Axl

Buzz's tarantula on Marv Murchins' face

In the first film, Home Alone, Buzz McCallister keeps a tarantula in his room, in a fish tank on a loose-shelving unit. When Kevin was left home alone and attempted to climb the shelves to get to Buzz's life savings, his weight broke them and came tumbling down. While Kevin dusts himself down and grabs the savings, the tank has also shattered, causing the tarantula to escape, as it is seen wandering the house for the rest of the film.

In another scene as Kevin was cleaning himself in the bathroom, the tarantula can briefly be seen crawling next to the toilet. As Kevin prepares the traps in preparation for the night ahead, the tarantula can be seen wandering the house in various locations (on a wooden shelf, running across the front room etc.) During the trap scene, Marv tripped on a rope and grabbed Kevin by the leg as he tried to escape to the third floor. Kevin saw the tarantula crawling along the steps and tries to reach for it. The tarantula does not bite when he reaches for it and Kevin, able to pick up the tarantula, places it on Marv's face, causing Marv to scream hysterically and giving Kevin a chance to reach the attic. Frightened, Marv, still shrieking, throws the tarantula on Harry (who was knocked out), grabs his crowbar and Harry, who had awakened, asked Marv what he was doing. Marv told Harry not to move, and while the tarantula was still on him, Marv accidentally hits Harry in the belly with the crowbar, only missing the tarantula by inches.

Whilst Harry argues with Marv for hitting him with the crowbar, the tarantula flees the scene. He is not seen anywhere else for the rest of the movie or has ever seen in any other Home Alone film. It is unknown whether if he reunited with Buzz or if he escaped from the house.

Allies

• Kevin
• Buzz
• The rest of the McCallister family

Enemies

• Marv
• Harry

Trivia

• It is never confirmed whether the tarantula was male or female. However, it might be female as the female has a larger abdomen than the male, and since females also live longer than males. It is implied that Buzz might have assumed it was male.
  • It could be possible that the tarantula is male, because Buzz mentions at the beginning of the movie saying that "He just ate a whole load of mice guts, he should be good for a couple weeks".
• The novelization reveals the tarantula's name to be Axl.
• A species of tarantula featured in the film has for years been presumed to be the Chilean Rose Tarantula (also known as Grammostola Rosea) since this species is frequently used in movies because of its compliant nature and wide availability. However, the actual species used is now reportedly to be the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula (Aphonopelma Seemani), as hinted by its orange web spinnerets and striped legs clearly visible on its legs throughout the film, a distinctive feature of this species.
• The tarantula does not return in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York because Kevin is not left at home this time as he is finally travelling with his family and they go on vacation in two different places: New York City and Miami, Florida.

Gallery

Rod watching the tarantula

The tarantula in the tank on Kevin's first day alone

The tarantula after Kevin wrecks Buzz's room

The tarantula near the toilet

The tarantula on the table

The tarantula in the booby trap set-up

The tarantula on the stairs

Kevin grabs the tarantula

Kevin putting the tarantula on Marv's face

The tarantula on an unconscious Harry