Vegas Vacation is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Stephen Kessler in his feature directorial debut. It is the fourth installment in National Lampoon ’s Vacation film series , and was written by Elisa Bell, based on a story by Bell and Bob Ducsay . The film stars Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Randy Quaid , Wayne Newton , Ethan Embry , and Wallace Shawn . It tells the story of Clark Griswold taking his family to Las Vegas to renew his vows to Ellen as the series' usual hilarity occurs. The film opened at #4 at the box office and grossed over $ 36.4 million domestically. Vegas Vacation is the first theatrical Vacation film not to carry the National Lampoon label or a screenwriting credit from John Hughes . Also, this is the final film released before National Lampoon magazine folded. This was also the last Vacation movie to be released until New Line Cinema , a production company of Warner Bros , produced a reboot that was released 18 years later in 2015.
43-463: After the food preservative that keeps perishable items fresh for years which he helped make has been approved, Clark Griswold earns the bonus promised to him in the previous film from Frank Shirley. He announces to his family that he is taking them on vacation to celebrate and renew wedding vows with his wife Ellen. Excitement wanes, however, when Clark says they are headed to Las Vegas . Ellen and teenage daughter, Audrey, have their doubts, as Las Vegas
86-422: A $ 25 million budget while receiving generally mixed reviews from critics. It is now regarded as a Christmas classic. Chicago -area resident Clark Griswold intends to have a great Christmas with his entire family. He drives his wife Ellen and children Audrey and Rusty out to the country to find a tree, ultimately choosing the largest one they can find. Realizing too late that they did not bring any tools to cut down
129-563: A Santa's sleigh decoration afire and launches it into the sky. Aunt Bethany starts singing " The Star-Spangled Banner " and everyone joins in as the flaming decoration flies into the distance. The entire family, along with the Shirleys and the SWAT team, go inside to celebrate while Clark and Ellen share a Christmas kiss. Clark is satisfied that he has provided a great Christmas for his family. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation originated from
172-443: A bare bones DVD in 1997, and a "Special Edition" DVD in 2003. HD DVD as well as Blu-ray editions were released in 2006. In 2009, a second Blu-ray of the film was released as an "Ultimate Collector's Edition". A steelbook Blu-ray was released in 2015 with remastered picture quality, and a second steelbook was released in 2019. On November 1, 2022, the film was released on 4K Ultra HD for the first time. The movie debuted at No. 2 at
215-428: A casino to get their money back, but Clark gambles away Eddie's money too. He then realizes he no longer cares about getting his money back but needs to get his family back. Clark gathers his family from around Vegas, and they gamble their last two dollars on a game of keno . They sit next to an elderly man who compliments Clark on his family and hints that he has been lonely all of his life. Out of sympathy, Clark tells
258-629: A disastrous Christmas Eve dinner, during which Aunt Bethany's cat is electrocuted and Uncle Lewis accidentally burns down the Christmas tree while lighting his cigar , a courier delivers an envelope. Instead of the bonus Clark expects, it is a membership in Jelly of the Month club. He snaps and angrily wishes for Frank to be delivered to the house so he can insult him to his face. Taking Clark's request literally, Eddie kidnaps Frank, who admits to canceling
301-443: A major Cinemax staple, bringing in big views for the network when it made its premiere on the network sometime in the early 90s. It also was a UPN (who beat The WB in the ratings all 11 years) staple throughout the 90s, also airing on its stations, such as WWOR and KCOP . The fourth film in the series, Vegas Vacation , would follow in 1997, without the involvement of either Hughes or National Lampoon. In 2003, NBC aired
344-513: A message to Clark. Clark, confused, tells Ellen that the man said "take the ticket.” When the casino security guards and paramedics arrive, they declare the man dead. They tell the Griswolds that his name was Mr. Ellis and he would have given anything for a friend. With their newfound winnings, Clark and Ellen renew their wedding vows in the presence of Eddie's family. Clark then gives Eddie $ 5,000 to repay his kindness. The Griswolds drive home in
387-587: A personality clash between himself and Chase, Columbus left the film and was replaced by Chechik. Hughes eventually gave Columbus the script to Home Alone . Principal photography began on March 27, 1989, in Summit County, Colorado , with footage shot in Silverthorne , Breckenridge , and Frisco . From there the production moved to Warner Bros. Ranch Facilities in Burbank, California , where
