Ranking every Home Alone 1&2 trap by effectiveness

This is a ranking of each trap utilized by Kevin in the Home Alone franchise against the Wet/Sticky bandits.

The goal is to determine which traps would actually be most effective against the Bandits, assuming they are triggered as planned, but perhaps a more realistic outcome.

For example in Home Alone 2, Kevin sets up a see-saw catapult trap outside the toy store. We will assume the bandits indeed fall for it, but they will not be launched 30 ft in the air like the movie.


Category I - Annoyances

28. Why are you dressed like a chicken?

This one is the dumbest trap in Home Alone. Harry getting pillow feathers stuck to him does absolutely nothing and exists only as a moment of comedy.

27. Flock of birds

Once again, this is more of an annoyance. Other than bird shite and maybe some small bites they will be just fine

26. Catapult outside toy store

This one is ridiculous. Even if they fall for it. Harry is getting launched one foot max and MAYBE twists an ankle

Category II - Minor Injuries

25. Stapler gun in the arse
I mean honestly, this probably wouldn’t hurt that much. They were not big staples and probably only went a cm deep. Not to mention the arse is the best place to get pierced.



24. Broken ladder

In this one, Kevin puts a notch in a ladder so that it will collapse under Harry’s weight. He falls about 8 feet, so it shouldn’t hurt much, but I assume his fingers would be holding the edges of the ladder and would take on the brunt of force. Several broken fingers here.



23. Rope Swing into side of house

Assuming they have enough sense to turn to the side, this would be nothing but a really nasty bruise.

22. Woman punch in face

A punch to the head from anyone is never gonna feel good

21. Tool chest through door

This one was tough to place. I don’t think the chest would completely knock the door off its hinges to flatten the bandits. Instead I think it would just partly break through the door and maybe hit them in the head? Idk.

Category III - Potential serious injuries

20. Nail through foot

Maybe a little low for some, but what is this really doing? it would hurt like hell and you’d need a tetanus shot, but I don’t think a tiny hole in your foot would slow you down as much as some other below this.

19. Toy cars in front of stairs

Possible concussion. Probably hurts the back too

18. Beads on street

Same as cars but asphalt hurts more than hardwood.

17. Blowtorch head

This one is another that falls into the category of super painful but doesn’t do much to hurt him long term.

16. Icy Steps

Same as previous two but potential to hit head even more likely

15. Greased Ladder Rung

Like the previous 3, this one involves a fall and possible head/back injury. I estimate the fall to be roughly 8 feet. Not to mention the jumping/swinging motion makes a head injury more likely.

14. Glass ornament warfare

A seemingly crude yet effective trap that would slice right through your targets feet and make walking extraordinarily painful

Category IV - Serious Injuries

13. Burning doorknob

One of the more genius traps. With Harry’s hand burnt at that temperature, he would suffer 2nd or 3rd degree burns that would make his dominant hand useless for a while

12. Slippery floor into shelf of paint cans

Marv slips on some goo and slides into a full bookcase of paintcans which fall on his head. A near-definite concussion.

11. Wrenches

A bag of wrenches opens to drop 3-4 feet on top of Harry. This would hurt like hell and would also almost certainly be a concussion at least

10. Staircase paint cans

Another classic. These would definitely concuss you.

9. Long black weight to both heads on staircase

Kind of tough to rank this one bc I don’t know what the thing is that Kevin hits them with in Home Alone 2 and how much it weighs. But if a 10 year old can throw it well enough to swing in an arc, it can’t be too much heavier than the paint cans. They also fall a full story.