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National Lampoon's Vacation

  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
906
942
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Christie Brinkley, and Dana Barron in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:19
3 Videos
74 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Comedy

The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.The Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park proves to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
107K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
906
942
  • Director
    • Harold Ramis
  • Writer
    • John Hughes(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chevy Chase
    • Beverly D'Angelo
    • Imogene Coca
Top credits
  • Director
    • Harold Ramis
  • Writer
    • John Hughes(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chevy Chase
    • Beverly D'Angelo
    • Imogene Coca
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 242User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    Official Trailer
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    Clip 3:41
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    'National Lampoon's Vacation' | 35th Anniversary Mashup
    Video 0:30
    'National Lampoon's Vacation' | 35th Anniversary Mashup

    Photos74

    Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dana Barron in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
    National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chevy Chase
    Chevy Chase
    • Clark Griswoldas Clark Griswold
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Beverly D'Angelo
    • Ellen Griswoldas Ellen Griswold
    Imogene Coca
    Imogene Coca
    • Aunt Ednaas Aunt Edna
    Randy Quaid
    Randy Quaid
    • Cousin Eddieas Cousin Eddie
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Rusty Griswoldas Rusty Griswold
    Dana Barron
    Dana Barron
    • Audrey Griswoldas Audrey Griswold
    Eddie Bracken
    Eddie Bracken
    • Roy Walleyas Roy Walley
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    • Kamp Komfort Clerkas Kamp Komfort Clerk
    Miriam Flynn
    Miriam Flynn
    • Cousin Catherineas Cousin Catherine
    James Keach
    James Keach
    • Motorcycle Copas Motorcycle Cop
    Eugene Levy
    Eugene Levy
    • Car Salesmanas Car Salesman
    Frank McRae
    Frank McRae
    • Groveras Grover
    John Candy
    John Candy
    • Lasky, Guard at Walleyworldas Lasky, Guard at Walleyworld
    Christie Brinkley
    Christie Brinkley
    • The Girl in the Ferrarias The Girl in the Ferrari
    Jane Krakowski
    Jane Krakowski
    • Cousin Vickias Cousin Vicki
    John P. Navin Jr.
    John P. Navin Jr.
    • Cousin Daleas Cousin Dale
    • (as John Navin)
    Nathan Cook
    • Man Giving Directionsas Man Giving Directions
    Christopher Jackson
    • Pimpas Pimp
    • Director
      • Harold Ramis
    • Writer
      • John Hughes(screenplay) (short story "Vacation '58")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Having it all planned down to the last detail, the American, well-meaning paterfamilias, Clark Griswold, and his supportive wife, Ellen, take their two teenage children, Rusty and Audrey, on a cross-country trip from the suburbs of Chicago, all the way to sunny California's Walley World amusement park. However, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and before long, Ellen's cousin, Catherine, and her husband, Eddie, enter the picture, and Clark is on the verge of blowing a gasket. Now, Roy Walley's wonderful park seems so far away, and even though the prospect of a clandestine meeting with the alluring blonde in a fast, 1981 Ferrari 308 GTSi sounds tempting, Clark must do the right thing, and find the promised land. How hard can it be to have the perfect vacation? —Nick Riganas
    • road movie
    • dysfunctional family
    • national lampoon series
    • blonde in ferrari
    • lust
    • 122 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Every summer Chevy Chase takes his family on a little trip. This year he went too far.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All the cast members had terrible experiences when it came to filming the scenes inside Walley World, where they rode all of the roller coasters and other rides. In the commentary, Chevy Chase mentions that many of the rides made him and the other cast members vomit, especially since they all had to ride them several times for each take. Dana Barron mentioned in the commentary that the coasters made her so sick, she had to take motion sickness pills, and would pass out on nearby benches between takes. Finally, Anthony Michael Hall mentions that in the shots on the roller coaster, where he looks scared, he wasn't acting, his fear in those shots was genuine.
    • Goofs
      Ellen's hairstyle changes quite dramatically towards the end of the film (at around the time that Aunt Edna is dropped off at Flagstaff), from wavy to a poodle perm. Result of last minute reshoots.
    • Quotes

      Clark Griswald: I think you're all fucked in the head. We're ten hours from the fucking fun park and you want to bail out. Well I'll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. It's a quest for fun. You're gonna have fun, and I'm gonna have fun... We're all gonna have so much fucking fun we're gonna need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles! You'll be whistling 'Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah' out of your assholes! I must be crazy! I'm on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy Shit!

      Rusty Griswold: [Grabs Clark's shoulder] Dad, you want an aspirin?

      Clark Griswald: Don't touch!

    • Crazy credits
      During the credits, you see snapshots of group photos of where and who the Griswalds met on the vacation. The last photo shows you how they got home, on a plane.
    • Alternate versions
      When originally released in theaters, the song "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters was present, but quickly withdrawn, having June Pointer's "Little Boy Sweet" replace it; hence why it does not appear on the soundtrack. Mistakenly, the song is credited (as should be) but not featured in the film on VHS or DVD, just when shown on TV. "Summer Hearts" by Nicolette Larson was apart of the original ending to the film, and only remains on the soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Goldbergs: Vacation (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Holiday Road
      Written and Performed by Lindsey Buckingham

      Produced by Richard Dashut

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

    User reviews242

    Review
    Top review
    I don't work for the C.I.A.... I used to...
    This movie is so great! I can't say enough wonderful things about it. Although I did like the third and fourth better than this, it's difficult to not like it just as much as the others. The writing is hysterical, and the acting extremely well done, and the casting perfect for this film. All the characters are funny and right on cue. I can't say that there is even one boring or bad scene in the whole 98 minutes.

    If you've seen this film you have to appreciate the comical genius behind it. Chevy Chase is one of the most talented comedians, and should deserve so much more credit for his skills and ability than he does. I think this is probably the best role he ever received, and Beverly D'angelo is great as his wife, she was perfect for the character she portrayed.

    If I had to pick a favorite scene it would probably have to be when he finally meets the blond in the corvette, and tells her he used to work for the C.I.A. But, then again there are so many other funny parts, it's hard to pick just one!

    A definite 10 out of 10.

    And that's my review.
    helpful•11
    14
    • Pookyiscute
    • Feb 11, 2004

    FAQ5

    • Is this movie a family movie?
    • What exactly happened at the car dealership?
    • What is 'Vacation' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vacation
    • Filming locations
      • Six Flags Magic Mountain - 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • National Lampoon
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $61,418,063
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,333,358
      • Jul 31, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $61,418,063
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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