Short Answer: Which Hotel Appears in Home Alone 2
The scenes set in the luxurious penthouse where Kevin McCallister stays in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York were filmed at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Manhattan, New York City. While the movie refers to the fictional “Plaza Hotel,” the actual building used for the exterior establishing shots and select interior scenes is the Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway. This is an evergreen clarification about a well-known film location that often causes confusion with the real Plaza Hotel.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Name (Filming Location) | Marriott Marquis | Production sources and location databases |
| Address | 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 | Public property records |
| Key Scenes | Penthouse lobby and exterior establishing shots | Film production notes and behind‑the‑scenes features |
| On‑Screen Name | Plaza Hotel (fictional) | Movie dialogue and credits |
Why the Confusion: On‑Screen vs Real World
Home Alone 2 intentionally uses a fictional name, the Plaza Hotel, for the luxury high‑rise where Kevin stows away after stowing away on the wrong flight. In many shots, the building’s distinctive crown, curved glass, and large signage point clearly to the Marriott Marquis, which opened in 1985 and features prominent electronic billboards. Directors and production designers often adapt recognizable landmarks into fictional settings to give audiences an immediate sense of place without needing to secure rights to an exact real property. As a result, a long‑standing myth persists that the Plaza Hotel itself was used.
Property Profile: The Real Building Behind the Illusion
Marriott Marquis at a Glance
Located in the heart of Times Square, the Marriott Marquis is a 32‑story skyscraper that operates as a major hotel with hundreds of rooms, multiple meeting spaces, and a modern glass façade. Its atrium is one of the tallest indoor spaces in New York City and has been used frequently in film and television. The property is owned by Marriott International and remains a functioning hotel, which means people can still book rooms in the very building that stood in for the movie’s Plaza Hotel.
Notable Details for Film Location Enthusiasts
For viewers who enjoy spotting familiar landmarks in movies, the Marriott Marquis offers a few points of interest beyond its on‑screen role in Home Alone 2. The timing of the scenes aligns with the hotel’s prominent location near Broadway theaters, bright digital signage, and heavy tourist traffic. Many behind‑the‑scenes commentaries and location tours highlight the building’s architecture and how its design helps it read as an upscale hotel in wide shots, while still allowing filmmakers to call it the Plaza. Because the hotel remains in operation, guests can see the same streetscape Kevin would have looked down on from his temporary penthouse perch.
Comparison: Real Plaza Hotel vs Filming Location
It is worth noting that New York City does have a real Plaza Hotel, located at 768 Fifth Avenue near Central Park. That property is an iconic landmark in its own right but was not used for Home Alone 2. Understanding the difference helps clarify common misconceptions.
| Hotel | Address | Role in Home Alone 2 | Currently Operating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Marquis | 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 | Exterior and selected interior scenes for the fictional Plaza Hotel | Yes |
| Plaza Hotel (actual) | 768 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10019 | Not used in the film | Yes |
Evergreen Takeaways
- The on‑screen Plaza Hotel in Home Alone 2 is a fictionalized version of the real Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway.
- The Marriott Marquis continues to operate as a functioning hotel where guests can stay today.
- The confusion with the actual Plaza Hotel at 768 Fifth Avenue is common but inaccurate regarding this film.
- Production design often blends recognizable architecture with fictional naming to create a memorable backdrop without legal or location constraints.
How to Confirm Filming Locations Yourself
If you want to verify movie locations, reputable databases such as IMDb filming locations, location managers’ guild records, and official city film office permits can provide cross‑checked details. Walking tours led by local experts often point out the Marriott Marquis in Home Alone 2 while explaining why filmmakers choose recognizable yet fictionalized settings. For this reason, the building remains a popular stop for fans looking to connect the on‑screen story with the real streets of Manhattan.
Wrap‑Up
To directly answer the question, the hotel depicted as the Plaza Hotel in Home Alone 2 is not the historic Plaza Hotel but the Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway in Times Square. The distinction matters for trivia, travel planning, and accurate film‑location discussion. The Marriott Marquis remains an operating hotel, so anyone visiting Times Square can see the same building and understand how it earned its place in holiday‑movie lore.