National Lampoon’s Vacation is a holiday special series that focuses on the Griswold family and tells the tale of various events that take place when the Griswold clan goes on vacation.
Here is the list of all National Lampoons Vacation movies in order of release.
The National Lampoons Vacation movies in order
- National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
- National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Vegas Vacation (1997)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (2003)
- Vacation (2015)
About National Lampoon’s Vacation Movie Series
National Lampoon magazine, Vacation 58 was published in 1979 and was based on the story family trip gone horribly awry. Inspired by John Hughes’s Vacation 58, National Lampoon’s Vacation was released in 1983 and became a huge hit at Box Office.
With Chevy Chase in the role of Clark Griswold taking his family for Vacation, The series became one of the all-time favorite vacation movie series. All Vacation movies are filled with Epic comedy scenes and are worth watching.
National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies In Order: What Is The Order Of Vacation’s Movies?
How Many National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies Are There?
There are six National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies, out of which five movies are theatrical movies and Christmas Vacation 2 is a made-for-TV spin-off film.
Are National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies Connected?
Not in terms of story but Vacation movies are connected in terms of character continuity. National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies tells the tale of events when Griswold family goes for a Vacation and doesn’t share same storyline but have same characters.
Do You Need To Watch National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies In Order?
All National Lampoon’s Vacation movies have their plot and can be watched as standalone, however, if you watch them In order, It will help you to understand the story and background of the Griswold family better. Hence, watching Vacation movies in order is not necessary but recommended.
What Order Should I Watch The Vacation Movies In?
Vacation movies are straightforward and the series doesn’t have any prequels, hence the chronological and release of the Vacation movie are the same. Here is the list of all National Lampoon’s Vacation movies in order of release
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
- Director: Harold Ramis
- Writers: John Hughes (screenplay), John Hughes
- Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Imogene Coca
- Runtime: 1h 38min
National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
- Director: Amy Heckerling
- Writers: John Hughes (screenplay by), Robert Klane
- Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Hill
- Runtime: 1h 35min
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik (as Jeremiah Chechik)
- Writer: John Hughes
- Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis
- Runtime: 1h 37min
Vegas Vacation (1997)
- Director: Stephen Kessler
- Writers: Elisa Bell (story), Bob Ducsay (story)
- Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid
- Runtime: 1h 33min
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (2003)
- Director: Nick Marck
- Writer: Matty Simmons
- Stars: Kate Simmons, Jake Thomas, Randy Quaid
- Runtime: 1h 23min
Vacation (I) (2015)
- Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
- Writers: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
- Stars: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo
- Runtime: 1h 39min
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Clark and Ellen Griswold live with their two children, Rusty and Audrey in Chicago. Bored of his daily work, Clark decides to go for a Family Vacation to the California theme park Walley World. Insist of flying, Clark decides to go to California driving so that the family can enjoy together in the route.
As the family is on the route of California, they get lost in St. Louis and finally end up at Ellen’s cousin Catherine’s house in Coolidge, Kansas. A series of adventure and fun events take place before the family reaches their Destiny.
National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
The Griswald family wins “Pig in a Poke” and gets an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe. Clark being bored of his usual routine thinks that a trip to Europe would be the best option to spend and make a bond with his family. Clark starts a convince his family and the family begins their Trip to Europe.
In Europe, The quest for Clark to drive on the wrong side of the road results in Accidents, and further Rusty is teased by young women for wearing stenciled berets. A series of fun events take place before the family goes back to their home knocking the Statue of Liberty’s torch upside down.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clark Griswold, the ultimate man of the Griswold family decides to arrange a grand party for celebrating Christmas.
Clark invites his Parents and in-laws to celebrate Christmas with his entire family Besides, Clark orders a backyard swimming pool as Surprise and decides to pay for it with a bonus check that he is expecting from Frank Shirley.
But Clark’s planning for the most fun-filled Christmas gest disturbed when unexpected guests come along and his Bonus check gets canceled.
Vegas Vacation (1997)
Impressed by Clark’s work, his boss Frank Shirley gives Clark a huge bonus and with the bonus in his hand, Clark decides to take his family to Vegas for a Vacation. After reaching Vegas, the Griswold family meets Eddie and together they starts to explore Vegas.
The next day, everybody goes out to spend their “alone day”. Clark goes to a casino and starts gambling, Rusty gets a fake ID from Frank Sinatra, Audrey and Eddie decide to go with Eddie’s daughter, and Ellen begins spending time with Wayne Newton, who has feelings for her.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure (2003)
This movie is a made-for-TV spin-off film and tells the tale of Eddie and his vacation with his family. At his workplace, a chimpanzee outperforms Eddie and his company decides to fire him. Eddie’s Company to convince him to leave his job offers him and a free vacation to an island in the South Pacific along with his family.
While the family is enjoying their boat ride, Eddie’s attempt to catch a shark ends up in them getting shipwrecked to an isolated island.
Vacation (2015)
This movie focuses on grown-up Rusty Griswold and his family. Rusty remembers the fun he had when his father took him for Vacation and decides to take his wife, Debbie, and their two sons, James and Kevin for a cross-country road trip back to Walley World.
Rusty Griswold who is working as a pilot for a low-budget regional airline with his family begins his road trip, a series of Fun events takes place before they reach Walley World.
Is vacation a sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation?
Vacation (2015) is a direct sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation and is continues the story of the Griswold world where grown-up Rusty Griswold takes his wife and children for a cross-country road trip back to Walley World.
National Lampoon’s Vacation All Movies, TV Series, and Shorts In Order Of Release
In addition Six full-length Vacation films, a short film with the title Hotel Hell Vacation and tells the story of Clark and Ellen on their way to visit Rusty and his family. Besides, a series with the title The Griswolds is under development and will continue the story of the Griswold family further.
If you want to add the short film and the series to your Vacation watch order then here is the list of all National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, short, and series in order to watch.
- National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
- National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Vegas Vacation (1997)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (2003)
- Hotel Hell Vacation (2010) – Short Film
- Vacation (2015)
- The Griswolds (TBA)
Which National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies Is Best?
National Lampoon’s Vacation movies are one of the all-time popular comedy movies based on family Vacations and road trips. But out of all the six National Lampoons vacation movies, which one is best?
Here is a list of all of Which National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies ranked from worst to best based on Audience ratings on IMDb.
| National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies | Audience Ratings On IMDb |
|---|---|
| National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (2003) | 2.7/10 |
| Vegas Vacation (1997) | 6/10 |
| Vacation (I) (2015) | 6.1/10 |
| National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985) | 6.2/10 |
| National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) | 7.4/10 |
| National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | 7.6/10 |
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Conclusion
National Lampoon is known and loved for creating fantastic comedy movies over the years. Out of all, the Vacation series that focuses on the Griswold family is one of the all-time popular movie series.
Here we have the list of all Vacation movies in the order of release, All National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies are standalone but if you watch them in order, it would definitely add to your viewing experience.