How To Watch The National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies In Order

The idea of a family vacation might appear an antiquated concept, reminiscent of times when families could travel without incurring additional mortgage debt. Regardless of whether you’re feigning work or (ideally) lounging on a sunny beach somewhere, we can all understand the significance of a family vacation – the happiness and the turmoil. The amusing chaos is what makes these vacations memorable, much like the beloved “Vacation” films that revolve around the misadventures of the unfortunate Griswold family. Although the “Vacation” franchise has made $330 million globally (not adjusted for inflation), its impact on culture transcends its financial success due to its side-splitting, exaggerated relatability.

Just like numerous ’80s comedic icons, the “Vacation” film franchise originated from the creative mind of John Hughes. His short story “Vacation ’58” was initially published in the “National Lampoon” magazine back in 1979. While Hughes certainly played a crucial role, it’s the ensemble of characters that truly propelled this series to success. The characters include the bumbling yet lovable patriarch Clark (portrayed by Chevy Chase); his patient wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo); the questionably decent and disgusting Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid); and the Griswold children, Rusty and Audrey, whose actors changed with each film. A common query among fans is: How should I watch the National Lampoon “Vacation” movies in sequence? So grab your seat belts and some snacks, because we’re about to embark on a journey down the holiday road (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) of the “Vacation” series.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

Initially, there’s no question that “National Lampoon’s Vacation” serves as the ideal beginning. But suppose they create a prequel focusing on young Clark Griswold embarking on a family trip, which seems overdue (if it ever happens, we’d appreciate a writing credit). The 1983 film was John Hughes’ cinematic interpretation of his short story, marking the reunion of director Harold Ramis and star Chevy Chase, who had previously worked together in another iconic ’80s comedy, “Caddyshack.” Interestingly, the behind-the-scenes tale of “Caddyshack” reveals that Ramis confessed to being clueless about his role, while Chase has a notorious reputation for being challenging, (which might explain why he’s less active these days).

It’s interesting to note that despite their initial differences, they managed to collaborate again three years later to create another hilarious production. In the first Griswold adventure, Rusty was portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall who was 14 at the time, while Audrey was played by Dana Barron. Although it’s not explicitly stated in “Vacation”, Barron is actually two years older than Hall. Regardless of their birth order, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” came first in more ways than one. It grossed an impressive $61 million worldwide against a budget of only $15 million, making it the most profitable film in the series. Its positive reviews also make it the best-reviewed “Vacation” movie, and the highest-rated “National Lampoon” movie overall, even surpassing the acclaimed “Animal House”. It’s no surprise that this film marked the beginning of a successful franchise.

National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)

In the sequence of events, “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” follows “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” but some viewers believe it should rank lowest in terms of quality. Although its position within the series is undisputed, there remains a discussion about the order of the Griswold children. Similar to the first movie, Rusty is portrayed as older than Audrey, yet this seems contradictory given that the actress playing Audrey (Dana Hill) was approximately four years older than the new Rusty (Jason Lively). It’s a well-known fact that girls often mature faster than boys, but increasing the age gap between siblings to such an extent is rather unusual, especially when considering she seems younger in the film.

Amy Heckerling replaced Harold Ramis as director, while Robert Klane took over scriptwriting duties from John Hughes. Unfortunately, Randy Quaid’s Cousin Eddie did not appear in the film, which may explain why it’s less humor-filled. In the 1985 movie, the Griswolds swapped their family car for plane tickets after winning a free European vacation on a game show. Strangely, they arrived in Europe dressed like pigs. The plane landed safely, but the jokes never took off, as the Griswold family navigated London, France, Germany, and Italy. At each destination, we were supposed to laugh, but the movie struggled to find humor, just as Clark Griswold struggled to create enjoyable family experiences.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

1) “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” released in 1989, grossed $77 million globally, making it the most financially successful film in the franchise. However, its production cost of approximately $28 million prevents it from being the most profitable, at least in terms of box office earnings. Yet, the movie’s financial success doesn’t fully reflect its substantial cultural impact. For countless viewers, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” has become a traditional holiday movie alongside classics like “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Home Alone.” Interestingly, the making of “Home Alone” can be attributed to the turbulence during the production of “Christmas Vacation.” The story goes that Chevy Chase was challenging during pre-production with director Chris Columbus for “Christmas Vacation.

