The story follows a bachelor police officer who is looking to settle down and start a family with a mortuary beautician, while coping with his controlling mother who wants him all to herself.

Patrick, despite having a wife and children, repeatedly tries to convince Danny to remain single and relocate to Florida with Rose, while her neighbor Nick Acropolis makes continuous attempts to date her.

One night, two men bring a corpse into a bar while Danny is there, drawing the attention of the local funeral director and his highly-introverted daughter, Theresa Luna.

However, Theresa becomes upset when Danny interrupts their time together following the rehearsal dinner to call and check on Rose, rationalizing that he will never truly prioritize their relationship over his mother.

Aboard the plane to Florida, Rose learns that Danny gave his ticket to Nick, and the pair hold hands.

Danny experiences one final vision of Rose and Nick defeating a group of terrorists aboard the plane, and accepts that she can take care of herself.

Chris Columbus wrote the part of Rose specifically for Maureen O'Hara, but did not know that she had retired from acting and was living in the Virgin Islands.

Co-star Jim Belushi recounted this story: On the set of Only the Lonely, the producers stuck Maureen O’Hara in a tiny trailer.

When John Candy complained on her behalf, he was told the budget was being spent on the picture, not on accommodations for old movie stars.

At the request of producer John Hughes (a Chicagoan and big fan of the Chicago White Sox) and sports fan John Candy, the baseball stadium where Danny and Theresa's first date took place was arranged to be set at old Comiskey Park (home of the Chicago White Sox until 1990).

There is also a shot showing old Comiskey Park and the new Rate Field, the current home of the White Sox, under construction next door.

The final scene with Danny and Theresa was shot at the Amtrak station in Niles, Michigan, which was renamed to Willoughby and decorated with Christmas lights for the filming.

The soundtrack album was released by Varèse Sarabande, featuring 28 minutes of Jarre's score and the songs "Only the Lonely" and "Someone Like You."