There are movie gags that feel so perfectly tuned, it’s easy to assume everyone involved immediately understood the assignment. Joe Pesci’s flaming hat scene in Home Alone is one of those unforgettable moments. But like most things in filmmaking, that split-second bit of chaos came with a whole lot of hesitation behind the scenes, especially from the person who actually had to light his head on fire. Home Alone director Chris Columbus shared how they convinced the Harry performer to do the scene, and, believe it or not, his daughter was involved.
As part of Home Alone’s 35th anniversary celebration, director Columbus and star Macaulay Culkin recently sat down for a conversation at the Academy Museum, where they revisited the movie’s production, its legacy, and a few stunts that were way more intense than they looked. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Columbus explained that the flaming cap gag nearly didn’t happen at all because the My Cousin Vinny actor wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. The filmmaker recalled:
