When Was Christmas Vacation Filmed?

By Anna Duncan

Are you a fan of the classic Christmas comedy, Christmas Vacation? Do you ever wonder when this movie was filmed?

Well, wonder no more! In this article, we will dive into the details of when Christmas Vacation was filmed.

Overview of Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation is a beloved holiday classic that was released in 1989. Starring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, the movie follows the Griswold family as they try to have the perfect family Christmas. The film is a hilarious look at all the things that can go wrong during the holidays.

When Was Christmas Vacation Filmed?

Christmas Vacation was filmed in late 1988. The production began in November and lasted until February 1989. The majority of the filming took place in Colorado and California.

Filming Locations

The majority of the exterior shots were filmed in Colorado. The famous scene where Clark Griswold gets stuck under a semi-truck while driving on an icy road was filmed on Loveland Pass near Dillon, Colorado. Other scenes were shot in Breckenridge, Frisco, and Denver.

The interior scenes were mostly shot on soundstages in Burbank, California. The Griswold family home was created on a Warner Bros. lot and many of the interior shots were filmed there.

Challenges During Filming

Filming during winter weather can be challenging and this movie was no exception. Several scenes had to be reshot due to snow melting between takes or lighting being affected by snowy conditions.

Another challenge during filming was finding enough snow for some of the outdoor scenes. In some cases, fake snow had to be used instead.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Christmas Vacation was filmed over several months from late 1988 to early 1989.

The majority of the filming took place in Colorado and California, with many of the exterior shots being filmed in snowy conditions. Now, when you watch this holiday classic, you can appreciate all the hard work that went into making it a reality.