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IMDbPro

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • 19891989
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,194
664
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, and John Randolph in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:19
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Comedy
The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
203K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,194
664
    • Jeremiah S. Chechik
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Chevy Chase
    • Beverly D'Angelo
    • Juliette Lewis
    • Jeremiah S. Chechik
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Chevy Chase
    • Beverly D'Angelo
    • Juliette Lewis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 438User reviews
    • 125Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    The Worst Gifts in Our Favorite Holiday Films
    Clip 2:37
    Watch The Worst Gifts in Our Favorite Holiday Films
    What's Your Favorite Scene From a Holiday Movie?
    Video 3:33
    Watch What's Your Favorite Scene From a Holiday Movie?

    Photos159

    Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis, and Johnny Galecki in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase and William Hickey in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Diane Ladd, Doris Roberts, E.G. Marshall, and John Randolph in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Doris Roberts at an event for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chevy Chase
    Chevy Chase
    • Clark Griswold
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Beverly D'Angelo
    • Ellen Griswold
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Audrey Griswold
    Johnny Galecki
    Johnny Galecki
    • Rusty Griswold
    John Randolph
    John Randolph
    • Clark Griswold Sr.
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Nora Griswold
    E.G. Marshall
    E.G. Marshall
    • Art Smith
    Doris Roberts
    Doris Roberts
    • Frances Smith
    Randy Quaid
    Randy Quaid
    • Cousin Eddie Johnson
    Miriam Flynn
    Miriam Flynn
    • Cousin Catherine Johnson
    Cody Burger
    Cody Burger
    • Rocky Johnson
    Ellen Latzen
    Ellen Latzen
    • Ruby Sue Johnson
    • (as Ellen Hamilton Latzen)
    William Hickey
    William Hickey
    • Lewis
    Mae Questel
    Mae Questel
    • Bethany
    Sam McMurray
    Sam McMurray
    • Bill
    Nicholas Guest
    Nicholas Guest
    • Todd Chester
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus
    • Margo Chester
    Nicolette Scorsese
    Nicolette Scorsese
    • Mary
      • Jeremiah S. Chechik
      • John Hughes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, Clark Griswold takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. Chevy Chase actually broke his pinky finger while punching Santa Claus. He resorts to kicking and clubbing the decorations after that. The film kept rolling, and the take was used.
    • Goofs
      At one point when Snots the Dog is chasing the squirrel through the house, they run over the top of the dining table, and the food, plates, and silverware get demolished. A moment later, Clark is walking past the hallway leading to the kitchen with the table visible in the background. The tablecloth and setting are in pristine condition.
    • Quotes

      Eddie: You surprised?

      Clark: Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits feature a cartoon of Santa delivering the Griswold family's Christmas presents while also getting electrocuted, hit by bricks, setting his pants on fire, falling into the snow and being chased by a rolling snowman head
    • Alternate versions
      To receive a PG certificate in the UK all cinema and video versions were cut by 2 secs to remove the swearing from 'We're gonna have the happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye.'
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Back to the Future Part II/All Dogs Go to Heaven/Henry V/Prancer/Sidewalk Stories (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Christmas Vacation
      Written by Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann

      Performed by Mavis Staples

      Courtesy of Paisley Park Records

    User reviews438

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Fairly strong comedy with Chevy Chase on top form
    Clark Griswold plans an old fashioned family Christmas.

    I enjoyed this one for it's humour and Chevy Chase's hilarious performance.

    The story is pretty thin but contains a little nod to Dickens' A Christmas Carol with the Griswolds in place of the Cratchits and Brian Doyle-Murray playing a Scrooge-like Frank Shirley. The main focus is Clark's mission to have a big, joyful family Christmas and everything associated with this that goes spectacularly wrong.

    As a comedy it is reasonably strong and the jokes come thick and fast. From the start we see Clark's visual buffoonery in a plethora of disastrous actions, decisions and situations. There is a fair bit of slapstick and one-liners that worked well for me. Also the family dynamics involving the children, grandparents and other eccentric relatives are easily recognisable.

    Christmas Vacation is probably best known for Clark's ridiculously over the top exterior light show that he plasters all over the house. These are the strongest scenes in the movie and Chevy Chase has some of his most memorable moments here.

    Chase's performance for me is superb. He can make me laugh with facial expressions, physical awkwardness and one-liners. It is him and his characters that carry most of his movies and this is no different. Clark is a control freak who has everything planned out and we have the pleasure of seeing him unravel as the plans backfire. He has good support from Beverly D'Angelo and the remaining cast but it all revolves around him. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has some funny moments as one half of a couple of Yuppie neighbours.

    My only negatives are that it does contain a few too many recycled concepts from the original Vacation movie for my liking, such as 'the girl', the car-jump, animal death, Clarke's meltdown and heart to heart with a child. Also for me, the comedy dips in quality a bit in the second half, particularly with the protracted squirrel sequence and the repetition of fire/explosion related gags.

    As 'Christmas movies' go it's pretty good. How many have a cultural impact you can actually see when driving around suburban housing estates after dark during the month of December?
    helpful•8
    1
    • snoozejonc
    • Jan 1, 2021

    FAQ13

    • What kind of dog is Snots?
    • Is this movie a family movie?
    • What's the name of the woman who plays the "pool fantasy" woman?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1, 1989 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Marshall Field & Co. Department Store - 111 N. State Street, The Loop, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hughes Entertainment
      • National Lampoon
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Digital

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