430-470: A positive attitude and remains undeterred in his plans. He covers the house's entire exterior with thousands of lights, which temporarily cause a citywide power shortage once he gets them to work properly. Ellen's cousin Catherine and her redneck husband Eddie arrive unannounced with two of their younger children, Rocky and Ruby Sue, and their pet Rottweiler , Snots. Eddie later admits they are living in
473-418: A rating of 15% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 33 reviews. The critic consensus states, “The Vacation franchise hits rock-bottom in this corny and tepid trip to sinfully laugh-free city.” According to review aggregation website Metacritic , which it was assigned a 20 out of 100 based on 10 reviews, the film received “generally unfavorable reviews.” The film was nominated for The Sequel Nobody Was Clamoring For at
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#1732798242537516-466: A short story by writer John Hughes called "Christmas '59", which was published in the December 1980 issue of National Lampoon magazine. "The studio came to me and begged for another one, and I only agreed because I had a good story to base it on," said Hughes. "But those movies have become little more than Chevy Chase vehicles." Director Chris Columbus initially was to direct the film, but due to
559-434: A solid seasonal treat." Another review aggregation website, Metacritic , assigned the film a rating of 49 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. Entertainment magazine Variety responded positively to the film stating, "Solid family fare with plenty of yucks, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
602-605: A spin-off called National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 which featured Cousin Eddie's family on a Christmas vacation in the South Pacific. Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, and Dana Barron reprise their roles from the previous Vacation films alongside series newcomers Jake Thomas , Edward Asner , Sung Hi Lee , and Fred Willard . In 2012, Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Juliette Lewis reunited for Christmas Vacation -themed ads for Old Navy . The series of ads also featured
645-518: Is Chevy Chase and brood doing what they do best. Despite the title, which links it to previous pics in the rambling Vacation series, this third entry is firmly rooted at the Griswold family homestead, where Clark Griswold (Chase) is engaged in a typical over-reaching attempt to give his family a perfect, old-fashioned Christmas." Rita Kempley of The Washington Post gave the film a positive review explaining that "it will prove pater-familiar to fans of
688-569: Is not known for its family-friendly atmosphere, while teenage son Rusty appears to be more enthusiastic. Upon arriving in Vegas, the Griswolds attend a Siegfried & Roy show, and they also visit Cousin Eddie, the husband of Ellen's cousin Catherine. Eddie and his family now live in the desert north of Las Vegas, on what used to be a hydrogen-bomb test site. While on a group tour of the Hoover Dam led by guide Arty, Clark becomes separated from
731-440: Is used. Despite several popular songs being present in the film, no official soundtrack album was released. In 1999, a bootleg copy containing music featured in the film along with select cuts of dialogue dubbed as the "10th Anniversary Limited Edition" began to appear on Internet auction sites with the claim that Warner Bros. and RedDotNet had pressed 20,000 CDs for Six Flags Magic Mountain employees to sell to customers entering
774-595: The Mojave Desert . The population of the region, as measured by the 2020 U.S. Census, is 2,327,680, with 2,265,461 living in the Las Vegas Valley (i.e., Clark County ). Over time and influenced by climate change , droughts in Southern Nevada have been increasing in frequency and severity, putting a further strain on Las Vegas's and Southern Nevada’s water security . The primary drivers of
817-450: The RV in which they arrived, as he went broke and had to sell their home and land. Clark offers to buy gifts for Eddie's kids so they can still enjoy Christmas. Soon afterward, Clark's senile Aunt Bethany and cantankerous Uncle Lewis arrive. Clark begins to wonder why his boss, Frank Shirley, has not given him his yearly bonus , which he desperately needs to pay for a new swimming pool. After
860-550: The box-office while grossing $ 11,750,203 during the opening weekend, behind Back to the Future Part II . The movie eventually topped the box-office charts in its third week of release and remained #1 the following weekend. It went on to gross a total of $ 71,319,546 in the United States while showing in movie theaters. It was the highest-grossing film in the series, until the release of Vacation in 2015. At
