National Lampoon's Vacation Collection National Lampoon's Vacation Marathon
Page Last Modified:
4 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Vacation - 2015
Total Runtime:
566 Minutes
Total Items:
6
Average User Score:
(6)National Lampoon's Vacation Collection
If you've ever chuckled at an overzealous dad with a love for road trips and Christmas lights, then you're familiar with the legendary Griswolds. The Vacation franchise offers a wild, nostalgic, and wonderfully over-the-top journey through American comedy history. With six films, various cast changes, and a reboot, knowing the right order to watch them can be tricky. Fortunately, we've taken care of that for you. Whether you're hopping into the station wagon for the first time or you're a seasoned fan, this chronological viewing order promises the ultimate National Lampoon's Vacation movie marathon. Got your snacks ready? Let's hit the road.
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1
National Lampoon's Vacation Movie 99 min. 1983Clark 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.USER SCORE 7 -
2
National Lampoon's European Vacation Movie 95 min. 1985The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and so pack their bags for the continent. They do their best to catch the flavor of Europe, but they just don't know how to be be good tourists. Besides, they have trouble taking holidays in countries where they CAN speak the language.USER SCORE 6 -
3
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Movie 97 min. 1989It'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.USER SCORE 7 -
4
Vegas Vacation Movie 93 min. 1997The Griswold family hits the road again for a typically ill-fated vacation, this time to the glitzy mecca of slots and showgirls—Las Vegas.USER SCORE 6 -
5
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure Movie 83 min. 2003Though Eddie's fired right at Christmastime, his boss sends him and his family on a South Pacific vacation, hoping Eddie won't sue him after being bitten by a lab monkey. When the Tuttle family winds up trapped on a tropical island, however, Eddie manages to provide for everyone and prove himself a real man.USER SCORE 4 -
6
Vacation Movie 99 min. 2015Hoping to bring his family closer together and to recreate his childhood vacation for his own kids, a grown up Rusty Griswold takes his wife and their two sons on a cross-country road trip to the coolest theme park in America, Walley World. Needless to say, things don't go quite as planned.USER SCORE 6
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
We begin with the film that started it all: National Lampoon’s Vacation, directed by Harold Ramis and penned by John Hughes. This 80s comedy classic sets the tone immediately. Bumbling dad Clark Griswold, memorably portrayed by Chevy Chase, takes his family on a cross-country road trip to the iconic Wally World amusement park. Along the way, everything that can go wrong does, resulting in hilarious and often absurd consequences. The film is a tribute to family outings gone awry, with a perfect blend of slapstick, awkward silences, and the family dysfunction humor the franchise is known for.
National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
Following their American adventure, the Griswolds win a trip to Europe in National Lampoon’s European Vacation, directed by Amy Heckerling. Expect the same chaos, now with jet lag, culture clashes, and driving on the wrong side of the road. Clark remains the king of overplanning, while Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold is the stabilizing force that prevents total derailment. The kids, now played by Jason Lively (Rusty) and Dana Hill (Audrey), bring fresh energy to the European escapade. This film is pure comfort food for fans of road trip mishaps and European vacation comedy.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Christmas films come and go, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a classic. Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, this might just be the franchise's favorite. Clark aims to create the perfect Christmas with iconic Christmas lights, family dramas, and a dinner that descends into chaos. Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki debut as the new Audrey and Rusty, while Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie steals the show with his bizarre antics. It's a mix of relatable Christmas stress and over-the-top slapstick that resonates with viewers year after year.
Vegas Vacation (1997)
Fast forward to the 90s, and the Griswolds are back this time on the Strip. Vegas Vacation, directed by Stephen Kessler, takes the family to Las Vegas for a vacation filled with glitter, gambling, and, naturally, chaos. Clark becomes addicted to blackjack, Ellen nearly becomes a showgirl, and the kids discover the seedy side of Sin City. This is pure Vegas casino hijinks with a Griswold twist. The film feels a bit looser than its predecessors but offers enough absurd moments to earn its place in your marathon.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure (2003)
This one's for the die-hard fans: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure. Yes, it's technically a spin-off and not a masterpiece. But if you're a completist, it's part of the collection. Randy Quaid returns as Cousin Eddie, this time on a tropical island for a Christmas that literally strands. The humor is even more absurd than in the other films, and the slapstick is cranked up to the max. Consider it a bonus level in your marathon a tropical Christmas with a big wink.
Vacation (2015)
The franchise got a reboot (or rather, a next-gen sequel) with Vacation (2015), where Ed Helms plays the adult Rusty Griswold on a trip with his own family. This time, it's Rusty's turn to plan a road trip to you guessed it Wally World. Along with his wife Debbie (played by Christina Applegate) and their two kids, he tries to surpass the Griswold legacy with predictably disastrous results. The film pays homage to the original while bringing a fresh, modern twist with cameos, new characters (including a hilarious Chris Hemsworth as Stone Crandall), and relatable vacation problems of today. A must-see for those who want to experience the Griswold family continuity in 2015.
Why This Order Works Perfectly
The viewing order here is based on the chronology of the stories, not on release dates or casting changes. This way, you witness the Griswolds' evolution from innocent road trippers to seasoned vacation survivors. This order gives you the full effect of their escalating madness, with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 as a bonus episode and Vacation (2015) as a fresh, nostalgic finale. Each film has a different vibe, but together they form a unique mix of American holiday comedy films that you'll revisit time and again.
Tips for Your National Lampoon’s Vacation Movie Marathon
Popcorn is a must. But if you really want to immerse yourself, build your marathon thematically: start during the day with the road trips, move on to Vegas for the evening, and end late with Christmas films under a blanket. Or spread it out over multiple evenings each film deserves its moment. Don't forget the soundtrack of the first film ("Holiday Road" will stick in your head) and the outfits for extra atmosphere (ugly Christmas sweater, anyone?). And if you have friends who keep debating the best Audrey or Rusty, let them all join in.
Whether you're watching for nostalgia, slapstick, or just to see how many times Clark fails in his quest for 'the perfect vacation,' one thing is certain: with this National Lampoon's Vacation movie marathon, you're all set. Will everything go off the rails? Absolutely. But that's exactly the point.