Truth behind iconic Home Alone scene that Macaulay Culkin improvised

Home Alone director Christopher Columbus has revealed the truth behind one of the most iconic scenes in the Christmas flick as actor Macaulay Culkin took matters into his own hands - literally.

It's been 35 years since we first met Kevin as he found himself accidentally abandoned by his family in the 1990 movie, and 33 years since he returned for more antics in the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Despite the time that's passed, the franchise remains one of the favorite of the Christmas period, but there are some scenes that are more iconic than others.

One of Kevin's expressions in particular springs to mind - and you probably know the face we’re talking about before we even say it: eyes wide, mouth wider, hands smacked on the cheeks.

The moment comes in the very first Home Alone film, which is often referred to by fans as the favourite of the movies.

Columbus had given Culkin some guidance for the scene (20th Century Fox)

In the scene, Kevin is getting ready for the day and applies aftershave directly to his face - which is where our iconic expression comes in.

His jaw drops in pain, he claps his hands to his face and screams the house down. I think I would too.

It’s arguably one of the most iconic scenes in the movie and maybe even one of the most recognizable in movie history. But the thing that’s even more charming about it? Like a lot of gold comedy, it happened completely by accident and wasn’t actually written in the script as we see it on TV.

Speaking to Business Insider, director Chris Columbus explained that he advised Culkin how to play the scene realistically, given that, as a child, he'd never used aftershave.

Columbus said: “If you put something on your face that burns, most people move their hands right away. So my direction to him was when you pat your face, move your hands and scream."

However, Culkin didn't quite follow the director's instructions.

McCauley Culkin was just 10 when he filmed Home Alone (Getty Images / Vinnie Zuffante)

Columbus continued: "I think it was the first take, he kept his hands on his cheeks. It's funny, the iconic moment from Home Alone was an accident."

While Culkin might have thought up the expression in the moment, it's officially secured its place in history - prove by the fact it's been memed often in pop culture, by icons such as Chris Griffin in Family Guy and Scarlett Harlett from UK Drag Race. Nothing screams Christmas like this scene, and we have Culkin to thanks for it.