National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
| Theatrical Performance | ||
| Domestic Box Office | $78,895,849 | Details |
| International Box Office | $18,821 | Details |
| Worldwide Box Office | $78,914,670 | |
| Domestic Physical Disc Sales | ||
| DVD Sales (estimated) | $97,798,888 | |
| Blu-ray Sales (estimated) | $29,885,509 | |
| Total | $127,684,397 | |
| OpusData ID: 6860100 More info... | ||
| Further financial details... | ||
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $11,750,203 (14.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 6.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 1,744 opening theaters/1,950 max. theaters, 6.4 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $199,591,042 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | December 1st, 1989 (Wide) by Warner Bros. December 5th, 2019 (Special Engagement) by Warner Bros. |
| International Releases: | November 30th, 1989 (Wide) (Australia)
December 15th, 1989 (Wide) (New Zealand) December 4th, 2020 (Limited) (United Kingdom) December 4th, 2020 (Limited) (Australia) December 17th, 2020 (Limited) (New Zealand) ... Show all releases |
| Video Release: | May 9th, 1990 by Warner Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG-13 |
| Running Time: | 97 minutes |
| Franchise: | National Lampoon's Vacation |
| Plot point: | Family Vacations |
| Social setting: | Christmas |
| Subgenre: | Family Comedy |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Warner Bros., Hughes Entertainment |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1989 | 2 | $11,750,203 | 1,744 | $6,738 | $11,750,203 | 1 | |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 2 | $9,499,450 | -19% | 1,744 | $5,447 | $24,274,464 | 2 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 1 | $7,233,119 | -24% | 1,950 | $3,709 | $33,643,086 | 3 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 1 | $7,007,789 | -3% | 1,950 | $3,594 | $44,112,377 | 4 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 5 | $8,090,947 | +15% | 1,901 | $4,256 | $57,789,938 | 5 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 8 | $3,326,878 | -59% | 1,846 | $1,802 | $62,481,913 | 6 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | 7 | $239,000 | 620 | $385 | $71,558,546 | 1,620 | |
| Dec 18, 2020 | 9 | $166,000 | -31% | 500 | $332 | $71,724,546 | 1,621 |
| Dec 25, 2020 | 10 | $91,000 | -45% | 300 | $303 | $71,815,546 | 1,622 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1989 | 1 | $14,775,014 | 1,744 | $8,472 | $14,775,014 | 1 | |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 2 | $11,634,953 | -21% | 1,744 | $6,671 | $26,409,967 | 2 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 1 | $10,694,621 | -8% | 1,950 | $5,484 | $37,104,588 | 3 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 1 | $12,594,403 | +18% | 1,950 | $6,459 | $49,698,991 | 4 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 5 | $9,456,044 | -25% | 1,901 | $4,974 | $59,155,035 | 5 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 8 | $3,998,449 | -58% | 1,846 | $2,166 | $63,153,484 | 6 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 11 | $2,572,104 | -36% | 1,482 | $1,736 | $65,725,588 | 7 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 12 | $1,496,230 | -42% | 1,052 | $1,422 | $67,221,818 | 8 |
| Nov 20, 2020 | - | $50,000 | 308 | $162 | $67,271,818 | 1,617 | |
| Nov 27, 2020 | - | $170,000 | +240% | 308 | $552 | $67,441,818 | 1,618 |
| Dec 4, 2020 | 10 | $155,000 | -9% | 420 | $369 | $67,596,818 | 1,619 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | - | $239,000 | +54% | 620 | $385 | $71,558,546 | 1,620 |
