The ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Films, Ranked
In honor of a two-pronged celebration — that would be the height of summer and the fortieth anniversary of the release of the first “National Lampoon’s Vacation” feature — it’s high time for the kind of ranking that’s literally been in the works for decades: each of the “Vacation” films. (Of note for this particular ranking: we’ve opted to include the four original features starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, plus the 2015 reboot in which they also appeared, though we’ve eschewed odd offshoots like the 2003 made-for-TV joint “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2” and the “short film” that’s really an ad, “Hotel Hell Vacation.”)
The Griswolds. They’re… just like us? Sort of? A typical American family prone to absolute disaster and iconic gags in equal measure, the Griswolds just want to have a good time (ideally, together), but life and their own hang-ups continually get in the way. These are people who so fundamentally should not be going on a road trip that they literally can’t even walk off the lot with the right damn car before they embark on it.
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Over the course of four decades and five films, the Griswolds have seen (and destroyed) the world, re-cast (and re-cast and re-cast) their own kiddos, celebrated holidays (and their own foibles), and eaten a lot of truly awful food. They’ve also gifted us some of the best gags in American comedy and did it with a wacky edge of familial love. Pack up the Family Truckster, kids, we’re going ranking.
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