Devotees of the beloved festive film Home Alone have been left scratching their heads after unearthing a minute detail from the movie's opening scenes that they argue defies logic. More than three decades after its 1990 release, sharp-eyed viewers are dissecting the cost of the McCallister family's pizza order, declaring the bill to be historically inaccurate.
The Puzzling Pizza Bill
In the iconic scene, the chaotic McCallister clan, preparing for their ill-fated trip to Paris, orders ten pizzas for a family dinner. The final tally presented to Kate McCallister, played by Catherine O'Hara, is a whopping $122.50 (approximately £92.44), plus tip. This sum has sparked a wave of online analysis, with fans taking to platforms like Instagram and Reddit to argue that the price was exorbitant for the era.
One popular Instagram post highlighted the scene, questioning its realism: "Fans are calling out this price, saying it’s a comically large amount for the 90s." This sentiment was echoed across social media, prompting detailed financial breakdowns from the film's audience.
Breaking Down the Dough
A dedicated fan on Reddit undertook a forensic examination of the order. The analysis noted that the family appeared to order one plain cheese pizza and nine pizzas each with a single additional topping, such as olives, onions, or sausage. With the total at $122.50, the average cost per pizza worked out to $12.25.
The investigator then compared this to a later scene where Kevin, left home alone, orders a single large cheese pizza and is charged $11.80 (£9) including tax. This comparison suggested the family's topped pizzas averaged around $12.30 each. "The mom is taken aback by the high price but doesn't protest and pays up," the Reddit user observed, adding weight to the fan theory that the cost was inflated.
Inflation and Location: The Likely Explanations
The analysis didn't stop there. When adjusted for inflation over the past 35 years, the Reddit user concluded that the McCallisters likely overpaid compared to average 1990s prices. However, a crucial mitigating factor was introduced: the family's affluent setting.
The McCallisters lived in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Winnetka, where prices for goods and services were undoubtedly higher than state averages. The user concluded that the fictional pizzeria's charges, including tip, were comparable to modern local pizzerias and only slightly more than a chain would cost today.
Ultimately, the post offered a humorous reminder of the film's plot, noting: "But the McCallisters probably forgot about the price of the pizza entirely when they realized they lost Kevin's ticket in the trash and left him behind at home."
The revelation has sparked lively debate in comment sections. Some viewers are stunned by the historical cost, while others view it through a modern lens. "10 large pizzas probably with multiple toppings plus delivery for ~12$ a pizza today that’s a steal," one person remarked. Another added, "12.25 a pie would be a beautiful price now a days!" A third simply stated, "It’d probably be $200 (£150) for 10 large pizzas right now."
This fresh scrutiny proves that even after 35 years, Home Alone continues to surprise and engage its audience, with hidden details waiting to be debated by a new generation of fans every Christmas season.