| Dec 18, 2020 | - | $166,000 | -31% | 500 | $332 | $71,724,546 | 1,621 |
| Dec 25, 2020 | - | $91,000 | -45% | 300 | $303 | $71,815,546 | 1,622 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 11/30/1989 | $0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | $4,595 | 12/29/2020 | |||
| New Zealand | 12/15/1989 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $321 | 12/18/2023 | |||
| United Kingdom | 12/4/2020 | $13,905 | 59 | 59 | 59 | $13,905 | 12/11/2020 | |||
| International Total | $18,821 | 12/18/2023 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Chevy Chase | Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr. |
Supporting
| Beverly D'Angelo | Ellen Griswold | |
| Randy Quaid | Cousin Eddie | |
| Diane Ladd | Nora Griswold | |
| Juliette Lewis | Audrey Griswold | |
| Brian Doyle-Murray | Mr. Frank Shirley | |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Margo Chester | |
| Doris Roberts | Frances | |
| E.G. Marshall | Art Smith | |
| William Hickey | Uncle Lewis | |
| Johnny Galecki | Rusty Griswold | |
| John Randolph | Clark Griswold Sr. | |
| Nicholas Guest | Todd Chester | |
| Miriam Flynn | Catherine | |
| Nicolette Scorsese | Mary | |
| Ellen Hamilton Latzen | Ruby Sue | |
| Cody Burger | Rocky | |
| Sam McMurray | Bill | |
| Keith MacKechnie | Delivery Boy | |
| Natalija Nogulich | Mrs. Shirley | |
| Tony Epper | Bozo #1 | |
| Hank Hooker | Bozo #2 | |
| Jeremy Roberts | Cop | |
| Alexander Folk | SWAT Officer |
Production and Technical Credits
| Jeremiah Chechik | Director | |
| John Hughes | Producer | |
| Tom Jacobson | Producer | |
| John Hughes | Screenwriter | |
| Matty Simmons | Executive Producer | |
| Thomas Ackerman | Director of Photography | |
| Stephen Marsh | Production Designer | |
| Jerry Greenberg | Editor | |
| Angelo Badalamenti | Composer | |
| Vickie Sampson* | Sound Editor | |
| Dan Hegeman | Sound Editor |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $11,750,203 (14.9% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 6.71 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 1,744 opening theaters/1,950 max. theaters, 6.4 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $199,591,042 |
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | December 1st, 1989 (Wide) by Warner Bros. December 5th, 2019 (Special Engagement) by Warner Bros. |
| International Releases: | November 30th, 1989 (Wide) (Australia)
December 15th, 1989 (Wide) (New Zealand) December 4th, 2020 (Limited) (United Kingdom) December 4th, 2020 (Limited) (Australia) December 17th, 2020 (Limited) (New Zealand) ... Show all releases |
| Video Release: | May 9th, 1990 by Warner Home Video |
| MPA Rating: | PG-13 |
| Running Time: | 97 minutes |
| Franchise: | National Lampoon's Vacation |
| Plot point: | Family Vacations |
| Social setting: | Christmas |
| Subgenre: | Family Comedy |
| Source: | Original Screenplay |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Warner Bros., Hughes Entertainment |
| Production Countries: | United States |
| Languages: | English |
Weekend Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1989 | 2 | $11,750,203 | 1,744 | $6,738 | $11,750,203 | 1 | |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 2 | $9,499,450 | -19% | 1,744 | $5,447 | $24,274,464 | 2 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 1 | $7,233,119 | -24% | 1,950 | $3,709 | $33,643,086 | 3 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 1 | $7,007,789 | -3% | 1,950 | $3,594 | $44,112,377 | 4 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 5 | $8,090,947 | +15% | 1,901 | $4,256 | $57,789,938 | 5 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 8 | $3,326,878 | -59% | 1,846 | $1,802 | $62,481,913 | 6 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | 7 | $239,000 | 620 | $385 | $71,558,546 | 1,620 | |
