Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 9+
Formulaic movie draws some laughs from pratfalls.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
some
Just what you'd expect from the Home Alone franchise: lots of slapstick violence at the expense of the bad guys. There are guns -- real and toy -- that are used to threaten people. Electrocution, slapping, heavy objects crashing on people, a guy gets hit by a car, explosions. But everyone comes out alive, if black and blue. No blood.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Lady across the street smokes a lot, and she drinks whiskey during the daytime.
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Language
a little
Marginal language and name calling: "butt," "buttock," "damn," "hell," "dumb broad," and "winky."
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See AlsoBehind the Surprising Songs That Soundtrack Sofia Coppola’s ‘Priscilla’La cabane à histoires - Saison 3 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Pablo Pico - QobuzGet started
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Older brother has posters of women in bikinis. One poster shows most of a breast exposed, and is featured in a prank.
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Products & Purchases
very little
American Airlines mentioned.
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Positive Role Models
a little
Alex's mom and dad truly love their kids and show affection when they are around. Alex's mom admonishes her boss for making her choose between "caring for her sick kid and making a house payment." Alex shows determination and perseverance in the face of danger (not that we'd really want a kid to face bad guys this way).
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Positive Messages
very little
Alex 's parents both work, which leaves Alex home alone with the chicken pox. Though his mom is very good about staying in touch while she is at the office, he is put in a perilous position -- which he handles masterfully (if unrealistically).
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Educational Value
none
Intended to entertain, rather than educate.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that in Home Alone 3 the bad guys get really banged up by a smart little kid. Traps and tricks at every turn result in painful pratfalls involving electrocution, car accidents, and explosions. Sensitive kids might be frightened by the fact that these bad guys carry real guns and are hunting down an 8-year-old boy who is sick at home alone. Some name calling, like "dumb broad" and potty talk, like "butt" and "winky." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Home Alone 3
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (10)
- Kids say (47)
age 10+
Based on 10 parent reviews
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. Adult
December 18, 2023
age 18+
NEVER a need to put Nudity in films ESPECIALLY IN A KIDS MOVIE!!!!!
Rate movie
See all 10 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 (10):
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?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 12, 1997
- On DVD or streaming: November 3, 1998
- Cast: Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Scarlett Johansson
- Director: Raja Gosnell
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Run time: 102 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: slapstick violence, language and mild sensuality
- Last updated: May 8, 2024
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Home Alone 3
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