National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

Director:

Jeremiah S. Chechik (as Jeremiah Chechik)

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chevy Chase	...	Clark
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Ellen
Juliette Lewis	...	Audrey
Johnny Galecki	...	Rusty
John Randolph	...	Clark, Sr.
Diane Ladd	...	Nora
E.G. Marshall	...	Art
Doris Roberts	...	Francis
Randy Quaid	...	Cousin Eddie Johnson
Miriam Flynn	...	Cousin Catherine Johnson
Cody Burger	...	Rocky
Ellen Latzen	...	Ruby Sue (as Ellen Hamilton Latzen)
William Hickey	...	Lewis
Mae Questel	...	Bethany
Sam McMurray	...	Bill

Storyline

It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

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Plot Keywords:

pantyhose | christmas | cat | sequel | holiday | 

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Taglines:

Yule crack up!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clark says it will be the merriest Christmas "since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny Kaye," a reference to the film White Christmas. That film also featured Rosemary Clooney, while this film features Diane Ladd. Ladd is the mother of actress Laura Dern, and Clooney was the mother of actor Miguel Ferrer. Dern and Ferrer appeared together on Twin Peaks.

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Goofs

When the family is on the way to get the tree and the pickup gets behind them, it cuts to a rear shot of the pickup and the car. You can clearly see 3 heads through the rear of the truck. When it cuts to the shot through the windshield (and successive shots), there are only 2 people in the truck.

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Quotes

Clark: I did it

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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

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Alternate Versions

The 2001 Warner Bros. Pictures variant appeared in the 2003 DVD in addition to the Blu ray, digital platforms and current TV airings.

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Connections

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

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Soundtracks

Silent Night
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Xaver Gruber
Lyrics by Joseph Mohr

User Reviews

Funny, Funny, Funny

This is the one Christmas movie that I don't anyone can ever get tired of. Chevy Chase returns in the third installment of the Vacation series as Clarke W. Griswold as he tries desperately to maintain his sanity during the holidays with all of his relatives coming to stay under his roof and enduring all the mishaps along the way.

This is the funniest film in the series plain and simple. Chevy Chase has never been better. Christmas Vacation is filled with countless jokes and gags that it's impossible not to laugh.

10/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Filming Locations:

Mattison Boyd Jones House - 727 West Kenneth Road, Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,750,203, 3 December 1989

Gross USA:

$73,576,146

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$73,594,646

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Hughes Entertainment, National Lampoon

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1