| Dec 18, 2020 | 9 | $166,000 | -31% | 500 | $332 | $71,724,546 | 1,621 |
| Dec 25, 2020 | 10 | $91,000 | -45% | 300 | $303 | $71,815,546 | 1,622 |
Weekly Box Office Performance
| Date | Rank | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1989 | 1 | $14,775,014 | 1,744 | $8,472 | $14,775,014 | 1 | |
| Dec 8, 1989 | 2 | $11,634,953 | -21% | 1,744 | $6,671 | $26,409,967 | 2 |
| Dec 15, 1989 | 1 | $10,694,621 | -8% | 1,950 | $5,484 | $37,104,588 | 3 |
| Dec 22, 1989 | 1 | $12,594,403 | +18% | 1,950 | $6,459 | $49,698,991 | 4 |
| Dec 29, 1989 | 5 | $9,456,044 | -25% | 1,901 | $4,974 | $59,155,035 | 5 |
| Jan 5, 1990 | 8 | $3,998,449 | -58% | 1,846 | $2,166 | $63,153,484 | 6 |
| Jan 12, 1990 | 11 | $2,572,104 | -36% | 1,482 | $1,736 | $65,725,588 | 7 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | 12 | $1,496,230 | -42% | 1,052 | $1,422 | $67,221,818 | 8 |
| Nov 20, 2020 | - | $50,000 | 308 | $162 | $67,271,818 | 1,617 | |
| Nov 27, 2020 | - | $170,000 | +240% | 308 | $552 | $67,441,818 | 1,618 |
| Dec 4, 2020 | 10 | $155,000 | -9% | 420 | $369 | $67,596,818 | 1,619 |
| Dec 11, 2020 | - | $239,000 | +54% | 620 | $385 | $71,558,546 | 1,620 |
| Dec 18, 2020 | - | $166,000 | -31% | 500 | $332 | $71,724,546 | 1,621 |
| Dec 25, 2020 | - | $91,000 | -45% | 300 | $303 | $71,815,546 | 1,622 |
Top International Territories
Box Office Summary Per Territory
| Territory | Release Date |
Opening Weekend |
Opening Weekend Screens/Theaters |
Maximum Screens/Theaters |
Theatrical Engagements |
Total Box Office |
Report Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 11/30/1989 | $0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | $4,595 | 12/29/2020 | |||
| New Zealand | 12/15/1989 | $0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | $321 | 12/18/2023 | |||
| United Kingdom | 12/4/2020 | $13,905 | 59 | 59 | 59 | $13,905 | 12/11/2020 | |||
| International Total | $18,821 | 12/18/2023 | ||||||||
Note: Territories vary in whether they report screens or theaters. Full details on international box office data are available via our OpusData service.
Leading
| Chevy Chase | Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr. |
Supporting
| Beverly D'Angelo | Ellen Griswold | |
| Randy Quaid | Cousin Eddie | |
| Diane Ladd | Nora Griswold | |
| Juliette Lewis | Audrey Griswold | |
| Brian Doyle-Murray | Mr. Frank Shirley | |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Margo Chester | |
| Doris Roberts | Frances | |
| E.G. Marshall | Art Smith | |
| William Hickey | Uncle Lewis | |
| Johnny Galecki | Rusty Griswold | |
| John Randolph | Clark Griswold Sr. | |
| Nicholas Guest | Todd Chester | |
| Miriam Flynn | Catherine | |
| Nicolette Scorsese | Mary | |
| Ellen Hamilton Latzen | Ruby Sue | |
| Cody Burger | Rocky | |
| Sam McMurray | Bill | |
| Keith MacKechnie | Delivery Boy | |
| Natalija Nogulich | Mrs. Shirley | |
| Tony Epper | Bozo #1 | |
| Hank Hooker | Bozo #2 | |
| Jeremy Roberts | Cop | |
| Alexander Folk | SWAT Officer |
Production and Technical Credits
| Jeremiah Chechik | Director | |
| John Hughes | Producer | |
| Tom Jacobson | Producer | |
| John Hughes | Screenwriter | |
| Matty Simmons | Executive Producer | |
| Thomas Ackerman | Director of Photography | |
| Stephen Marsh | Production Designer | |
| Jerry Greenberg | Editor | |
| Angelo Badalamenti | Composer | |
| Vickie Sampson* | Sound Editor | |
| Dan Hegeman | Sound Editor |
Cast and crew with above-the-line roles are marked in bold. The line marks the division between above-the-line and below-the-line roles.