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Trailer

National Lampoon's Vacation

1983Movie1 h 39 minR

Comedy
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Metacritic557.7Rotten Tomatoes94%85%

A nostalgic, hopeful comedy movie about family and everyday modern life, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for brutality, scares or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

Every summer Chevy Chase takes his family on a little trip. This year he went too far.

Clark Griswold is on a quest to take his family to the Walley World theme park for a vacation, but things don't go exactly as planned.

Feels like

  • Classic Road Trip Comedy
  • Chaotic Family Dynamics
  • Iconic Chevy Chase Performance
  • Satire of American Suburbia
  • High Rewatchability
  • Cringe Humor Masterpiece
  • Feel-Good Nostalgia
  • Disaster Vacation Narrative
  • Sharp Situational Wit

Cast

24 of 27

Crew

Directed by
Harold Ramis
Written by
John Hughes
Produced by
Matty Simmons
Music by
Ralph Burns

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 29, 1983 · 1 h 39 min · R

Released
July 29, 1983
Runtime
1 h 39 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Comedy, Adventure
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$61 million
Available in
79 countries

Tropes

Butt-Monkey, Irony, "Psycho" Shower Murder Parody +9

  • Butt-Monkey
  • Irony
  • "Psycho" Shower Murder Parody
  • Analogy Backfire
  • Road Trip Plot
  • AM/FM Characterization
  • Continuity Nod
  • Improbable Parking Skills
  • Leg Cling
  • Death Glare
  • Rage Breaking Point
  • Ms. Fanservice

12 of 79 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream National Lampoon's Vacation?"

Questions about National Lampoon's Vacation

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream National Lampoon's Vacation?

In the United States, you can rent or buy National Lampoon's Vacation from Apple TV Store, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It streams in 5 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is National Lampoon's Vacation worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 94%, and Metacritic 55).

Is National Lampoon's Vacation okay for kids?

RStrong languageDrug use

Yes: it's rated R in the United States for strong language and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will National Lampoon's Vacation make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly situational comedy (10 of 10) and cringe comedy (9 of 10).

Can I half-watch National Lampoon's Vacation?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it drop-in friendly.

Was National Lampoon's Vacation a box office hit?

Budget$15 million
Box office$61 million

Yes: it cost about $15 million to make and earned $61 million worldwide, 4.1 times its budget.