, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern play robbers Harry and Marv.

Goodfellas and Casino actor Pesci, not used to starring alongside children, devised a plan in order to evoke fear in Culkin: he intentionally avoided the child star, who was 10 at the time, in between takes.

Pesci wanted Culkin to think he was mean, which he ultimately succeeded in.

During the filming of 1992 sequel Lost in New York, Culkin asked Pesci why he never smiled at him, to which Pesci is said to have replied: “Shut up”.

In a behind-the-scenes interview, Pesci is reported to have said: “He’s pampered a lot by a lot of people, but not me. And I think he likes that.”

Read our retrospective on Home Alone here.