Poster for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

It's Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going, knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

Rated PG-13 • 1989 • 1h 37m

Age
12+

Clark Griswold attempts to give his extended family a perfect old-fashioned Christmas — with predictably catastrophic results. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. The PG-13 covers language and increasingly unhinged slapstick.

Cast

Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis
Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki
John Randolph
John Randolph
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd
E.G. Marshall
E.G. Marshall
Doris Roberts
Doris Roberts
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Randy Quaid
Randy Quaid
Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn
Mae Questel
Mae Questel
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Is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation appropriate for kids?

Clark Griswold attempts to give his extended family a perfect old-fashioned Christmas — with predictably catastrophic results. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. The PG-13 covers language and increasingly unhinged slapstick. Read more — free account

Content severity in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Sex None 0/10
Violence Moderate 4/10
Language Strong 7/10
Substances Moderate 3/10
Themes Moderate 3/10

What happens in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, moment by moment

  1. 0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10
  2. 0:22 🍷 Substances 3/10
  3. 0:35 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
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Sex and nudity in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

None.

Violence and gore in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

A cat electrocuted by Christmas lights. Slapstick accidents throughout. Comic violence consistent with PG-13.

Language in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Moderate language — Clark's epic rant about his boss is one of American comedy's great set pieces.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Eggnog consumed in quantity. Cousin Eddie's lifestyle in general.

Mature themes in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

A man whose need to make Christmas perfect destroys the actual Christmas. The film escalates precisely — each scene slightly worse than the last. Clark's monologue is one of the great comedy performances.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG-13. Clark Griswold attempts to give his extended family a perfect old-fashioned Christmas — with predictably catastrophic results. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. The PG-13 covers language and increasingly unhinged…

What age rating does National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation have?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.

What is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation about?

Clark Griswold attempts to give his extended family a perfect old-fashioned Christmas — with predictably catastrophic results. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. The PG-13 covers language and increasingly unhinged slapstick.

Is there sex or nudity in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

None.

How violent is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

A cat electrocuted by Christmas lights. Slapstick accidents throughout. Comic violence consistent with PG-13.

Is the language in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation appropriate for kids?

Moderate language — Clark's epic rant about his boss is one of American comedy's great set pieces.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

Eggnog consumed in quantity. Cousin Eddie's lifestyle in general.

What mature themes appear in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

A man whose need to make Christmas perfect destroys the actual Christmas. The film escalates precisely — each scene slightly worse than the last. Clark's monologue is one of the great comedy performances.

How long is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation runs 97 minutes, directed by Jeremiah Chechik, released in 1989.

Where can I read the full National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation parent guide?

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