In Honor of Home Alone’s 35th Anniversary, Disney+ Teams Up with CLEAR to Make Sure No Traveler Named Kevin Gets Accidentally Left Behind This Holiday Season
As Home Alone turns thirty-five in 2025, Disney+ is celebrating with a campaign as playful and nostalgic as the movie itself. It’s a film that has stretched far beyond its original release, becoming a holiday staple, a generational reference point, and a reminder of how chaotic — and oddly heartwarming — the holiday season can be. And now, in a twist that feels pulled straight out of the film’s universe, Disney+ is partnering with CLEAR to ensure that no traveler named Kevin ends up stranded and forgotten this year.
The collaboration is more whimsical than logistical, but that’s exactly what fans love about it. It taps into the cultural memory of the McCallister family racing through the airport, the frantic headcount, and that unforgettable scream from Catherine O’Hara when she realizes her son isn’t with them — a moment that has echoed in living rooms every December for decades. The idea that anyone named Kevin might still be at risk of living out their own holiday misadventure has become part of the movie’s mythology. Now Disney+ is leaning into that legacy in a way that blends humor, nostalgia, and a light-touch reminder about the travel chaos many families still know all too well.
While the campaign is playful, it also underscores just how deeply Home Alone remains woven into pop culture. Few holiday films have sustained such staying power, and fewer still have created a character whose name alone evokes an entire storyline. Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, has become shorthand for every child who slips through the cracks of a hectic holiday schedule. Disney+ has found a way to honor that sentiment while giving fans a new reason to celebrate the beloved film’s 35th milestone.
The partnership with CLEAR, the identity verification and expedited airport-service company, adds a modern twist to the film’s central chaos: ensuring people don’t get left behind. CLEAR’s role in helping streamline movement through travel checkpoints aligns perfectly with the spirit of keeping travelers together — especially those who might share Kevin’s name. The idea is not that CLEAR is literally tracking Kevins across airports, but rather that they’re joining Disney+ in a fun, good-spirited nod to the movie’s most iconic storyline. It’s a campaign built on shared humor and holiday cheer, reaffirming how powerful nostalgia can be when paired with a clever modern context.
This anniversary year is a big one for Home Alone, and Disney+ is pulling out all the stops. Beyond the CLEAR partnership, the platform has been preparing a range of themed experiences and promotions, reflecting how much the film means to multiple generations of viewers. Families who grew up watching Kevin outsmart the Wet Bandits now have children of their own who are discovering the movie as if it were brand new. The film’s slapstick comedy, heartfelt core, and unforgettable one-liners continue to bridge that generational gap. In a world filled with evolving holiday traditions, Home Alone remains one of the constants.
Disney+ has positioned itself at the heart of that tradition by becoming the home for Home Alone and its sequels. For many families, holiday viewing now starts with opening the streaming platform, browsing the seasonal row, and hearing John Williams’ iconic score as Kevin wakes up to an empty house. It is a ritual that has followed the movie from VHS to DVD to streaming, adapting yet never losing the emotional thread that made it special.
That’s why the 35th anniversary is more than just a marketing milestone. It’s a reminder of how a movie made in 1990 continues to resonate across eras. Kevin McCallister’s cleverness and courage, paired with the film’s timeless humor, have allowed it to feel as relevant now as it did upon release. The holiday hustle-and bustle — exaggerated yet strangely familiar — mirrors the real-world rush that happens every December. Parents relate to the McCallisters’ frantic travel preparations. Kids relate to Kevin’s mix of fearlessness and vulnerability. And everyone relates to the warmth that ultimately brings the family back together.
The new Disney+ campaign is playful, yes, but it also shows a keen awareness of what keeps Home Alone alive in people’s hearts. It celebrates the humor of the film without losing sight of the emotional center — the idea that even in chaotic times, family finds its way back. By spotlighting a name as ordinary as Kevin, it reminds audiences how unexpectedly universal the story has become. The fact that people still joke about not wanting to “pull a McCallister” when leaving for a trip proves just how deeply the film has cemented itself into everyday language.
CLEAR’s involvement gives the campaign an extra layer of real-world connection. Modern travel can be stressful, especially during peak holiday periods. CLEAR focuses on easing that burden through streamlined identity verification and fast-lane access. The company’s mission — making travel easier, reducing wait times, and relieving stress — fits neatly into the spirit of preventing any real-life Kevin from being accidentally left behind. Even though the campaign is firmly rooted in humor, it subtly highlights services that families may appreciate during the busiest travel season of the year.
Disney+ has also positioned the campaign in a way that feels self-aware without being cynical. It doesn’t attempt to modernize Home Alone or reinvent its charm. Instead, it honors what audiences already love: the nostalgia, the chaos, the comfort, the happy ending. The fact that a movie centered around a child forgotten during holiday travel can inspire a real-world traveler-focused initiative shows how pop culture can influence everything from brand collaborations to seasonal traditions.
As the 35th anniversary approaches, families are expected to revisit Home Alone in even larger numbers, sharing their favorite scenes and laughing at the same jokes they’ve known for years. For some, the movie is tied to childhood memories. For others, it’s a newly discovered treasure. Many parents who grew up with the film now get to watch their children react with wide-eyed delight to Kevin’s traps, his bravery, and his mischievous victories over the Wet Bandits. The film’s generational reach is part of its magic, and Disney+ is fully leaning into that emotional legacy.
The CLEAR partnership also reflects the streaming era’s shift toward interactive fan engagement. Rather than relying solely on rewatch numbers or anniversary releases, brands are creating experiences that extend beyond the screen. By tapping into humor and nostalgia, Disney+ turns a simple viewing tradition into a broader cultural conversation. It’s lighthearted marketing, but it’s also smart storytelling. The campaign reminds audiences why they bonded with Home Alone in the first place — and why they’re excited to revisit it again.
Fans can expect even more celebratory content surrounding the film’s anniversary, including themed collections, behind-the-scenes spotlights, and social media moments that bring the movie back into the public spotlight. Disney+ understands that Home Alone is more than a film; it’s a holiday ritual, and rituals deserve to be honored. By connecting with CLEAR, they’ve found a way to keep that ritual fun, memorable, and unmistakably modern.
In the end, the message is simple but joyful: no one wants another Kevin McCallister scenario, especially not during the busiest travel season of the year. And while no real-life family is likely to sprint through an airport shouting names in a last-minute panic, the joke still lands perfectly. It’s a cultural moment shared by millions, and Disney+ has tapped into it with a wink, a smile, and just enough holiday mischief to make even stressed travelers pause and laugh.
As the world gears up for another season of movies, traditions, and packed airports, the 35th anniversary of Home Alone comes as a comforting reminder that some stories never fade — they simply find new ways to bring people together. And thanks to Disney+ and CLEAR, this year’s travelers named Kevin can rest a little easier.
