42 Fun Facts About 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation'

On December 1, 1989, the Griswold family’s chaotic holiday antics hit theaters, introducing us to 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' and quickly becoming a festive favorite. Here’s a list of fun facts you might not know about this iconic Christmas comedy.

1. The film is inspired by a short story.

Similar to the 1983 original, 'Christmas Vacation' draws from the short story 'Christmas ’59,' penned by John Hughes for National Lampoon in December 1980. The film honors its literary roots when Clark gets stuck in the attic and finds a box of old home movies, one of which is marked 'Christmas ’59.' Sharp-eyed viewers might notice that the film actually reads 'Christmas 1955' during the scene.

2. Clark Griswold’s childhood home is actually Samantha Stevens’s house.

If Clark’s home from those old movies seems familiar, it’s because it’s the same house seen in 'Bewitched' and 'The New Gidget.' But in reality, it’s not a real house – it’s part of Warner Bros.' back lot, located on Blondie Street. The Griswold family's entire neighborhood was filmed on the studio lot. And if the house of their pretentious neighbors, Todd and Margo, looks familiar, it’s because it was the same residence of Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his family in 'Lethal Weapon.'

3. John Hughes wasn’t a fan of sequels.

Although many of Hughes’s films inspired sequels, he was never keen on the idea of repeating himself. While he contributed to the script of 'European Vacation,' he did so only because he had created the characters. When it came to 'Christmas Vacation,' Hughes agreed to write the script only because the studio 'begged' him, as he told an interviewer: 'I had a good story to base it on.' Hughes wasn’t fond of the later movies, explaining that they turned into 'Chevy Chase vehicles.' He was unaware of 'Vegas Vacation' until it appeared in the trades, and people continually asked him, 'What were you thinking?' To which he responded, 'I had nothing to do with it! I swear!'

4. It's one of only two Christmas films released in 1989.

Although the holiday season often brings a slew of Christmas-themed films, 'Christmas Vacation' was one of only two such movies released in 1989. The other was John Hancock’s 'Prancer.' Interestingly, Johnny Galecki, aka Rusty Griswold, appeared in both films.

5. Audrey is surprisingly older than Rusty.

In both the original 'Vacation' and 'European Vacation,' Rusty was portrayed as the older sibling. But in 'Christmas Vacation,' Rusty somehow becomes Audrey’s younger brother.

6. The film has a connection to 'It’s A Wonderful Life.'

Not only does the movie feature actual footage from the classic Frank Capra film, but 'Christmas Vacation' also has another fun link to 'It’s A Wonderful Life': Frank Capra’s grandson, Frank Capra III, worked as the assistant director on 'Christmas Vacation.'

7. The cast of 'Christmas Vacation' was truly star-studded.

Along with future stars Johnny Galecki and Juliette Lewis (who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress just three years later for her role in Martin Scorsese’s 'Cape Fear'), co-star Beverly D’Angelo was particularly impressed by the seasoned actors who joined the cast of 'Christmas Vacation.' 'I attribute that to Jeremiah Chechik and his direction in bringing in E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, and Diane Ladd,' she said in an interview. 'That was really a special cast.'

8. Stanley Kubrick played a part in the making of 'Christmas Vacation.'

'Christmas Vacation' marked the directorial debut of Jeremiah Chechik, who began his career as a fashion photographer for 'Vogue' before transitioning to commercial directing. 'I had made these commercials that became quite iconic here in the U.S.,' Chechik told Den of Geek in 2011. 'They were very dark and sexy and sort of ahead of their time in terms of style. And what happened was they gained the notice of [Stanley] Kubrick, who had mentioned them as his favorite American filmmaking, ironically, in a 'New York Times' article.' It wasn’t long before Chechik’s phone started ringing, and studios began sending him scripts. 'And the script that really piqued my interest was 'Christmas Vacation,' he said. 'And the reason is I had never done any comedy—ever.'

