| National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Chris Consani | |
| Directed by | Jeremiah S. Chechik |
| Written by | John Hughes |
| Based on | Characters by John Hughes |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Thomas E. Ackerman |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Angelo Badalamenti |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25 million[1] |
| Box office | $73.3 million |
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American Christmas comedy film and the third installment in National Lampoon magazine's Vacation film series. Christmas Vacation was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, written and co-produced by John Hughes, and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid with supporting roles by Miriam Flynn, William Hickey, Mae Questel (in her final film role before her death in 1998), Diane Ladd, John Randolph, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Juliette Lewis, and Johnny Galecki.[2]
Based on Hughes's short story, "Christmas '59", published in National Lampoon,[3] the film tells the story of Clark Griswold's efforts to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas as they take a hilarious turn for the worse. It is the final film in the series to involve Hughes and National Lampoon. Filming took place in Summit County, Colorado, Silverthorne, Breckenridge, and Frisco as well as Burbank, California between March and June 1989. The film performed well at the box office, grossing $73.3 million against a $25 million budget while receiving generally mixed reviews from critics. It is now regarded as a Christmas classic.
- ^ Harmetz, Ajean (December 7, 1989). "It's Fade-Out for the Cheap Film As Hollywood's Budgets Soar". The New York Times. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ Hughes, John. "Christmas 59". National Lampoon. Archived from the original on February 23, 2001. Retrieved December 4, 2022.