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Poster for National Lampoon's Vacation

National Lampoon's Vacation

Seen it?

1983 | 99 min | Comedy, Adventure

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

People are still talking about it, it earned strong reviews (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 4 times its budget. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh and adventure fans. If you loved Planes, Trains and Automobiles, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
Rated R: meant for adults.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $61 million worldwide on a $15 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactVery strong

    About 461K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Harold Ramis

  • Chevy ChaseClark Griswold
  • Beverly D'AngeloEllen Griswold
  • Anthony Michael HallRusty Griswold
  • Imogene CocaAunt Edna
  • Randy QuaidCousin Eddie
  • Dana BarronAudrey Griswold
  • Eddie BrackenRoy Walley
  • Brian Doyle-MurrayKamp Komfort Clerk
  • Miriam FlynnCousin Catherine
  • James KeachMotorcycle Cop