National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) — Review, Streaming & Trivia

1989

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

1989 Dir. Jeremiah S. Chechik ★ 7.5/10 IMDb

ComedyFamily

Clark Griswold is determined to have the perfect family Christmas, but a series of disasters threaten to derail his plans as relatives descend on the household.

About National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) is the ultimate holiday comedy, starring Chevy Chase as the eternally optimistic Clark Griswold in his quest to host the perfect old-fashioned family Christmas. When both sets of in-laws and the unforgettable Cousin Eddie show up, Clark's holiday dreams spiral into a catastrophic chain of mishaps involving 25,000 imported twinkle lights, a dried-out Christmas tree, a cat under the recliner, and an exploding sewer. Written by John Hughes, this laugh-out-loud classic perfectly captures the stress, chaos, and love that define the holiday season for families everywhere.

Cast

• Chevy Chase
• Beverly D'Angelo
• Randy Quaid
• Juliette Lewis

Where to Watch

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is currently available on the following platforms:

Trivia & Fun Facts

• The script was written by John Hughes, based on his short story 'Christmas '59' published in National Lampoon magazine.
• The iconic exterior Christmas lights scene required over 10,000 actual lights on the set.
• Randy Quaid's portrayal of Cousin Eddie became so iconic that the character has appeared in multiple sequels.
• The squirrel-in-the-Christmas-tree scene used a real squirrel, causing genuine panic among the cast.