Bradley Whitford was allowed to use his own Camaro for the movie. It has the license plate "SO COOL," the actual license plate Bradley had on his car.
The tow truck driver hits a lawn jockey after reaching his house. Knocking over lawn jockey's later became a running joke in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York also directed by Chris Columbus. All three movies are set in Chicago.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus auditioned for the lead role, but withdrew in favor of Jodie Foster. Foster also withdrew, leaving Michelle Pfeiffer, Valerie Bertinelli, Elisabeth Shue, and Justine Bateman as the only choices. Bateman withdrew from the project due to creative conflicts. Pfeiffer left the project and starred in The Witches of Eastwick (1987). Bertinelli lost out to Shue on the final day of auditions.
In both this film and Back to the Future Part III (1990), Elizabeth Shue faints and says the line, "I had the worst nightmare!"