Jesse Eisenberg Says “A Real Pain” Costar Kieran Culkin ‘Loves’ to Talk About “Home Alone” (Exclusive)
Kieran Culkin played Fuller McCallister, while his brother Macaulay Culkin starred as cousin Kevin, in ‘Home Alone’
Kieran Culkin played Fuller McCallister, while his brother Macaulay Culkin starred as cousin Kevin, in ‘Home Alone’ Stewart Cook/CBS via Getty; Dave Benett/Getty Images Left: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in 2025; right: Macaulay and Kieran Culkin, circa 1990:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/home-alone-Jesse-Eisenberg-kieran-culkin-MacaulayCulkin-011025-ee52988312c04bbaa583333748adecca.jpg "Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin attend the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. Child actor Macaulay Culkin (left) with his younger brother Kieran Culkin, circa 1990.")
Kieran Culkin has come a long way since making his debut on the big screen at 8 years old when Home Alone was released in 1990 — and he still gets a kick out of talking about his humble beginnings.
Culkin’s A Real Pain costar Jesse Eisenberg exclusively told PEOPLE at the National Board of Review Awards Gala in New York City on Jan. 7 that he’s definitely talked to Culkin, 42, about his Home Alone days.
“What Kieran loves more than anything is for people to go up to him when they meet him and talk about Home Alone, so I did, yeah,” Eisenberg, 41, said.
Asked whether he’s a Home Alone “super fan,” Eisenberg quipped at the gala red carpet, “Well, I mean, who isn't at my age?” 20th Century Studios Kieran Culkin as Fuller McCallister in ‘Home Alone’ from 1990
The Social Network actor — who presented Culkin with the best supporting actor award at the gala for his role as Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain — previously revealed that he had watched Home Alone 17 times when he was 7, according to The Los Angeles Times.
In Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Culkin had a minor role as Fuller McCallister, the younger cousin of main character Kevin, who was played by his real-life brother Macaulay Culkin.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. John Lamparski/Getty ‘A Real Pain’ cast from left: Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Jennifer Grey and Will Sharpe in October 2024
In June, the Golden Globe winner revealed during a Tribeca Film Festival panel that he had also watched the holiday classic multiple times.
“I have seen that movie so many times — I grew up watching it over and over again on Christmas, so I got that whole thing memorized,” Culkin said.
He also admitted that he “didn’t know what the f--- the movie was about.”
“I saw it at the premiere and I was dying laughing. I was like, ‘Well, I guess that makes sense. [Macaulay] was on set a lot. I guess he’s the lead of this movie,’ ” Culkin recalled. “I had fun doing it but I really didn’t know what it was about [until it came out].”
A Real Pain is in select theaters and available to rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV and other streaming services.
