The National Lampoon Vacation movies have become a cult classic among comedy film enthusiasts. The series follows the misadventures of the Griswold family as they embark on various vacations, only to encounter chaos and disaster at every turn.
But how many National Lampoon Vacation movies were made? Let’s take a closer look.
The Original: National Lampoon’s Vacation
The first National Lampoon Vacation movie was released in 1983 and starred Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, the well-meaning but bumbling patriarch of the Griswold family. The film follows the family as they embark on a cross-country road trip to visit the fictional amusement park, Walley World.
The Sequels: European Vacation and Christmas Vacation
The success of National Lampoon’s Vacation led to two sequels – European Vacation (1985) and Christmas Vacation (1989). In European Vacation, the Griswolds win an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe, where they encounter a slew of comedic mishaps and cultural misunderstandings. Christmas Vacation sees the family staying at home for the holidays, but still managing to get into all sorts of trouble.
Vegas Vacation
Vegas Vacation (1997) is the fourth installment in the series and sees Clark taking his family to Las Vegas for a vacation filled with gambling and adventure. Although not as critically acclaimed as its predecessors, Vegas Vacation still delivers plenty of laughs and hijinks.
Reboot: Vacation
In 2015, a reboot simply titled ‘Vacation’ was released with Ed Helms starring as Rusty (Clark’s son), who takes his own family on a cross-country road trip similar to that taken by his father years ago. Chevy Chase makes an appearance in this film reprising his role as Clark Griswold but with a smaller role.
In Conclusion
In summary, there are five National Lampoon Vacation movies in total – National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), European Vacation (1985), Christmas Vacation (1989), Vegas Vacation (1997), and the reboot, simply titled ‘Vacation’ (2015).
Whether you’re a fan of the original or enjoy the sequels just as much, one thing is for sure – the National Lampoon Vacation movies will continue to be a beloved classic for years to come.