903-558: The 1983 original and the European Vacation sequel. Only it's a bit more whimsical." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two out of four stars, saying, "The movie is 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." The movie has always been
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#1732798242537946-919: The 1997 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards but lost to Free Willy 3: The Rescue . National Lampoon%27s Christmas Vacation 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 . Based on Hughes's short story, "Christmas '59", published in National Lampoon ,
989-487: The Bells, where the film's producer Jerry Weintraub and his wife Jane Morgan were married in the mid-1960s. Weintraub appears in the film as "Gilly from Philly", the gambler who befriends Rusty. Extensive footage was shot at The Mirage resort; owner Steve Wynn closed portions of the property to allow for filming, which included the resort's diving dolphins and its Siegfried & Roy show. Chase filmed scenes involving
1032-459: The Christmas bonuses but then reinstates them in the face of Clark's chastisement. Frank's wife Helen calls the police and a SWAT team storms the Griswold house and holds everyone at gunpoint. Frank decides not to press charges and explains the situation to his wife and the SWAT leader, both of whom scold him for canceling the bonuses until he reveals his change of heart. The family goes outside when Rocky and Ruby Sue believe they see Santa Claus in
1075-655: The Southern Nevada economy have been the confluence of tourism , gaming and conventions which in turn feed the retail and dining industries. Las Vegas serves as world headquarters for the world's largest Fortune 500 gaming company, MGM Resorts International . Tourism also benefits the areas around Pahrump, which has served as a bedroom community of Las Vegas. Prostitution is also legal in areas of Southern Nevada, outside of Clark County. The Mojave Desert and Great Basin Desert cover all or most of Southern Nevada. Man-made lakes, seasonal, and dry lakes periodically dot
1118-628: The U.S. state of Nevada which includes the Las Vegas Valley . It also includes the areas in and around Pahrump and Pioche . Tonopah and Hawthorne are sometimes also referred to as part of Southern Nevada, but all organizations based in the Las Vegas area, such as the Southern Nevada Health District, effectively limit the term to the Las Vegas Valley. Geographically, parts of Southern Nevada are within
1161-491: The distance. Clark tells them it is actually the Christmas Star and that he finally realizes what the holiday means to him. Uncle Lewis says that the light is coming from a sewage treatment plant , reminding Clark that Eddie had been dumping his RV sewage into the nearby storm drain. Before Clark can stop him, Uncle Lewis lights another cigar and tosses the match into the drain, causing a giant gas explosion which sets
1204-404: The family agrees to an "alone day" and are left to their own devices. Clark goes to a casino and becomes addicted to gambling . Rusty buys a fake ID from a Frank Sinatra look-alike and becomes a winning high roller. Audrey starts hanging out with Eddie's free-spirited exotic dancer daughter Vicki and her friends. Ellen spends time with Wayne Newton, who has feelings for her. Clark gambles away
1247-400: The family's $ 22,600 bank account, leading a furious Ellen and the kids to desert him. Rusty wins four cars from four separate slot machines, while Audrey goes to a strip club with Vicki and gets a job as a go-go dancer . Eddie — who has money buried in his front yard — tries to come to Clark's rescue in return for everything the Griswolds have done for him and his family. Clark and Eddie go to
1290-503: 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
1333-489: The four cars Rusty won on the slot machines: a red Dodge Viper , a maroon Ford Mustang , a black Hummer H1 , and a white Ford Aspire . John Hughes did not return for Vegas Vacation , as he did not have any further National Lampoon stories to adapt, as he had with the original Vacation . He also had shown dissatisfaction with how the series had essentially turned into a star vehicle for Chevy Chase and noted that Warner Bros. had never even told him that they were making
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1376-413: The fourth different set of actors to play the Griswold children, Audrey and Rusty. This fact is referenced early in the film when Clark Griswold comments that he hardly recognizes his children anymore. Vegas Vacation was released to cinemas in the United States on February 14 , 1997. The film was later released on home video and to television. Vegas Vacation received negative reviews. It has garnered
