Home Alone (1990) is a beloved Christmas classic. Watching Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) being left behind by his family over the holidays and having to defend his home against the Wet Bandits feels just as important at Christmas as getting presents. But many fans actually prefer the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992).The 1992 follow-up, also directed by Chris Columbus, finds Kevin alone in the Big Apple, where he comes face to face with Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) once again. Though many argue that it’s a “rinse, wash, and repeat” of the original, others feel that it’s funnier, more action-packed, and a lot more festive.Credit: 20th Century StudiosRelated: The 5 Best ‘Harry Potter’ Movies to Watch During the HolidaysMany of these improvements are owed to Home Alone 2 having a much bigger playground than the first film. While the McCallister house in Home Alone is inexplicably big (there are some wild theories about its size), New York City is, of course, far bigger.The “Sticky Bandits” (as they’re called this time around) might not be put through the wringer strictly out in the Manhattan streets — the signature trap sequence takes place in Kevin’s uncle’s house which, ingeniously, is in the middle of a renovation — but the “city that never sleeps” does allow for some fun chase sequences all the same.Credit: 20th Century StudiosRelated: Disney+ Unveils Brand-New ‘Home Alone’ ExperienceHome Alone 2 is also more heart-warming, with the friendship between Kevin and the “Pigeon Lady” (Brenda Fricker) serving as the film’s anchor more so than Kevin’s wish to see his mother in time for Christmas. And then there’s the equally wonderful character, Mr. Duncan (Eddie Bracken), whose cozy toyshop brings waves of charm and nostalgia.As for the comedy, while watching Harry and Marv go through a series of should-be-lethal traps is as hilarious as you might expect, it’s really the staff at the Plaza Hotel who provide the biggest belly laughs. Tim Curry is downright hilarious as the Grinch-inspired Mr. Hector, as are his fellow concierge attendants, Rob Schneider’s Cedric and Dana Ivey’s Hester Stone.Credit: 20th Century StudiosRelated: If ‘Die Hard’ Isn’t a Christmas Movie, Neither Is ‘Home Alone’A Different Version of the 1992 ClassicEven if you prefer Home Alone 2 to the original, the chances are that you’re still a fan. But did you know that there’s another version of the film?“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: The Classic Illustrated Storybook,” which is part of the POP CLASSICS series (also responsible for other storybook adaptations such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Jaws,” “Back to the Future”), is a great way to enjoy the sequel in a completely different medium. Illustrated by Kim Smith, this adaptation has the heart and soul of the film told through a “lively, colorful picture book” that features “iconic moments and characters of the original,” per the official synopsis, which adds, “Though the movie and TV versions came first, you’ll wonder if they weren’t adaptations of these books, instead of the other way around!”Credit: 20th Century StudiosWhere Can I Watch Home Alone 2?If you’re eager to watch Kevin McCallister unleash some festive justice on the Sticky Bandits in the Big Apple, then don’t worry, because you can still watch Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on Disney+, as well as the other five films.“Kevin McCallister is in New York City with enough money to turn the Big Apple into his own playground!” the official description reads. “But Kevin won’t be alone for long. The notorious Wet Bandits, Harry and Marv, still smarting from their last encounter with Kevin, are bound for New York too, plotting a huge holiday heist. Kevin’s ready to welcome them with a battery of booby traps the bumbling bandits will never forget!”Are you a fan of Home Alone 2? Do you prefer it to the original? Let us know in the comments!The post ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’: Alternate Version Explained appeared first on Inside the Magic.