Donald Trump believes Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was a success due to his cameo appearance. Earlier in the week, the film’s director, Chris Columbus, revealed Trump “bullied” his way into the sequel.
According to Columbus, Trump would only allow the use of the Plaza Hotel if he was in the movie. “So we agreed to put him in the movie, and when we screened it for the first time, the oddest thing happened: People cheered when Trump showed up on screen. So I said to my editor, ‘Leave him in the movie. It’s a moment for the audience.’ But he did bully his way into the movie.”
Hitting Truth Social, Trump says that’s not what happened at all.
“They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent,” Trump wrote. “I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket, and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired.”
In a separate statement, Trump said: “That cameo helped make the movie a success, but if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years?”
Hip-hop never slows down, even amid the holiday season, and our new Fire Emoji playlist update rounded up the best of the best when it comes to new releases this week. First up we have Nicki Minaj, whose new album Pink Friday 2 is dominating thanks to fun tracks like “Everybody” with Lil Uzi Vert. In addition, she just dropped a Gag City Deluxe version featuring a “Beep Beep” remix with 50 Cent and a new song, “Love Me Enough,” with Monica and Keyshia Cole. As such, the Barbz are helping us close our 2023 with style and energy, and they’ll probably carry that energy into 2024.
Another deluxe version on Fire Emoji this week came from A$AP Twelvyy, who dropped an expanded version of his album Kid$ Gotta Eat. As far as standouts, look no further than “Yams Day,” honoring the late and great A$AP Yams. Not only that, but featured guests on this track comprise of A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, and A$AP ANT, so it’s truly a heartening family affair. However, when it comes to brand-new releases this week, none stand taller than Bas’ new album, We Only Talk About Real S**t When We’re F***ed Up. His J. Cole collab “Home Alone”– one of three on the project– is a particularly emotive and skillful highlight.
Furthermore, our Fire Emoji update also rounded up some hot singles this week, like Lil Baby’s dual release: “Cr*zy” and “350.” They’re both dramatic and dense cuts flow-wise that set the Atlanta MC up for a proper comeback. Also, we have to mention the excellent collaboration “MiNt cHoCoLaTe” from the 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE collective, BADBADNOTGOOD, Westside Gunn, and Conway The Machine. It’s a gorgeous record with extravagant verses, hypnotizing flute melodies, and measured percussion.
Elsewhere, we also have the blistering new single from Luh Tyler and Latto, “The Grinch Freestyle,” plus Fivio Foreign’s new Jersey club flip with New York drill trio 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, and Tata), “Get Deady (Offa Pill).” One of the most underrated picks here is “NIGHT WE MET,” a woozy and romantic cut from Portion and Veronica Elizabeth. Finally, we have to shout out Chow Lee’s rapid, ethereal, but nonetheless exciting “swag it!” Let us know in your comments what your favorite Fire Emoji inclusion was this week, and what else we missed, too. Check out the playlist above and come back to HNHH for more great music releases around the clock.
Though young people may know him best as Mickey on American Horror Story‘s tenth season, Macaulay Culkin rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the greatest child stars in cinema history. The New York-born performer first appeared on screen at age four, before becoming nominated for a Golden Globe and topping VH1’s 2005 list of 100 Greatest Kid-Stars. In addition to starring in movies, Culkin also appeared in music videos for artists such as Sonic Youth, the Temptations, and even Michael Jackson. Though the young actor’s career may never reach the meteoric heights it did when he was a child, Macaulay Culkin will surely be remembered for his efforts in film.
3. Uncle Buck (1989)
Though Macaulay Culkin holds a handful of IMDb credits before his landmark appearance in 1989’s Uncle Buck, the film served as his first leading role, bringing his trademark humor and adorable blue eyes to the forefront of cinema culture. Culkin stars in the film alongside Spaceballs‘ John Candy in the first of several classic collaborations. The film grossed just under $80 million at the worldwide box office against an estimated production budget of only $15 million, making the film a certified hit.
Uncle Buck centers around John Candy’s Buck, who must adjust his carefree bachelor lifestyle to care for his brother’s three children. With their parents gone to tend to an emergency, Buck quickly bonds with the two young kids, Maizy and Miles Russell, played by Gaby Hoffman and Macaulay Culkin. As an authority figure, Buck struggles to contend with his angst-filled teenage niece, portrayed by Jean Louisa Kelly.
2. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
Though Home Alone 2 didn’t exactly live up to the standard set by the first installment of the series, the film still managed to become a Christmas classic viewed by millions each year. Like the first entry in the franchise, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York centers on Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister, who is lost and left without adult supervision. In this installment, Kevin must navigate the grid of Manhattan, befriend a bird-feeding wanderer, and fight off a pair of would-be criminals attempting to exact revenge for Kevin’s hand in putting them in jail.
Home Alone 2 took home $359 million at the global box office, against an estimated production budget of between $20-$28 million. Though Macaulay Culkin would later go on to appear in several other films and television programs, the actor will always be best known for bringing Kevin McCallister to the big screen.
1. Home Alone
In what should come as no major surprise, Macaulay Culkin’s biggest movie by just about any metric is 1990’s Home Alone. The film singlehandedly launched Culkin’s career into icon status while possibly inspiring children worldwide to engage in holiday-themed hijinks that may or may not maim and permanently disfigure home invaders. Home Alone made a staggering $476.7 million at the global box office, with an estimated production budget of only $18 million.
The film reunited Macaulay Culkin with Uncle Buck‘s John Candy, and earned the child star an American Comedy Award and a Young Artist Award. Though Culkin’s brother Kieran may be dominating the cinemascope these days for landmark roles such as Roman Roy on Succession, Macaulay Culkin likely makes enough money off Home Alone each year to purchase a brand new home to be alone inside.
It’d be inaccurate to label this stage of Chance The Rapper’s career as anything along the lines of idle or inactivity. The Chicago native is busy on the music side of things as he recently shared “The Heart And The Tongue,” as well as “Shelter,” a collaboration with Vic Mensa. He also premiered a new movie titled, Magnificent Coloring Book, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his mixtape, Coloring Book, and he’s set to headline the Summerfest 2021 show with Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus.
While that’s an ample plate of tasks, the rapper is adding something else to the mix.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Friday night, Chance revealed that he’s working on a reboot for a particular classic movie.
“It’s a secret thing. I’m working on…I got this pitch for a Home Alone reboot,” he said. “As a lot of people know…I’m sure everybody here is a huge fan of Home Alone and John Hughes. Chicago guy, Macaulay Culkin, it’s a Chicago film. Since I was young, I always watched it and I was like, ‘What if there was a hood Home Alone?’ Or Hood Alone, if you will.”
He added, “Just a little more realistic story about what happens when people try to kick in the doors at the wrong house. Hilarity ensues. I can’t give you too many details, but yeah.”
You can watch him talk about the reboot in the video above.