1419-468: The group after accidentally creating a leak in the dam's interior walkways and is forced to climb the scaffolding to the top of the dam to get out. The next night, they are surprised to find that tickets to a Wayne Newton concert have been delivered to their hotel room, along with a dress for Ellen. They go to the concert, only to realize that Newton sent the dress. While singing, he brings Ellen on stage to sing with him and visits their table. The next day,
1462-440: The man to consider himself part of the Griswold family for the night. The man happily accepts Clark's offer, and both parties begin the game. At first, the Griswolds are optimistic, but as they realize they have lost, they sit together in silence. Suddenly, the man next to them declares that he has won the game. In his burst of joy, he slips in and out of consciousness while Ellen sends Rusty for help. He revives long enough to whisper
1505-502: The movie, only hearing about it by reading a trade magazine. When approached by disappointed fans, Hughes insisted that he "had nothing to do with it!" Filming was initially scheduled to begin in Las Vegas in April 1996. Filming was later scheduled to begin on May 29, 1996. Most of the filming was expected to be done in southern Nevada , while approximately 10 days of work was planned for studios in southern California . Filming in Las Vegas
1548-490: The other actors who portrayed past versions of Russ and Audrey. In 2020, Chase and D'Angelo reprised their roles as Clark and Ellen in a Ford commercial for the Ford Mustang Mach-E spoofing the house lighting scene. The movie has inspired the theme for various Christmas lights and decoration displays over the years. Southern Nevada Southern Nevada (SNV) is a region and the southern portion of
1591-705: The park but that only 7,000 had been sold and now the remainder were being made available to the public. However forums at movie music sites such as SoundtrackCollector later declared the disc to be a bootleg due to its inaccuracies. For instance, the cut "Christmas Vacation Medley" (claiming to be the work of composer Angelo Badalamenti) is really a track called "Christmas at Carnegie Hall" from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York by composer John Williams and does not actually contain any of Badalamenti's Christmas Vacation score. The film has been released on home media several different times: VHS and Laserdisc in early 1990,
1634-547: The set of the Griswold family's house and street is located. Filming wrapped on June 30, 1989. The musical score for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was composed by Angelo Badalamenti . It is the only installment of the Vacation film series not to include Lindsey Buckingham 's " Holiday Road ". In its place is a song entitled "Christmas Vacation" with music by Barry Mann , lyrics by Cynthia Weil and performed by Mavis Staples of The Staple Singers fame. The song
1677-749: The show's tigers in July 1996. Filming also took place on soundstages at the Las Vegas Video Sound Film Production Center. Scenes were also shot at Casa de Shenandoah , the home of entertainer Wayne Newton . Other filming locations included the MGM Grand Las Vegas , the Klondike Hotel and Casino , O'Sheas Casino , the Neon Museum , and Fremont Street Experience . Nichols and Embry became
1720-432: The time of the film's release, the film received mixed to positive reviews; however, over time, many have cited it as a Christmas classic. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 70% of 54 film critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 6.2/10. The site's consensus reads, "While Christmas Vacation may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for
1763-404: The tree, they are forced to uproot it instead. While Clark is checking out at a mall, he sees the beautiful cashier and talks to her. Clark's holiday plans inadvertently cause steadily escalating chaos for the family's yuppie neighbors, Todd and Margo Chester. When both Clark's and Ellen's parents arrive for Christmas, their bickering quickly begins to annoy the family. However, Clark maintains
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1806-415: Was covered in 2007 by High School Musical star Monique Coleman for the 2007 Christmas album Disney Channel Holiday . Popular Christmas songs featured in the film include Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Hawaiian-themed " Mele Kalikimaka ", and, during the climax of the film, Gene Autry 's " Here Comes Santa Claus ". For the latter song, Autry's re-recorded 1957 Challenge Records version
1849-466: Was expected to last two and a half months. Filming at Hoover Dam was underway in June 1996. One scene involved Chase's stunt double, John Robotham, swinging from a rope and slamming into the dam face. Film crews did several takes of the scene, which involved Robotham being attached to a series of ropes and bolts 637 feet above the dam's power plant. Later that month, filming took place at Las Vegas' Chapel of
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