"The Pagemaster": The Macaulay Culkin Film That's Better Than "Home Alone" But Everyone Forgot About It

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On August 26, Macaulay Culkin turned 45. For millions of viewers, he'll forever remain Kevin from Home Alone, but his filmography includes far bolder and more intriguing work — The Pagemaster (1994).

This is the story of a boy who enters the magical world of books and comes of age through adventure, fantasy, and horror. And here's where Culkin did something he never showed in "Home Alone": he played a hero who conquers not enemies, but his own fear.

What the movie's about

Richard Tyler ( ) is a boy who's afraid of everything and lives by statistics. Even his parents worry that their son will never find courage or take risks. But one day he enters a library and gets transported into the world of books.

Richard transforms into a cartoon character and, alongside three living volumes—Adventure, Fantasy, and Horror—travels through the pages of classic literature. Jekyll and Hyde, Lilliput, escaping the Hound of the Baskervilles, a dragon—each step brings him closer to conquering his own fear.

Viewing experience

The blend of live-action and animation looked fresh for 1994. The film has both light jokes and dark moments that I still remember as creepy, even though I'm not six anymore.
The Pagemaster movie trailer
Behind the scenes, legendary voices were at work: Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Welker. Everyone's favorite Christopher Lloyd from "Back to the Future" played the Pagemaster himself, while composer James Horner crafted a soundtrack that perfectly captures the adventure atmosphere.

"The Pagemaster" works as a tribute to childhood imagination: it says that books can be scary, funny, and magical all at once.

Critical and audience reaction

Critics tore the film apart. On Rotten Tomatoes it has just 19% fresh: reviewers called it "too childish" and a "bland mix of animation and live-action."

But audiences think differently: on IMDb the film scores 6.2 out of 10, and comments are full of nostalgia. "This movie sparked my love for books," writes one fan. Another calls it a "rainy day classic" and remembers that "The Pagemaster" taught him not to fear his own fears.

One viewer, username Animany94, wrote in their IMDb review:
Why such a low rating? A film with such good intentions and well-developed characters deserves more love. I liked the idea from the start, and the message about needing to face your fear was nicely woven into a classic fairy tale plot of three trials.
IMDb user Animany94

Why it's better than "Home Alone"

"Home Alone" is light family comedy. "The Pagemaster" is literally an invitation into the world of literature that isn't afraid to be scary and serious.
Actor Macaulay Culkin as a child, standing wearing glasses surrounded by cartoon books
The Pagemaster movie poster
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Unlike Kevin, who defeats burglars with traps, Culkin's Richard conquers himself. This is a story about fear, imagination, and growing up—much deeper than just Marv and Harry's funny falls.

Why you should watch it now

I'll confidently say that "The Pagemaster" is unfairly forgotten. But today it feels surprisingly contemporary. This is a film about books being portals to infinite worlds—a theme that never loses relevance, especially in our age of gadgets and the growing computer industry. If "Home Alone" teaches you to laugh, "The Pagemaster" teaches you to dream. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com told you about Tim Burton's worst film, without which his masterpieces wouldn't exist—"Pee-wee's Big Adventure."