Home Alone 3 (1997) | Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny von Dohlen | Review & Facts |

Home Alone 3 (1997) | Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny von Dohlen, Haviland Morris Cast, Plot, and High-Tech Comedy Adventure Breakdown Shifting away from the McCallister family but keeping the beloved formula intact, Home Alone 3 brings a fresh twist to the classic holiday mischief. Directed by Raja Gosnell and written by John Hughes, the movie introduces a new hero, higher stakes, and high-tech chaos, making it a lighter yet inventive continuation of the franchise’s spirit. Plot Overview This time, the story revolves around **Alex Pruitt**, an 8-year-old boy living in the suburbs of Chicago who unexpectedly gets caught in an international espionage plot. When a group of dangerous criminals attempts to smuggle a top-secret microchip inside a remote-controlled toy car, it accidentally lands in Alex’s possession. Stuck at home with the chickenpox, Alex quickly realizes he’s being targeted by a team of elite international spies, not your typical burglars. Using his sharp wit and an arsenal of clever homemade traps, Alex takes on the four criminals in a battle of brains versus brawn. The traps are bigger, smarter, and more technology-driven, giving the familiar slapstick comedy a fresh 90s upgrade. Main Cast Alex D. Linz as Alex Pruitt, the smart and resourceful new protagonist Olek Krupa as Peter Beaupre, the leader of the international spy team Rya Kihlstedt as Alice Ribbons, one of the cunning yet overconfident criminals Lenny von Dohlen as Burton Jernigan, the gadget expert of the group David Thornton as Earl Unger, the fourth member of the spy team Haviland Morris as Karen Pruitt, Alex’s concerned but often absent mother Scarlett Johansson as Molly Pruitt, Alex’s teenage sister in one of her earliest film roles Production Highlights Home Alone 3 marks the first film in the franchise without Macaulay Culkin or the McCallisters, steering the story in a completely new direction. John Hughes, the writer behind the first two movies, returned to pen the script, bringing his signature mix of slapstick and heart while leaning into a modernized, tech-driven plot. Filming primarily took place in Chicago, and the movie was released on **December 12, 1997**. Despite a budget of around **\$32 million**, the film grossed roughly **\$79 million worldwide**, performing modestly at the box office compared to its predecessors. Reception and Buzz Upon release, Home Alone 3 received mixed reviews from critics, with many nostalgic fans of the first two films missing Kevin McCallister’s charm. However, younger audiences embraced the fresh storyline, inventive traps, and Alex’s underdog heroism. Over time, the movie has gained a cult following among fans who enjoy its creative spin on the franchise, especially its fun use of gadgets and tech-focused pranks. Audience Reactions Many longtime fans initially viewed the movie as a departure from what made Home Alone iconic, but for a younger generation, Alex Pruitt became their version of Kevin McCallister. The expanded stakes involving spies, technology, and an entire neighborhood under siege gave the movie a unique identity within the franchise. While it lacks the holiday magic of the first two films, its inventive booby traps, suspenseful chases, and Alex’s clever tricks have kept it alive as a nostalgic 90s family favorite. Search Queries home alone 3 explained home alone 3 cast and characters home alone 3 microchip plot home alone 3 Alex Pruitt character home alone 3 international spies home alone 3 booby traps ranked home alone 3 box office performance home alone 3 1997 release date home alone 3 Scarlett Johansson debut home alone 3 movie review Hashtags #HomeAlone3 #AlexPruitt #johnhughes JohnHughes #90sFamilyMovies #HolidayComedy #HomeAloneFranchise #SlapstickFun #AlexDLinz #Classic90sCinema #FamilyAdventure