If you’re a fan of Christmas movies, then you must have heard about the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation franchise. This classic comedy series has become a staple in many households during the holiday season.
However, if you’re new to the series, you may be wondering: How many National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movies are there? Well, let’s find out!
The Original Movie
The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation franchise began with the release of the first movie in 1989. The movie was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and written by John Hughes. The film starred Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a well-meaning family man who tries his best to make his family’s Christmas perfect.
The first movie was a huge hit and is still considered a classic holiday comedy to this day. It’s filled with hilarious moments that will make you laugh out loud and heartwarming scenes that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Sequels
After the success of the first movie, it was only natural for there to be sequels. However, unlike other franchises that have multiple sequels, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation only has one official sequel:
National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation (1997)
While not technically a direct sequel to Christmas Vacation, Vegas Vacation does feature the Griswold family as they head off to Las Vegas for vacation. Chevy Chase reprises his role as Clark Griswold, but this time he’s trying to win big at the casinos instead of trying to have the perfect Christmas.
Although it wasn’t as successful as its predecessor, Vegas Vacation still has its fair share of hilarious moments that will keep you entertained.
Other Adaptations
While there may not be many official sequels to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, there have been other adaptations of the story:
Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure (2003)
This made-for-TV movie follows the character of Cousin Eddie, who first appeared in Christmas Vacation. In this movie, he and his family win a tropical vacation and hilarity ensues.
While not as successful as the original Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure is still a fun watch for fans of the franchise.
Animated Adaptations
In recent years, there have been two animated adaptations of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation:
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (2015)
- The Grinch (2018)
While these adaptations aren’t direct sequels or remakes of the original movie, they do pay homage to it in various ways. For example, in The Grinch, there’s a scene where the Grinch watches National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on TV.
Conclusion
So, how many National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movies are there? Well, officially there are only two: the original movie and Vegas Vacation. However, if you’re a die-hard fan of the franchise, you may also want to check out Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure and the animated adaptations.
No matter which version you choose to watch, one thing is for sure: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation will always be a classic holiday comedy that will make you laugh and get you into the holiday spirit.