Which National Lampoon Vacation Movie Was First?

By Anna Duncan

The National Lampoon Vacation movie franchise is a classic comedy series that has been entertaining audiences for decades. However, with so many films in the series, it can be hard to remember which one came first. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of the National Lampoon Vacation movies and find out which one was the first.

The Beginnings of the National Lampoon Franchise

To fully understand the origins of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, we need to go back to the beginning of the National Lampoon franchise itself. National Lampoon was originally a humor magazine that was published from 1970 to 1998. The magazine featured satirical articles, comics, and other humorous content that became very popular in the 1970s.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

The first film in the National Lampoon Vacation movie series was simply titled “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and was released in 1983. The film starred Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a well-meaning but bumbling father who takes his family on a disastrous cross-country road trip to an amusement park called Walley World.

National Lampoon’s Vacation was directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes, both of whom were already established figures in comedy at the time. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $60 million at the box office and becoming one of the most iconic comedies of its era.

The Success of National Lampoon’s Vacation

The success of National Lampoon’s Vacation led to several sequels over the years, including “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” (1985), “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989), “Vegas Vacation” (1997), and “Vacation” (2015). While not all of the sequels were as well-received as the original, the National Lampoon Vacation movies remain beloved by audiences to this day.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the first movie in the National Lampoon Vacation series was “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” released in 1983. The film was a critical and commercial success and spawned several sequels over the years. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the franchise or just discovering it for the first time, there’s no denying that the National Lampoon Vacation movies are classic comedies that have stood the test of time.