9. Director Jeremiah Chechik had never seen a 'Vacation' film.

'I hadn’t seen the first two 'Vacation' movies, so I wasn’t really influenced by anything other than the fact that it was, at the time, their big Christmas movie and comedy,' Chechik told Den of Geek. 'And I just felt if I could crack this, maybe there’s a whole other world of filmmaking for me.' After 'Christmas Vacation,' Chechik went on to direct 'Benny & Joon,' 'Diabolique,' and 'The Avengers' (not the Marvel one), as well as episodes of 'The Bronx is Burning,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'Chuck,' and 'Burn Notice.'

10. The movie had a surprisingly large budget for a comedy.

The budget was set at $27 million, which was particularly high for a comedy, especially considering it didn’t have the special effects of films like 'Ghostbusters' (which was made for $30 million). But the movie had no trouble recouping its costs; it went on to gross more than $70 million domestically.

11. Roger Ebert wasn’t a fan of the film.

Despite becoming a beloved holiday classic, 'Christmas Vacation' didn’t win everyone over. In his two-star review, Roger Ebert described the film as 'curious in how close it comes to delivering on its material: Sequence after sequence seems to contain all the necessary material, to be well on the way toward a payoff, and then it somehow doesn’t work.'

12. It’s the only sequel in the 'Vacation' franchise to get its own sequel.

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know about this or haven’t seen it. The 2003 made-for-TV film, 'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure,' features Randy Quaid and Miriam Flynn (as Eddie and Catherine, respectively) stranded on a South Pacific island for the holidays. Yes, really. It holds a 12 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

13. Audrey is the only Griswold to appear in 'Christmas Vacation 2.'

Dana Barron, who played Audrey in the original 'Vacation,' returned to reprise her role in the 'Christmas Vacation' sequel. Eric Idle, who appeared in 'European Vacation,' also makes an appearance, playing 'English Victim.'

14. Cousin Eddie is one of Randy Quaid’s most iconic characters.

At least, it’s the role that earns him the most recognition. In a 1989 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Quaid expressed his amazement at the lasting impact of the character. 'People still come up to me and quote lines from that part. I get a lot of recognition from that role—probably as much, if not more, than any other.' (Though, we suspect his role in the alien-invasion hit 'Independence Day' might rival this one among fans.)

15. Cousin Eddie was inspired by a real person.

Quaid based many of Cousin Eddie’s quirky traits on a man he knew growing up in Texas, most notably Eddie’s signature tongue-clicking. But the memorable sweater and dickie combo? That was all Quaid’s wife’s idea.

16. You can even buy your own dickie.

'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation' Collectibles is a website dedicated to all things 'Christmas Vacation' (obviously). The site features a variety of fun items, including Cousin Eddie’s iconic wardrobe pieces, moose mugs, and punch bowls.

17. Eddie’s son, Rocky, doesn’t say a word in the film.

Nope, not a single line.

18. Aunt Bethany is actually Betty Boop.

'Christmas Vacation' marked the final film of Mae Questel, who had made her mark as the voice of Betty Boop starting in 1931. She passed away at the age of 89 in January 1998.

19. Cousin Catherine has a connection to 'Looney Tunes.'

It turns out Aunt Bethany isn’t the only voice talent in the family. Miriam Flynn, who portrayed Eddie's loving wife across four 'Vacation' films, also voiced Taz’s mother in the animated Warner Bros. series 'Taz-Mania.' Flynn has also contributed her vocal talents to 'The Land Before Time' franchise and voiced Maa, the elderly sheep in 'Babe.'

20. Bethany and Louis’s entrance quite literally made the earth move.

During the filming of Uncle Louis and Aunt Bethany's arrival at the Griswold house, a small earthquake hit. As a result, the camera slightly shakes when Bethany enters through the front door.

21. 'Christmas Vacation' went straight to video in the UK.

Although the movie has become a holiday favorite in the UK, it wasn’t released in theaters there. Instead, it went straight to home video.

22. You won’t hear 'Holiday Road' in 'Christmas Vacation.'

'Christmas Vacation' is the only film in the 'Vacation' series that doesn’t feature Lindsey Buckingham’s iconic song 'Holiday Road.' Instead, the film has its own original tune, 'Christmas Vacation,' written by the married songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. A cover of the song appeared on the 2007 'Disney Channel Holiday' album.

