National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
80%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
While Christmas Vacation may not be the most disciplined comedy, it’s got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat
If you’re looking for a Christmas movie that’s equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is the perfect pick. Sure, it’s a little crude and some of the jokes fall flat, but Chevy Chase’s bumbling dad and the impeccably timed sight gags make it worth watching again and again. Plus, who doesn’t love a good electrocuted cat gag? It’s the perfect movie to watch with your family while you’re all stuffed with holiday ham and cookies. Just make sure to keep an eye on your own Christmas tree – you never know when Cousin Eddie might show up to empty his RV’s septic tank.
Production Company(ies)
Walter Shenson Films, Proscenium Films,
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Marshall Field & Co. Department Store – 111 N. State Street, The Loop, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
Year of Release
1989
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 1, 1989 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 7, 2003
Genre(s)
Holiday/Comedy
Keyword(s)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, PG-13, holiday, comedy, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Diane Ladd, John Randolph, E.G Marshall, directed by Jeremiah S Chechik, written by John Hughes, produced by John Hughes and Tom Jacobson, reviewed by William Thomas, Time Out Staff, Steve Simels, THR Staff, Variety Staff, Nell Minow, Paul McGuire Grimes, Andy Davis, Jo Berry, Jared Mobarak, Ralph Novak, box office gross $70.0M, MPAA rating PG-13, Warner Bros., Christmas, dysfunctional family, holiday bonus, tree decorations, camper, extended family, festive season, American family, authentic characters, positive message, laughs, good cheer, solid seasonal treat
Worldwide gross: $74,382,091
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $181,252,196
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 750
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 19,765,779
US/Canada gross: $74,363,591
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $181,207,116
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 414
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,750,203
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $28,632,566
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 483
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $68,229,616
Production budget ranking: 614
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $36,741,648
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $76,280,932
ROI to date (est.): 73%
ROI ranking: 1,048
Beverly D’Angelo – Ellen Griswold
Randy Quaid – Cousin Eddie Johnson
Diane Ladd – Nora Griswold
John Randolph – Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Sr.
E.G. Marshall – Art Smith
Director(s)
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Writer(s)
John Hughes
Producer(s)
John Hughes, Tom Jacobson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (15)
If it doesn’t make you at least giggle, then you clearly don’t understand the true meaning of the festive season.
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Sure, it’s crude, episodic and half the jokes don’t work, but ‘Christmas Vacation’ may be the only modern Christmas comedy which really stands up to repeat viewings.
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Time Out Staff
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Chase’s befuddled Dad remains a genuinely amusing creation, and the sight gags are impeccably timed.
August 12, 2020
Steve Simels
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Chevy Chase’s family Christmas tree is a little full with a lot of sap, much like this movie. But it’s a big-hearted fullness and it’s a smoothly stirred sap.
December 2, 2014
THR Staff
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Solid family fare with plenty of yocks.
November 27, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
September 4, 2003 | Rating: 2/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
I will laugh out loud every time I watch this…my favorite from the Vacation franchise…
November 4, 2020
Paul McGuire Grimes
KSTP-TV (St. Paul, MN)
Chevy Chase has some good moments, and those who enjoy his double-talk and pratfalls will find some redeeming value in this lukewarm movie.
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Andy Davis
Common Sense Media
It’s silly in the extreme, and the only relief comes from Randy Quaid’s performance as an obnoxious relative.
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Jo Berry
Radio Times
Its nostalgic look at the season’s chaotic brand of heightened emotions and frustrations is universal for anyone who’s used to entertaining the extended family under one festive roof.
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Jared Mobarak
Jaredmobarak.com
Every comic turn is predictable-from the electrocuted cat to the Scrooge-ified ending.
August 12, 2020
Ralph Novak
People Magazine
This film by John Hughes marks the third in the National Lampoon vacation-in-hell series, and is just about as inane as expected. Happily, this film is a lot funnier than expected, too.
August 12, 2020
Dorothy Keenan
Buffalo News…
Plot
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The review mentions Chevy Chase’s character, Clark Griswold, as a “befuddled Dad” and “a genuinely amusing creation.”
Jeremiah-S.-Chechik.jpg
