The classic holiday movie, Christmas Vacation, will always be remembered for its hilarious scenes and unforgettable characters. One of the most memorable moments in the film is when the Griswold family’s house is completely destroyed. But just how much damage was done to the house during that fateful scene?
Let’s break it down:
The Scene
In case you need a refresher, here’s what happens in the scene: Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase) finally gets his Christmas lights to work and decides to turn them on all at once. The sudden surge of power causes a massive explosion that destroys the entire front of his house.
The Damage
The damage done to the house is extensive. The explosion blows out all of the windows on the front of the house and knocks off large sections of siding. The front porch collapses, and even the chimney is destroyed.
The Cost
While it’s never explicitly stated in the movie how much it would cost to repair all of this damage, we can estimate based on some real-world numbers. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to replace a window ranges from $300-$700 per window. With at least eight windows blown out in the scene, that’s a minimum cost of $2400 just for windows.
Replacing siding is even more expensive, with costs ranging from $3-$10 per square foot depending on material and labor costs. If we assume that just 100 square feet of siding was damaged in the scene (a conservative estimate), that’s another $300-$1000.
The front porch and chimney would also require significant repairs or replacement, which could easily add up to several thousand dollars more.
The Conclusion
All in all, it’s safe to say that Clark Griswold caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to his home in just a few seconds. But as we all know, it’s all in good fun, and the movie wouldn’t be the same without this iconic scene.
So the next time you watch Christmas Vacation and see the Griswold house explode, you’ll have a better understanding of just how much damage was done.