23. Angelo Badalamenti composed the score.

You might find this surprising, but composer Angelo Badalamenti—famous for his work with director David Lynch on films like 'Blue Velvet' and the 'Twin Peaks' series (including that iconic score)—actually composed the music for 'Christmas Vacation.' It may seem a bit unexpected, but given the theme of suburban family chaos (albeit played for laughs instead of Lynchian horror), it kind of makes sense.

24. Randy Quaid is the third cousin of Gene Autry.

This may sound like an odd tidbit, but when the police storm the Griswold home at the end of the film, the version of 'Here Comes Santa Claus' playing in the background is actually by Gene Autry.

25. Ellen Griswold lied to the cops.

In the scene above, Ellen Griswold apologizes to Mrs. Shirley—Clark’s boss and Eddie’s kidnapping victim—telling her that ‘This is our family’s first kidnapping.’ However, this is actually their second, at least the second we know of. In the original 'Vacation' film, the Griswolds force Lasky, the security guard at Wally World (played by John Candy), to open the park for them.

26. Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Juliette Lewis reunited in 2012.

The trio came together to film a series of Old Navy commercials for the holiday season. Although Johnny Galecki wasn’t present, two former Rustys—Anthony Michael Hall and Jason Lively—were, along with Dana Barron.

27. Johnny Galecki received an award from Chevy Chase.

In a 2012 interview, The Sydney Morning Herald asked Johnny Galecki if he had kept in touch with Chevy Chase since the film. He shared, ‘The only time I’ve seen him since that movie, which was 21 years ago I think, is when he presented us with our People’s Choice Award. That was really neat. If you’re going to run into Chevy again, it might as well be when he’s giving you an award.’

28. Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo were eager to see another 'Vacation' film come to life.

On July 29, 2015, the newest film in the 'Vacation' series—simply titled 'Vacation'—hit theaters. And it couldn’t have come soon enough for Chase and D’Angelo. ‘We became friends on the first one, and we’ve maintained that friendship. We’ve worked together so many times,’ D'Angelo shared in a 2020 interview with The Current. ‘I mean, our paths have crossed professionally forever, but it’s because at the foundation we’re friends. I always said it was the chemistry between me and Chevy that created Ellen and Clark, as much as the words we had to say.’

29. The studio won that one.

Chase and D’Angelo may have had their own vision, but the studio proceeded with the 'grandchildren' idea. Written and directed by John Francis Daley (Sam from 'Freaks and Geeks') and Jonathan M. Goldstein (who wrote 'Horrible Bosses'), 'Vacation' centers on an adult Rusty (played by 'The Office's' Ed Helms) taking his own family on a road trip.

30. Beverly D’Angelo ad-libbed a risqué sight gag during the SWAT team segment.

Take a close look at the Griswold family when one of the SWAT leaders shouts, 'Freeze!' Amidst the chaos, Ellen places her right hand firmly on Clark’s crotch—and keeps it there. 'I did that on the spot and told Chevy, just to see if anyone on set noticed,' D’Angelo revealed to Rolling Stone. 'We did a few takes, and no one said a word.'

31. Several scenes were filmed in Breckenridge, Colorado.

While the Rockies may not be just a short drive from the Griswolds’ Chicago home, that’s where Clark and the family venture to find the 'perfect Christmas tree' early in the film. Much of that scene was shot on location in the Breckenridge, Colorado area. The hill where Clark and the kids sled is also a well-known Breckenridge ski slope.

32. Mr. Shirley (a.k.a. Clark’s boss) is actually Bill Murray’s brother.

Brian Doyle-Murray and National Lampoon have a long history together. Not only did Doyle-Murray appear in two 'Vacation' movies (including a memorable moment in the original’s Kamp Komfort scene), but he was also a regular on 'The National Lampoon Radio Hour.' And by the way, he’s Bill Murray’s older brother.

