Home Alone 3

Nine-year-old Alex Pruitt is stuck at home with the chicken pox when a routine delivery changes everything. A remote-controlled toy car that ends up in his hands hides a high-tech microchip, and a team of clumsy international thieves is desperate to get it back. Alex uses toys, household items, and quick thinking to slow them down, turning his suburban house into a maze of booby traps and surprises. The film follows the cat-and-mouse antics that unfold as the burglars grow more frustrated and Alex stays a few steps ahead, all while his worried parents and neighbors remain blissfully unaware.

Released in 1997, Home Alone 3 was directed by Raja Gosnell, with creator John Hughes developing the story idea. The film introduced Alex D. Linz as the new young lead, supported by Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny Von Dohlen, and David Thornton.

Critical response was mixed to negative, reflected in an average user rating around 5.3 out of 10. Reviewers tended to compare it unfavorably to the original movies, citing a shift in tone and the absence of the earlier cast, while noting the slapstick humor and inventive traps aimed at younger viewers.

As the third entry in the Home Alone series, it kept the franchise formula going and showed that the concept could move beyond the original protagonist. It didn’t eclipse the first two films in popularity, but it did introduce a new generation to the franchise and remains part of many families' holiday viewing for its light, child-centered comedy.

The film did not receive major awards or high-profile nominations. Its recognition has mostly come from fans of family comedies and franchise completists rather than from awards bodies or critics' prize lists.