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Trailer

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1989Movie1 h 37 minPG-13

Comedy
69
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic497.8Rotten Tomatoes72%86%

A nostalgic, cathartic comedy movie about family and everyday modern life.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for big ideas, scares or tears.

Movies with

Story

Yule crack up!

It's Christmastime, 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.

Feels like

  • Holiday Classic
  • Family Chaos
  • Slapstick Comedy
  • Seasonal Humor
  • Relatable Mishaps
  • Wholesome Fun
  • Rewatchable
  • Nostalgic Comfort
  • American Comedy

Cast

23 of 23

Crew

Directed by
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Written by
John Hughes
Produced by
John Hughes, Tom Jacobson
Music by
Angelo Badalamenti

Everyone

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

Facts

November 30, 1989 · 1 h 37 min · PG-13

Released
November 30, 1989
Runtime
1 h 37 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$27 million
Box office
$75 million
Available in
71 countries

Tropes

Drum Roll, Please, The Scrooge, Adaptation Title Change +9

  • Drum Roll, Please
  • The Scrooge
  • Adaptation Title Change
  • Long List
  • Rule of Funny
  • Christmas Light Chaos
  • Crappy Holidays
  • From Bad to Worse
  • Brick Joke
  • Marching Mooks In Suits
  • Mundane Utility
  • Driving a Desk

12 of 150 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

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

Questions about National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

HuluHBO MaxPlex

In the United States, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation streams on Hulu and HBO Max, and it is free with ads on Plex. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Plex. It also streams in 21 other countries.

Is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation worth watching?

69
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 69 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 72%, and Metacritic 49). Audiences rate it higher (80 out of 100) than critics (61).

Is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation okay for kids?

PG-13Strong language

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation make me laugh?

Very funny

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

Can I half-watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 1 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

What tropes does National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation use?

Drum Roll, PleaseThe ScroogeAdaptation Title ChangeLong ListRule of FunnyChristmas Light ChaosCrappy HolidaysFrom Bad to WorseBrick JokeMarching Mooks In SuitsMundane UtilityDriving a Deskand 138 more

TV Tropes lists 150 tropes for it, including Drum Roll, Please, The Scrooge, and Adaptation Title Change.