33. Johnny Galecki had a significant scene cut from the film—and he still feels bad about it.

Clark and Rusty share a heartfelt conversation in both of the earlier 'Vacation' films. However, in 'Christmas Vacation,' they miss out on that moment. A dialogue-heavy 'man-to-man' scene written by John Hughes never made it into the final script. On set, Chevy Chase pushed for the scene to be filmed, but Johnny Galecki had a different view. 'They asked what I thought and I said, ‘I don’t think there’s any point,’' Galecki revealed to Rolling Stone in 2014. 'I literally talked myself out of what could have been a classic scene with Chevy Chase. Now... I realize the error of my ways. I still kick myself in the ass for this every day.'

34. Eddie and Ellen kept a long-running joke going.

Every time these two meet—in the original 'Vacation,' 'Christmas Vacation,' and again in 'Vegas Vacation'—Eddie tries to plant a kiss on Ellen’s lips. He fails each time, going 0-for-3.

35. On set, Chevy Chase became a comedy mentor.

In a 2018 Variety interview, Galecki shared that although the script required Rusty to carry 'some heavy comedic lifting,' his own comedic timing 'wasn’t on point.' According to Galecki, 'Chevy would help me out, especially with the timing, and tell me some ad-libs to say.' During lunch breaks, Chase would even take his co-star to the sets of Harlem Nights and Ghostbusters 2. 'Here I am at 13, being introduced to Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Richard Pryor—all these incredible comedic icons,' Galecki said. '[Chase] didn’t have to do that, and it’s still very touching to me.'

36. You can purchase a Clark Griswold Chicago Blackhawks jersey.

In 1989, when Christmas Vacation was released, Chicago hadn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1961, but that didn’t stop Clark and Rusty from sporting some Blackhawks gear on screen. Amazon now offers a replica of the home jersey Chevy wore in the film, with 'Griswold' sewn onto the back.

37. Chevy Chase sustained a hand injury.

The injury took place while Clark was trying to destroy Santa’s sled after failing once again to get the Christmas lights working. In a twist of fate, Old St. Nick seemed to exact his revenge: Chase broke his pinky finger during the scene. Since the cameras were rolling, he couldn’t stop without ruining the take. 'I had to keep kicking because it hurt so much,' Chase said in a 2015 interview.

38. All the presents on Mr. Shirley’s office desk, including Clark’s, are exactly the same.

They might be wrapped differently, but when it comes to size and shape, the gifts are identical. Go ahead, re-watch the movie if you don’t believe us.

39. To help Chase deliver that expletive-filled rant, his fellow actors wore cue cards.

As D’Angelo shared in a 2015 discussion with The Dinner Party Download, 'This particular scene... was blocked in such a way that we each wore a piece of rope around our necks, attached to a large cue card. The tirade was broken into parts so that Chevy could deliver it all in one go, from start to finish, without the risk of forgetting his lines... If you watch closely, you can see his eyes darting from one actor to the next as he reads the lines.'

40. The producer of the film made a hidden cameo.

Matty Simmons, the film's producer, appears on the cover of the magazine that gets stuck to Clark’s hand during his vacation planning chat with Ellen. Fun fact: Chase reportedly kept the pajamas he wore in that bedroom scene until at least 2015.

41. Ruby Sue developed a bit of a crush on her 'cousin.'

You don't hear much from actress Ellen Hamilton Latzen these days, though she's best remembered for her roles in Fatal Attraction and as Eddie's daughter in Christmas Vacation. During a conversation with Bill Bradley of HuffPost, she reminisced about the family dinner scene in Christmas Vacation. 'I recall sitting at the kids' section at the end of the table with Cody [Burger], Juliette [Lewis], and Johnny Galecki, who I had a huge crush on,' Latzen shared. 'I remember having little marshmallow fights with him, always trying to catch his attention.'

42. Fans in the Cleveland area can visit a real-life 'Griswold House' every Christmas.

Each holiday season, Christmas Vacation superfan Greg Osterland and his family transform their Wadsworth, Ohio, home by recreating Clark's extravagant lighting setup. In 2019, they even added a replica of Cousin Eddie's dilapidated RV. Visitors are encouraged to contribute to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides initiative.