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National Lampoon's Vacation

National Lampoon's Vacation is a 1983 American comedy road film directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

National Lampoon's Vacation is a 1983 American comedy road film directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes. It stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold on a cross-country family trip to the fictional Walley World amusement park. The film became a box-office success and launched a long-running Vacation film series.

Plot

The story centers on Clark Griswold's family vacation plans, which quickly unravel during their drive across the United States. The trip becomes a series of mishaps and comic disasters as they try to reach Walley World.

Production

The film was directed by Harold Ramis from a screenplay by John Hughes, based on Hughes's short story "Vacation '58" published in National Lampoon. The film was produced and released by Warner Bros.

Release and reception

National Lampoon's Vacation was released on July 29, 1983. It earned strong box-office returns relative to its budget and became one of the most successful comedy road films of its era.

Legacy

The film became the first entry in the Vacation series and was followed by multiple sequels. Clark Griswold and the family’s misadventures became recurring characters and themes in later films.

Key facts

  • The film follows the Griswold family on a trip from the Chicago area to Walley World in California.
  • It was directed by Harold Ramis and written by John Hughes.
  • Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo play the main adult leads, Clark and Ellen Griswold.
  • The movie was released by Warner Bros. in 1983 and was a box-office hit.
  • Its success led to sequels and a broader Vacation film series.
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Canadian context

The film is part of North American popular culture and is widely known to Canadian audiences through television, home video, and streaming releases.

Frequently asked questions

What is National Lampoon's Vacation about?
It follows the Griswold family on a cross-country trip to the fictional Walley World amusement park, with a series of accidents and misadventures along the way.
Who directed National Lampoon's Vacation?
The film was directed by Harold Ramis.
Who wrote National Lampoon's Vacation?
The screenplay was written by John Hughes, based on his short story "Vacation '58."
When was National Lampoon's Vacation released?
It was released in the United States on July 29, 1983.
Was National Lampoon's Vacation successful?
Yes. It was a box-office hit, earning more than $60 million in the U.S. on an estimated $15 million budget.
Did National Lampoon's Vacation start a series?
Yes. Its success led to sequels and established the Vacation film series.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon's_Vacation
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, plot, budget, U.S. box office, and basis in John Hughes's short story
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Lampoons-Vacation
    Supports: Film identification, alternate title, writer, and basis in "Vacation '58"
  3. Turner Classic Movies — https://www.tcm.com/articles/86472/national-lampoons-vacation
    Supports: Plot summary, director, producer credits, and sequels
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/national_lampoons_vacation
    Supports: Director, release date, runtime, rating, and genre
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085995/
    Supports: Original title and release date
  6. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/29/movies/national-lampoon-s-vacation.html
    Supports: Contemporary review describing the road-trip premise and Walley World destination