In a change of events, John Hughes stepped in to replace Columbus with first-time director Jeremiah Checknik for the movie. Given the stellar cast and script, any director could have created a comedy classic. Lines throughout the movie are memorable, and each actor in the star-studded cast (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts) would shine in different films. However, it’s Randy Quaid’s portrayal of Cousin Eddie that steals the show and ties it up neatly, much like he does Clark’s boss (Brian Doyle-Murray). While “Christmas Vacation” is the third movie in the series, Audrey (Juliette Lewis) appears older than Rusty (Johnny Galecki), a departure from the previous film. Interestingly, this age difference was reduced compared to “European Vacation.” As Cousin Eddie would say, “I don’t know.” What is certain, though, is that the third movie is widely considered the best and most beloved in the series.

National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation (1997)

Although “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was a hit, the series paused for eight years around 1997. This might have been due to Chevy Chase’s dwindling fame and increasing negative image. The Griswolds returned in “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation,” but the reunion of Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid didn’t result in a successful hand. Unfortunately, “Vegas Vacation” received the franchise’s worst reviews. While the film does have its amusing aspects and memorable lines, it fails to measure up to both “Vacation” and “Christmas Vacation,” as its predictable storyline is significantly inferior.

In this movie, which is the fourth installment of the series, it might be confusing to some that Rusty and Audrey are played by new actors who appear younger than they actually should be. This could be due to Juliette Lewis’s desire to steer clear of any potential mishaps after her 1992 Oscar nomination for “Cape Fear.” Ethan Embry now portrays Rusty, while Marisol Nichols plays Audrey. Although they may look like fraternal twins, Nichols is five years older than Embry, marking the series’ most significant age gap.

The characters of Rusty and Audrey seem to have been preserved in amber, like Bart and Lisa from “The Simpsons,” because despite being college-aged in “Vegas Vacation,” they should technically be in their late 20s or early 30s if we consider the first “Vacation” film in 1983. However, the issue of their ages was just one of several problems faced by this fourth film. With only $36 million in global box office earnings, it seems that what happened in Vegas may have been better left there, as “Vegas Vacation” took a risk and unfortunately fell short.

Vacation (2015)

1940s gangster-style, the “Vacation” series was seemingly abandoned in the desert following 1997’s “Vegas Vacation.” But just when we thought it was all over, surprise! It was revived in 2015 with a film simply titled “Vacation.” Although “revived” might be an exaggeration, given the dull title that reflects the movie’s creative poverty, which feels like a subpar version of “The Hangover.” Instead of Clark and Ellen embarking on another adventure filled with mayhem as seniors, this time Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo play minor roles. In this installment, Ed Helms steps in as Rusty Griswold, who seems to have forgotten the turmoil of his past vacations and now desires to recreate a family trip to Wally World.

Despite their complex ages and family dynamics being somewhat perplexing, they deserve recognition for growing older. Leslie Mann assumes the role of Audrey, who, unsurprisingly, has little interest in family vacations, preferring instead to admire her husband Stone, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, who exudes an irresistible masculinity. The character Rusty’s childlike innocence seems out of place and disrupts the flow of the film, which might be beneficial since “Vacation” is more like a formulaic studio production than a movie. Its main aim appears to be catering to Hollywood’s craving for sequels and audiences’ fondness for nostalgia. Although the 2015 film grossed $105 million worldwide on a budget of $31 million, its poor reviews likely led to the “Vacation” series being put on hiatus.

We skipped two Vacation spin-offs

In summary, no matter if Rusty and Audrey keep growing older, the correct sequence to watch the “Vacation” series is based on their original release dates. It’s understandable if you choose to pass on “European Vacation” and the 2015 “Vacation.” As for skipping ahead, we skipped two spin-offs that are considered part of the canon but were not shown in theaters. First is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure,” a TV movie released on NBC on December 20, 2003. This film follows Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and Catherine (Miriam Flynn), who were characters from the first “Christmas Vacation” that came out in 1989. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are not present, and for a good reason – this installment is generally considered less amusing than others, suggesting that Cousin Eddie works best when he appears in modest amounts.

Chase and D’Angelo reprised their roles for the 2010 short titled “Hotel Hell Vacation,” which wasn’t a movie, but rather an extended advertisement for travel website HomeAway (now known as Vrbo). This marketing campaign kicked off with a TV commercial during Super Bowl XLIV, inviting viewers to view the longer version on HomeAway’s website. The creative concept revolves around the Griswolds experiencing yet another disastrous vacation that could have been prevented if they had used HomeAway for their booking. This short film occurs before “Vacation” (2015), allowing viewers to enjoy every “Vacation” tale in chronological order.

2025-02-24 22:31