Macaulay Culkin Says John Candy Noticed His Dad’s “Monster” Side First
In John Candy: I Like Me, the new documentary directed by Colin Hanks, Macaulay Culkin shares a heartfelt tribute to his Uncle Buck co-star, John Candy. Released as the opening film at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the film offers more than nostalgia—it reveals the emotional instincts of a beloved comedy icon. Culkin remembers Candy as one of the few adults who recognized something painfully obvious: his own father’s harmful behavior. “It was no secret. He was already a monster,” Culkin shares candidly. Long before Home Alone catapulted Culkin to fame, Candy quietly checked on him, offering a stability and empathy that weren’t easy to find.
Working together on the 1989 John Hughes classic Uncle Buck, Culkin recalls Candy’s kindness on set. At just eight years old, he says, “John was always really kind, and really good with” him and his young castmates. That care took shape in little gestures—Candy’s subtle “side-eye” checking, asking, “Everything good at home? Everything alright?”—moments that mattered. Culkin labels them as signs of genuine concern that helped him feel seen at a time when he didn’t often feel that way.
This acknowledgment solidified Candy's legacy not just as a comedic genius, but as someone who cared deeply for those around him—especially young actors. The documentary layers interviews with Candy’s family, collaborators like Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Mel Brooks, and even Tom Hanks, shedding light on his blend of warmth, spontaneity, and silent strength.
Knowing the context of Culkin’s childhood makes Candy’s instinct all the more significant. Culkin later cut ties with his father, Kit Culkin, describing their relationship as abusive. He has avoided contact for decades and took legal steps to distance himself financially and emotionally. Against that backdrop, Candy's caring presence on set becomes even more meaningful—something Culkin says he still holds onto: “I remember John caring when not a lot of people did.”
As the documentary John Candy: I Like Me arrives on Prime Video on October 10, audiences will be able to rediscover not just Candy’s cinematic charm, but the subtle, heartfelt ways he looked out for others—especially when it mattered most.
